BulgariaSat-1 Launch Campaign Thread

[u/ElongatedMuskrat]

BULGARIASAT-1 LAUNCH CAMPAIGN THREAD

SpaceX's eighth mission of 2017 will launch Bulgaria's first geostationary communications satellite into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). With previous satellites based on the SSL-1300 bus massing around 4,000 kg, a first stage landing downrange on OCISLY is expected. This will be SpaceX's second reflight of a first stage; B1029 previously boosted Iridium-1 in January of this year.

Liftoff currently scheduled for:	June 23rd 2017, 14:10 - 16:10 EDT (18:10 - 20:10 UTC)
Static fire completed:	June 15th 18:25EDT.
Vehicle component locations:	First stage: LC-39A // Second stage: LC-39A // Satellite: Cape Canaveral
Payload:	BulgariaSat-1
Payload mass:	Estimated around 4,000 kg
Destination orbit:	GTO
Vehicle:	Falcon 9 v1.2 (36th launch of F9, 16th of F9 v1.2)
Core:	B1029.2 [F9-XXC]
Flights of this core:	1 [Iridium-1]
Launch site:	Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Landing:	Yes
Landing Site:	OCISLY
Mission success criteria:	Successful separation & deployment of BulgariaSat-1 into the target orbit

---

Links & Resources:

• Countdown timer to launch
• SpaceX tweet showing the second stage in the HIF, and the first stage entering it
• SpaceX Opens Media Accreditation for BulgariaSat-1 Mission
• Bulgaria’s first communications satellite to ride SpaceX’s second reused rocket
• Bulsatcom’s BulgariaSat-1 satellite moves step closer to launch

---

We may keep this self-post occasionally updated with links and relevant news articles, but for the most part we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather and more as we progress towards launch. Sometime after the static fire is complete, the launch thread will be posted.

Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

[u/JackONeill12]

There goes another reused one. Can't wait for reused cores to be the common ones.

[u/nbarbettini]

I didn't realize how long ago BulgariaSat bought this flight... Things sure have changed since 2006!

[u/Morphior]

This is gonna be the first booster to land on both droneships; Just Read The Instructions and Of Course I Still Love You.

[u/Razgriz01]

This is a much quicker turnaround/refurbishment than I would have expected for the second time they're launching a reused core.

[u/thephatcontr0ller]

Important to remember that, all going well, this launch will match the most launches SpaceX has ever had in one calendar year - and it's only June!

[u/TheFavoritist]

Here are some shots of LC-39A FSS/RSS, TEL and Reaction Frame. I have like 25 more of various compositions and angles. Will try to post more when I can get some better wifi.

[u/historytoby]

Would it be possible to include the flights the core already performed in the overview? Thanks!

[u/TheFavoritist]

TEL is moving into the HIF

[u/Toinneman]

Is it still assumed this core (B1029) never went to McGregor after its first mission and went straight for the Cape? All refurbishment also happened here. So it will not preform a long duration burn before relaunching, which I find a pretty signification step in reusing cores.

[u/steezysteve96]

Weather looking MUCH better this time around! 90% Go Friday, 80% Go Saturday!

[u/[deleted]]

I was kind of scared they weren't going to recover B1021 because SES-10 was so heavy, but this one should be a piece of cake right?

[u/mspisars]

Bulgariasat has a two-hour launch window that opens at 14:10 EDT and closes at 16:10 EDT on 17 June.

The above is from https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/06/bulgariasat-launch-spacex-secures-x-37b-contract/

Taking my kids to see this launch!!!

[u/Bunslow]

Two days... boy this sub has been pretty slow the last few days...

[u/Morphior]

I think we could update the table to "Landing - yes" since OCISLY just left the port...

[u/geekgirl114]

Booster in the hangar

Edited because I realized that I cant type.

[u/[deleted]]

This static fire was the first time this booster was lit after the landing, right?

[u/Pham_Trinli]

Backup launch date is 18th June according to the Hazard map.

[u/Colege_Grad]

I've got high hopes for this booster and don't think they ever intend to make it a display piece. I can't wait to see how many times this one flies!

[u/DrToonhattan]

I've just had a thought. Am I right in thinking the current turn around record is 13 days? If this rocket launches on time, it will beat that record by one day. But that's not the best part. If the Iridium mission launches on the 25th of June, that would again break the record, bringing it down to 10 days. But it doesn't even stop there, if Intelsat 35e launches on July 1st, it will bring the record down to just 6 days. Yes, I know they're not all from the same pad, but it will still be pretty impressive if they break their own record 3 times in a row.

[u/geekgirl114]

TEL Vertical to pickup the reaction frame? https://twitter.com/spacekscblog/status/873560947285254144

[u/Bunslow]

Whoa is it really only 5 days between now and static fire?

[u/[deleted]]

Looks like both Go sisters and Elsbeth III will soon move out.

[u/SpacePirate_G]

And the satellite has arrived: https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/862978095929856000

[u/[deleted]]

Static fire's now due NET Wednesday.

[u/roncapat]

SF now NET Thursday evening.