Upcoming launches related to Asia-Pacific (Aug-Sept 2017)

Ariane5 preparing for 5 September launch. Image courtesy of Arianespace.

24 August 2017: Falcon 9 Full Thrust/Formosat 5 (Taiwan)

Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Full Thrust, manufactured by SpaceX

Payload: Formosat 5 (Taiwanese Earth Observation Satellite)

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Launch date: 24 August 2017

Launch time: 18:50-19:34 GMT

Location: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

This is an historic launch in that it will put Taiwan’s first indigenously-developed high-resolution remote sensing satellite into orbit. Read more here.

27 August 2017: Long March 3B/2 BeiDou satellites (People’s Republic of China)

Launch vehicle: Long March 3B, manufactured by China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)

Payload: 2 BeiDou navigation satellites (BD3-M1, BD3-M2)

Launch date: 27 August 2017

Launch time: –

Location: Xichang Satellite Launch Center, China

This launch has not yet been confirmed, but will be the first launch of BeiDou navigation satellites this year if it occurs. The 2 satellites will add to the existing 20 in operation.

31 August 2017: PSLV XL/IRNSS-1H (India)

Launch vehicle: Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) XL, manufactured by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

Payload: IRNSS-1H

Launch date: 31 August 2017

Launch time: –

Location: Sriharikota, India

The IRNSS-1H will replace IRNSS-1A, as part of India’s satellite navigation system. Read more here.

5 September 2017: Ariane5/Intelsat 37e, BSAT-4a (Japan)

Launch vehicle: Ariane 5, manufactured by Arianespace

Payloads: Intelsat 37e, BSAT-4a

Launch date: 5 September 2017

Launch time: 18:51 French Guiana Time (GMT-3)

Intelsat 37e will provide global coverage, mostly to Europe, North America and Africa, while BSAT-4a will be used for Direct-to-Home (DTH) television relay in Japan.

Other launches slated to take place in August-September, but are unconfirmed, include 2 or more launches from China, Koreasat 5A launched by SpaceX, Rocket Lab’s Electron and India’s GSAT-11 launched by Ariane 5.

 

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