THAICOM 6 Falcon 9 GEO Transfer Mission Launch
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) successfully launched the THAICOM 6 satellite for leading Asian satellite operator THAICOM on Jan 6, 2014, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. A Falcon 9 rocket delivered THAICOM 6 to its targeted geosynchronous transfer orbit at 22.5 degrees inclination. The Falcon 9 launch vehicle performed as expected, meeting 100% of mission objectives.
Falcon 9 Delivering the THAICOM 6 Satellite
On Jan. 6, 2014, Falcon 9 delivered the THAICOM 6 satellite 55,000 mi above Earth.
Falcon 9 Launch Distant Streak
On Jan. 6, 2014, Falcon 9 launched the THAICOM 6 telecommunications satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit, ¼ of the way to the moon.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Before Launching THAICOM 6 Satellite
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launched the Thaicom 6 communications satellite from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Jan. 6, 2014.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Preparing to Launch THAICOM 6
SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Thaicom 6 communications satellite undergoes final preparations before launching from Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Jan. 6, 2014.
SpaceX's Falcon 9 Thaicom 6 Mission Patch
The mission patch for SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket launch carrying the Thaicom 6 communications satellite in January 2013.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket with Thaicom 6
SpaceX's first Falcon 9 rocket to launch in 2014 sits atop its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida for a planned Jan. 6 launch. The rocket will launch the Thaicom 6 communications satellite.
Thaicom 6 Satellite: Artist's Illustration
An artist's illustration of the Thaicom 6 satellite built by Orbital Sciences Corp. The satellite will launch in January 2014 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
From Orbital: 'Thaicom 6 will be located at 78.5 degrees East Longitude, and carries a hybrid Ku- and C-band payload that will generate approximately 3.7 kilowatts of payload power. The Ku-band payload is comprised of eight active transponders that will provide services to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. The C-band payload features 12 active C-band transponders that will provide services via a regional beam to Southeast Asia, and six active C-band transponders that will provide services via a south Africa beam to southern Africa and Madagascar.'
Thaicom 6 Communications Service Footprint
This graphic depicts the service footprint of the Thaicom 6 telecommunications satellite launching in January 2014 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Octaweb
The circular Octaweb engine arrangement of SpaceX's nine Falcon 9 Merlin 1D engines is seen in this image.
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