Eutelsat/ABS Mission Mission Overview For this mission, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will deliver two commercial communications satellites to Geostationary Transfer Orbits (GTO). The two satellites, EUTELSAT 117 West B and ABS-2A, are operated respectively by Eutelsat and ABS – two companies that provide global communications services to a variety of users. SpaceX is targeting launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on June 15. The approximately 45-minute launch window opens on June 15 at 10:29am ET, 2:29pm UTC. EUTELSAT 117 West B will be deployed approximately 30 minutes after liftoff, and ABS-2A will be deployed 5 minutes later. Following stage separation, the first stage of Falcon 9 will attempt an experimental landing on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship. As with other GTO missions, the first-stage will be subject to extreme velocities and re-entry heating, making a successful landing difficult.

Mission Overview SpaceX’s customer for this mission is Thales Alenia Space. With this flight, the Falcon 9 rocket will deliver the TurkmenÄlem52E/MonacoSat satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The Thales launch window is targeted to open at approximately 6:14pm EDT on Monday, April 27, 2015, from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. If all goes as planned, the satellite will be deployed approximately 32 minutes after liftoff. Satellite Payload TurkmenÄlem52E/MonacoSat This mission will launch TurkmenÄlem52E/MonacoSat, a communications satellite built on a Thales Alenia Space Spacebus 4000 C2 platform and weighing 4,500 kg at launch. The satellite’s design life exceeds 15 years, and its coverage zone encompasses Europe, Central Asia (up to the Chinese border), and virtually all of Africa. Once operational in orbit, TurkmenÄlem52E/MonacoSAT will allow Turkmenistan to operate its first national satellite telecommunications system, ensuring enhanced, secure telecommunications for the country. The Turkmenistan Ministry of Communications will use Monaco's 52°E orbital position, via the Monaco-based satellite operator, Space Systems International – Monaco (SSI-Monaco).

For this mission, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will deliver two commercial communications satellites to Geostationary Transfer Orbits (GTO). The two satellites, EUTELSAT 117 West B and ABS-2A, are operated respectively by Eutelsat and ABS – two companies that provide global communications services to a variety of users. SpaceX is targeting launch from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida on June 15. The approximately 45-minute launch window opens on June 15 at 10:29am ET, 2:29pm UTC. EUTELSAT 117 West B will be deployed approximately 30 minutes after liftoff, and ABS-2A will be deployed 5 minutes later. Following stage separation, the first stage of Falcon 9 will attempt an experimental landing on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship. As with other GTO missions, the first-stage will be subject to extreme velocities and re-entry heating, making a successful landing difficult.
Launch Facility Space Launch Complex 40, (SLC-40) Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. SpaceX’s Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station is a world-class launch site that builds on a strong heritage. The site, located at the north end of the Cape, was used for many years to launch Titan rockets, among the most powerful rockets in the U.S. fleet. SpaceX took over the facility in May 2008. The center of the complex is composed of the concrete launch pad and flame exhaust duct. Surrounding the pad are four lightning towers, propellant storage tanks, and the integration hangar. Before launch, Falcon 9’s stages and payload are housed inside the hangar. The encapsulated payload was transported to the SLC-40 hangar and mated to the Falcon 9 already on the transporter erector. The rocket and payload are then rolled out from the hangar to the launch pad on fixed rails and lifted to a vertical position prior to launch.