SpaceX

SpaceX successfully launched the Es’hail-2 satellite on Thursday, November 15 from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Liftoff occurred at 3:46 p.m. EST, or 20:46 UTC, and the satellite was deployed to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) about 32 minutes after liftoff.

Falcon 9’s first stage for the Es’hail-2 mission previously supported the Telstar 19 VANTAGE mission in July 2018. Following stage separation, SpaceX landed Falcon 9’s first stage on the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. You can watch a replay of the launch webcast below and find out more about the mission in ou

SpaceX is targeting launch of the Es’hail-2 satellite on
Thursday, November 15 from Launch Complex 39A
(LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The primary launch window opens at 3:46 p.m. EST,
or 20:46 UTC, and closes at 5:29 p.m. EST, or 22:29
UTC on Thursday, November 15. The satellite will be
deployed approximately 32 minutes after liftoff.
A backup launch window opens at 3:48 p.m. EST, or
20:48 UTC, and closes at 5:29 p.m. EST, or 22:29
UTC on Friday, November 16.
Falcon 9’s first stage for the Es’hail-2 mission
previously supported the Telstar 19 VANTAGE
mission in July 2018. Following stage separation,
SpaceX will attempt to land Falcon 9’s first stage on
the “Of Course I Still Love You” droneship, which will be
stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
PAYLOAD
The Es’hail-2 satellite is based on the Mitsubishi Electric (MELCO) DS 2000 satellite bus, a proven,
modular platform with high power capability and flexibility for a broad range of applications.
In addition to offering Ku-band resources to support the growing 25.5⁰E / 26.0°E broadcast neighborhood,
Es’hail-2 also features multi-transponder Ka-band capacity, providing business and government sectors
with secure communications across the Middle East and North Africa region. In partnership with leading
service providers, Es’hailSat will offer a portfolio of broadcast and VSAT services to support business
growth.
The spacecraft’s multi-mission architecture will enable Es’hailSat to respond to demand for the fastestgrowing
applications in the Middle East and North Africa, including content transfer, broadcast
distribution, enterprise communications, and government services.
Official SpaceX Es’hail-2 Mission Patch

spacex.com November 2018
MISSION TIMELINE (ALL TIMES APPROXIMATE)
COUNTDOWN
Hour/Min/Sec Events
– 00:38:00 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load
– 00:35:00 RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading underway
– 00:35:00 1st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading underway
– 00:16:00 2nd stage LOX loading underway
– 00:07:00 Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch
– 00:01:00 Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks
– 00:01:00 Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins
– 00:00:45 SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch
– 00:00:03 Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start
– 00:00:00 Falcon 9 liftoff
LAUNCH, LANDING, AND SATELLITE DEPLOYMENT
Hour/Min/Sec Events
00:01:06 Max Q (moment of peak mechanical stress on the rocket)
00:02:35 1st stage main engine cutoff (MECO)
00:02:39 1st and 2nd stages separate
00:02:46 2nd stage engine starts
00:03:47 Fairing deployment
00:06:22 1st stage entry burn
00:08:07 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-1)
00:08:16 1st stage landing
00:26:34 2nd stage engine restarts
00:27:29 2nd stage engine cutoff (SECO-2)
00:32:29 Es’hail-2 satellite deployment
LAUNCH FACILITY
Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center has a long and storied history dating back to the
early 1960s. Originally built to support the Apollo program, LC-39A supported the first Saturn V launch
(Apollo 4), and many subsequent Apollo missions, including Apollo 11 in July 1969. Beginning in the late
1970s, LC-39A was modified to support Space Shuttle launches, hosting the first and last shuttle
missions to orbit in 1981 and 2011 respectively.
In 2014, SpaceX signed a 20-year lease with NASA for the use of historic LC-39A. Since then, the
company has made significant upgrades to modernize the pad’s structures and ground systems, while
also preserving its important heritage. Extensive modifications to LC-39A have been made to support
launches of both commercial and crew missions on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch
vehicles.
RESOURCES
SpaceX Contact | James Gleeson, Communications Director, 202-649-2633, media@spacex.com.
Photos | High-resolution photos will be posted at flickr.com/spacex.
Webcast | Launch webcast will go live about 15 minutes before liftoff at spacex.com/webcast.