CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A Turkish telecommunications satellite designed to cover a vast region over Europe and Asia is poised to lift-off Friday a top a Russian Proton rocket from Kazakhstan.
The launch of an International Launch Services Proton-M from the Baikonur Cosmodrome is planned for 4:40 p.m. EDT (2:40 a.m. local time) from launch pad 39. The launch window is
“This is the second ILS Proton launch for Mitsubishi Electric and Turksat, following the launch of TURKSAT 4A in February of last year," Karen R. Monaghan, ILS Director of Communications, explained on Thursday. "The powerful TURKSAT 4B satellite, weighing nearly 5 metric tons at separation, will enhance direct TV broadcasting services over a wide geographic region including Turkey, Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa."
The TurkSat 4B spacecraft will host 36 transponders to provide increased customer usage. The satellite is expected to operate for at least 15 years, and will have enough maneuvering fuel for up to 30 years of service.
“A little over a minute after lift-off, Proton will experience Maximum Dynamic Pressure and will be traveling at three times the speed of sound," Monaghan said discussing the flight. "The first three stages of Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the Breeze M upper stage and the TURKSAT 4B satellite into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geostationary transfer orbit."
Showing posts with label Proton M. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Proton M. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Russian rocket launches European emergency respose satellite
A spacecraft designed to improve emergency response time and boost communications between Europe and Africa lifted off high atop a Russian Proton rocket on Saturday and into the predawn skies over Kazakhstan.
The ASTRA 2G spacecraft will complete a cluster of three satellites in geostationary orbit designed to assist in satellite communications and emergency response in a broad region of the earth from the United Kingdom, across Europe and over western Africa.
"The ground processing (and) lift-off have proceeded nominally," the Khrunichev Space Center announced minutes after the launch. "The orbital unit separated nominally from the (third) stage, and continued the mission in a standalone mode."
Based from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg, the ASTRA trio of satellites will assist the e-health platform of SATMED in the rapid response time following a natural disaster. Astra will improve high speed Internet access and voice and data relay to areas without network coverage.
The emergency alert spacecraft ran to an emergency of its own en route to it's launch site half way between Moscow and Baikonur Cosmodrome. An aircraft carrying the Astra 2G from Moscow to the launch site avoided an inflight emergency on October 29. The Russian AN-124-100 plane's number four engine suffered a temperature spike which forced the flight to perform an emergency landing in Ulyanovsk, 800 miles southeast of Moscow. The flight was completed the following day.
The launcher and it's payload were rolled out to it's historic launch pad 39, Yuri Gagrin's launch complex, at Baikonur on Wednesday in preparation for flight. The 191-foot tall Proton rocket includes three main stages and a Breeze-M boost stage to complete its mission.
Frigid temperatures at the launch site dropped to near zero as the countdown reached zero. The International Launch Services Proton-M six RD276 engines ignited illuminating the black night with yellow and orange flames. The silver rocket's combined 1.55 million pounds of weight began to climb skyward at 4:37:49 p.m. EST (3:37 a.m. local time, Sunday), riding a 300-foot golden flame.
The Proton rocket soared higher and faster as the first stage rapidly drank it's fuel. Two minutes into the flight, the now empty first stage separated and the second stage's four engines immediately ignited steering the rocket on a easterly course.
The Breeze-M upper stage will perform five separate burns over eight hours to boost ASTRA into its transfer orbit. Astra is expected to separate from Breeze nine hours after lift-off (1:49 a.m.) 22,300 miles above the equator north of Madagascar beginning a 15-year lifespan.
This launch also marked the 401st mission of Russia's Proton rocket since the program began during the cold war days of the space race in July 1965.
This launch was delayed several weeks after launch pad testing discovered undisclosed issues between the satellite and it's upper stage. The rocket's manufacture Khrunichev State Research and Production returned Proton to it's assembly building "to eliminate the identified faults".
The Proton launch occurs following a string on Proton failures over the last few years, including on May 16 in which a failure of the third stage caused its lone satellite to be lost. This launch marked the seventh Proton launch of the year.
The ASTRA 2G spacecraft will complete a cluster of three satellites in geostationary orbit designed to assist in satellite communications and emergency response in a broad region of the earth from the United Kingdom, across Europe and over western Africa.
"The ground processing (and) lift-off have proceeded nominally," the Khrunichev Space Center announced minutes after the launch. "The orbital unit separated nominally from the (third) stage, and continued the mission in a standalone mode."
Based from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg, the ASTRA trio of satellites will assist the e-health platform of SATMED in the rapid response time following a natural disaster. Astra will improve high speed Internet access and voice and data relay to areas without network coverage.
The emergency alert spacecraft ran to an emergency of its own en route to it's launch site half way between Moscow and Baikonur Cosmodrome. An aircraft carrying the Astra 2G from Moscow to the launch site avoided an inflight emergency on October 29. The Russian AN-124-100 plane's number four engine suffered a temperature spike which forced the flight to perform an emergency landing in Ulyanovsk, 800 miles southeast of Moscow. The flight was completed the following day.
The launcher and it's payload were rolled out to it's historic launch pad 39, Yuri Gagrin's launch complex, at Baikonur on Wednesday in preparation for flight. The 191-foot tall Proton rocket includes three main stages and a Breeze-M boost stage to complete its mission.
Frigid temperatures at the launch site dropped to near zero as the countdown reached zero. The International Launch Services Proton-M six RD276 engines ignited illuminating the black night with yellow and orange flames. The silver rocket's combined 1.55 million pounds of weight began to climb skyward at 4:37:49 p.m. EST (3:37 a.m. local time, Sunday), riding a 300-foot golden flame.
The Proton rocket soared higher and faster as the first stage rapidly drank it's fuel. Two minutes into the flight, the now empty first stage separated and the second stage's four engines immediately ignited steering the rocket on a easterly course.
The Breeze-M upper stage will perform five separate burns over eight hours to boost ASTRA into its transfer orbit. Astra is expected to separate from Breeze nine hours after lift-off (1:49 a.m.) 22,300 miles above the equator north of Madagascar beginning a 15-year lifespan.
This launch also marked the 401st mission of Russia's Proton rocket since the program began during the cold war days of the space race in July 1965.
This launch was delayed several weeks after launch pad testing discovered undisclosed issues between the satellite and it's upper stage. The rocket's manufacture Khrunichev State Research and Production returned Proton to it's assembly building "to eliminate the identified faults".
The Proton launch occurs following a string on Proton failures over the last few years, including on May 16 in which a failure of the third stage caused its lone satellite to be lost. This launch marked the seventh Proton launch of the year.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Russia's Proton delivers replacement satellite for the Americas
A Russian rocket lifts-off on Friday from Kazakhstan. (ILS)A Russian rocket carried a new communications satellite into earth orbit today
The workhorse of Russia's commercial launch fleet, the Proton M lifted on it's first flight of the year.
An International Launch Services Proton M lifted-off on time at 3:15 p.m. EDT (1915 GMT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in western Kazakhstan.
The rocket launched into the blackness of a clear night, and it's core booster engine was visible for several minutes from the launch site.
Built by Space Systems/ Loral, the Telstar 14R will provide telecommunications and high data network for homes and businesses in North, Central and the upper regions of South America.
The nearly 11,000-pound spacecraft will replace the failed Telstar 14 which was launched in 2004. One of it's two power producing solar arrays failed to deploy crippling the service ability.
Spacecraft separation from the rocket's Breeze M upper stage is planned for 12:28 a.m. Saturday.
Friday, June 04, 2010
Russian Proton Launches ArabSat's BADR-5
A Russian rocket lifted-off with an advanced direct to home broadcast satellite for Arab Satellite Communications as the company increases support for Saudi Arabia and Africa.Arabsat's BADR-5 satellite will operate in an orbital plane close to the BADR-4 and 6 satellites, broadcasting direct to home network channels, and expand Arabsat's high def channels lineup.
Liftoff of the International Launch Services Proton-M from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in western Kazakhstan occurred on time this evening at 6:00 pm EDT (2200 GMT) from launch pad 39.
This was ILS's 60th Proton launch, and the sixth Proton launch of the year.
The Proton rocket soared into the dark morning skies of the predawn as it climbed eastward and across Kazakhstan.
The booster's six RD-276 engines provided a lift-off thrust of 2.5 million pounds to loft the 1.55 million pound fully fueled rocket up and away.
Two minutes into the ascent, the first stage dropped away and the second stage's three RD-0210 engines took over to power the rocket another three and one-half minutes.
Seconds after the third stage took over at 6:05:30 pm, the protective payload cover peeled away as the craft entered the last traces of the earth's atmosphere.
Powered by a lone RD-0213 engine, the third stage's trajectory kept the craft on a due east flight plan as it began to fly high over Mongolia.
The third stage later separated from the Breeze-M upper stage. This upper stage then began to steer and place the spacecraft into it planned geostationary orbit during a series of five long burns over the next several hours.
The Breeze-M uses one main engine which supports a thrust of 4500 pounds.
At the conclusion of five insertion burns by the Breeze-M, the 11,949 pound satellite will separate high over the equator east of Africa at 3:13 am EDT on Friday.
At this point, BADR-5 will be in a planned elliptical orbit of 22,236 x 3598 miles high. Over the next few weeks, the satellite's orbital low point will be raised to ensure the craft stays in a fixed point at 26 degrees East.
BADR-5 will be placed in a geostationary orbit over central Africa at 26 degrees East where it will utilize both it's Ku-Band and Ka-Band transponders to provide more channels to a larger footprint of the middle east region.
On Monday, the 191-foot Proton-M rocket was rolled out to it's desert launch complex via railway in a horizontal position. It was then raised up to the vertical position to be connected by ground umbilicals which will provide electrical power and fuel lines.
On June 23rd, the European Space Agency will launch the Arabsat 5A from South America aboard an Ariane 5.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Proton-M Launches American Satellite to Orbit
An American satellite design to provide high definition television and high speed data to North America was launched from Kazakhstan today.
Liftoff of an International Launch Services Russian Proton-M occurred at 7:19:01 am EDT (1119 GMT) today, darting it's way into a warm blue sky.
The rocket's launch azimuth was 61.2 degrees.
The satellite will operate for SES World Skies from a geostationary altitude located at 101 degrees west.
Spacecraft separation from the Breeze-M upper stage is expected at 4:17 pm today, as the duo fly over the waters of the Indian Ocean just west of Somalia, Africa.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Russian Proton to Launch American Satellite Saturday
SES-1 will support North American TV and data services. (SES)A Russian rocket will carry into orbit an American communications satellite designed for high definition television and data services for North America on Saturday.
An International Launch Service Proton-M with the SES-1/AMC-4R spacecraft is set to launch on Saturday at 7:19:01 am EDT (1119 GMT) from pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The SES-1 spacecraft will begin service weeks following launch to deliver high speed data or video to VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) credit card stations and HD-resolution video for networks.
The SES-1 supports 24 Ku-Band and 24 C-Band transponders as it anchors in geostationary orbit at 101 degrees West.
The spacecraft will operate for SES World Skies with an expected design life of 17 years.
The four-stage ILS Proton rocket stands 184 feet tall, and at launch will weigh 1,523,000 pounds fueled.
Powered by a core booster hosting six RD-276 engines, the first stage burn will last two minutes as the rocket speeds eastward out over Kazakhstan.
The second stage then takes over as the Proton heads out over northern Mongolia.
The spacecraft's protective fairing will peel away from the upper stage nearly six minutes into flight exposing the satellite to the first traces of space flight.
Following a four minute burn by the third stage's RD-0213 engine, the Breeze-M upper stage will then take over with a series of four burns to carry the spacecraft into a transfer orbit.
The final burn is scheduled for eight and one-half minutes into the flight and will last for twelve minutes.
The Breeze stage uses one main engine which is gimbaled during it's burns to carry it to a geostationary orbit 22,220 miles above the equator.
Spacecraft separation from the Breeze-M will occur at 4:17 pm EDT, over the waters of the Indian Ocean just west of Somalia.
An SES-3 spacecraft is scheduled for launch in February 2011.
The Proton was moved out to it's launch pad on the morning of April 20th by way of railway.
Also of note, SES has a spacecraft known as the Astra 3B down in Kourou, South America ready for launch in May. It's launch has been delayed a month due to an issue with the Ariane 5 rocket and it's launcher subsystems in early-April.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Russian Proton lofts DISH-TV Satellite into Space
The workhorse of the Russian launch vehicles lifted-off tonight to deliver an upgraded satellite which will expand high definition services for the DISH-TV consumer pay television service.
Launch of the heaviest Proton satellite delivery mission began today at 2:27 pm EDT (12:27 am local time) or 1827 GMT -- the first day of the Spring Equinox.
Tonight's midnight launch from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in western Kazakhstan occurred on time as it punched through a clear, starry sky, and began it's trajectory across the country with a 61.25 launch azimuth.
The 191-foot Proton carried the EchoStar 14 satellite into orbit for the DISH-TV network's over 14 million customers in the United States.
Following a series of five long burns by the upper stage, the spacecraft will separate from the Breeze-M upper stage at 11:37 pm tonight (0337 GMT) -- just over nine hours following launch as it flies high off the Somalia coast.
This was the 21st ILS Proton launch in the last twenty months; and only the 355th Proton flight since the very first launch occurred in July 1965.
The next ILS Proton-M launch from Baikonour is planned for April 24th when it carries aloft the SES-01 satellite.
Launch of the heaviest Proton satellite delivery mission began today at 2:27 pm EDT (12:27 am local time) or 1827 GMT -- the first day of the Spring Equinox.
Tonight's midnight launch from the Baikonour Cosmodrome in western Kazakhstan occurred on time as it punched through a clear, starry sky, and began it's trajectory across the country with a 61.25 launch azimuth.
The 191-foot Proton carried the EchoStar 14 satellite into orbit for the DISH-TV network's over 14 million customers in the United States.
Following a series of five long burns by the upper stage, the spacecraft will separate from the Breeze-M upper stage at 11:37 pm tonight (0337 GMT) -- just over nine hours following launch as it flies high off the Somalia coast.
This was the 21st ILS Proton launch in the last twenty months; and only the 355th Proton flight since the very first launch occurred in July 1965.
The next ILS Proton-M launch from Baikonour is planned for April 24th when it carries aloft the SES-01 satellite.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Russian Proton-M set to launch DISH-TV satellite
A Russian rocket will launch a new satellite for the DISH-TV cable system on Saturday as the company expands it's North America broadcast services in high definition.
An International Launch Services Proton-M rocket is set to launch the EchoStar XIV spacecraft from pad 200 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 20 at 2:27 pm EDT (1827 GMT).
Lift-off weight of the fueled rocket will be 1.55 million pounds.
This latest EchoStar will operate above the equator at 119 degrees west, and hold a position there to provide nearly 14 million Dish-TV subscribers in the United States high def television programming.
The 191-foot tall Proton rocket began it's horizontal move out to launch pad 39 on Tuesday evening to begin a standard three days of prelaunch hooks ups and preparations.
The Proton's first stage is powered by six RD-276 engines, which when ignited, will burn for just shy of two minutes. The engines burn an oxidizer fuel as a center tank feeds the fuel to six external tanks which line the outside of the rocket.
As the second stage takes over powered flight seconds later, it's three RD-0210 engines will push it's payload higher and faster during the next three minutes and 27 seconds.
Once the third stage takes over, the protective cover cone around the satellite will spit down from the tip and peel away at T+ 5 minutes, 47 seconds into the ascent. Stage three is powered for just over two minutes with just one RD-0213 main engine and a four nozzle vernier engine as the rocket continues it's eastward trajectory.
All engines are built by NPO Energomash which is located in Khimky outside of Moscow.
A little less than ten minutes into the ascent profile, the third stage will separate from the Breeze-M (BRIZ-M) upper stage. Two minutes later, at 2:38:44 pm EDT, the Breeze will begin a five minute, 30 second burn -- the first in a series of five burns.
As the Breeze-M carries its payload over Mongolia and the northeastern region of China, it's initial low orbit of 107 miles will slowly be raised over the next few hours as it maneuvers toward a geostationary orbit of 22,250 miles. The satellite's orbital inclination will be 26.7 degrees to the equator.
Following a series of five long burns by the upper stage, Dish-TV's newest satellite will separate from Breeze at 11:37 pm (0337 GMT) -- just over nine hours following launch as it flies high off the Somalia coast.
The EchoStar-14 (SS/L-1300 design) built by Space Systems/Loral, carries a mass of 14,034 pounds on-orbit, and is expected to be in service for nearly 15 years.
EchoStar carries 103 Ku-Band antennas for receiving and transmitting specific television cable networks for Dish-TV.
Saturday's launch will be the second Proton of the year, and the 58th ILS-launched Proton rocket.
An International Launch Services Proton-M rocket is set to launch the EchoStar XIV spacecraft from pad 200 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on March 20 at 2:27 pm EDT (1827 GMT).
Lift-off weight of the fueled rocket will be 1.55 million pounds.
This latest EchoStar will operate above the equator at 119 degrees west, and hold a position there to provide nearly 14 million Dish-TV subscribers in the United States high def television programming.
The 191-foot tall Proton rocket began it's horizontal move out to launch pad 39 on Tuesday evening to begin a standard three days of prelaunch hooks ups and preparations.
The Proton's first stage is powered by six RD-276 engines, which when ignited, will burn for just shy of two minutes. The engines burn an oxidizer fuel as a center tank feeds the fuel to six external tanks which line the outside of the rocket.
As the second stage takes over powered flight seconds later, it's three RD-0210 engines will push it's payload higher and faster during the next three minutes and 27 seconds.
Once the third stage takes over, the protective cover cone around the satellite will spit down from the tip and peel away at T+ 5 minutes, 47 seconds into the ascent. Stage three is powered for just over two minutes with just one RD-0213 main engine and a four nozzle vernier engine as the rocket continues it's eastward trajectory.
All engines are built by NPO Energomash which is located in Khimky outside of Moscow.
A little less than ten minutes into the ascent profile, the third stage will separate from the Breeze-M (BRIZ-M) upper stage. Two minutes later, at 2:38:44 pm EDT, the Breeze will begin a five minute, 30 second burn -- the first in a series of five burns.
As the Breeze-M carries its payload over Mongolia and the northeastern region of China, it's initial low orbit of 107 miles will slowly be raised over the next few hours as it maneuvers toward a geostationary orbit of 22,250 miles. The satellite's orbital inclination will be 26.7 degrees to the equator.
Following a series of five long burns by the upper stage, Dish-TV's newest satellite will separate from Breeze at 11:37 pm (0337 GMT) -- just over nine hours following launch as it flies high off the Somalia coast.
The EchoStar-14 (SS/L-1300 design) built by Space Systems/Loral, carries a mass of 14,034 pounds on-orbit, and is expected to be in service for nearly 15 years.
EchoStar carries 103 Ku-Band antennas for receiving and transmitting specific television cable networks for Dish-TV.
Saturday's launch will be the second Proton of the year, and the 58th ILS-launched Proton rocket.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Russian Proton-M set for night launch today
Russia will launch a cluster of satellites into space in a few hours as it expands the navigational network and replaces several aging spacecraft.
A Proton-M rocket is to carry three GLONASS-M navigational satellites into orbit tonight at 4:19 pm EST (2119 GMT) or 00:20 Moscow time from launch pad 81 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
What America call the Global Positioning system or GPS, mulitple countries including Russia call their satellite constellation for navigation the Global Navigation Satellite System or GLONASS.
The first GLONASS satellites were launched in October 1982, and currently have 22 in orbit -- nineteen of which are operational.
Where the GPS orbits at an inclination of 55 degrees to the earth's equator, each of the GLONASS satellites orbit at an inclination of 64.8 degrees. The higher the number the larger the area of the eastern hemisphere is covered by the system. Each orbit is just over 11 hours long.
Each GLONASS spacecraft travels in a 11,893 mile high circular orbit. Each GPS satellite orbits
The GLONASS satellites provide realtime location data as well as the velocity of an object.
A Proton-M rocket is to carry three GLONASS-M navigational satellites into orbit tonight at 4:19 pm EST (2119 GMT) or 00:20 Moscow time from launch pad 81 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
What America call the Global Positioning system or GPS, mulitple countries including Russia call their satellite constellation for navigation the Global Navigation Satellite System or GLONASS.
The first GLONASS satellites were launched in October 1982, and currently have 22 in orbit -- nineteen of which are operational.
Where the GPS orbits at an inclination of 55 degrees to the earth's equator, each of the GLONASS satellites orbit at an inclination of 64.8 degrees. The higher the number the larger the area of the eastern hemisphere is covered by the system. Each orbit is just over 11 hours long.
Each GLONASS spacecraft travels in a 11,893 mile high circular orbit. Each GPS satellite orbits
The GLONASS satellites provide realtime location data as well as the velocity of an object.
GLONASS Constellation Status as of today, March 1, 2010:
|GLONASS|Cosmos|Plane/|Frequ.| Launch | Intro | Status |
|number |number| slot |chann.| date | date |
| 730 | 2456 | 1/01 | 01 | 14.12.2009 | 30.01.2010 | operating |
| 728 | 2448 | 1/02 | -4 | 25.12.2008 | 20.01.2009 | operating |
| 727 | 2447 | 1/03 | 05 | 25.12.2008 | 17.01.2009 | operating |
| 733 | 2457 | 1/04 | 06 | 14.12.2009 | 24.01.2010 | operating |
| 734 | 2458 | 1/05 | 01 | 14.12.2009 | 10.01.2010 | operating |
| 712 | 2413 | 1/07 | 05 | 26.12.2004 | 22.12.2005 | operating |
| 729 | 2449 | 1/08 | 06 | 25.12.2008 | 12.02.2009 | operating |
| 722 | 2435 | 2/09 | -2 | 25.12.2007 | 25.01.2008 | operating |
| 717 | 2426 | 2/10 | -7 | 25.12.2006 | 03.04.2007 | operating |
| 723 | 2436 | 2/11 | 00 | 25.12.2007 | 22.01.2008 | operating |
| 721 | 2434 | 2/13 | -2 | 25.12.2007 | 08.02.2008 | operating |
| 715 | 2424 | 2/14 | -7 | 25.12.2006 | 03.04.2007 | unusable |
| 716 | 2425 | 2/15 | 00 | 25.12.2006 | 12.10.2007 | operating |
| 718 | 2431 | 3/17 | 04 | 26.10.2007 | 04.12.2007 | operating |
| 724 | 2442 | 3/18 | -3 | 25.09.2008 | 26.10.2008 | operating |
| 720 | 2433 | 3/19 | 03 | 26.10.2007 | 25.11.2007 | operating |
| 719 | 2432 | 3/20 | 02 | 26.10.2007 | 27.11.2007 | operating |
| 725 | 2443 | 3/21 | 04 | 25.09.2008 | 05.11.2008 | operating |
| 726 | 2444 | 3/22 | -3 | 25.09.2008 | 13.11.2008 | unusable |
| 714 | 2419 | 3/23 | 03 | 25.12.2005 | 31.08.2006 | operating |
Note: All the dates (DD.MM.YY) are given at Moscow Time (UTC+0300)
Friday, February 12, 2010
Russian Proton rocket launches Intelsat 16
(Updated 5:30 am) -- A Russian Proton rocket launched a new communications satellite into orbit tonight set to provide high definition broadcasting for the Latin American region.
The International Launch Services Proton M rocket lifted-off at 7:39 pm EST, Thursday (0039 GMT) or 6:39 am local time this morning from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Carrying the Intelsat 16 television satellite, the Proton departed a very cold, below zero launch complex 39 and climbed into a dark sky as it flew eastward powered by six RD-275 engines in a 360-degree formation.
Total lift-off weight of the fueled rocket was 1,523,000 million pounds. Proton's thrust at launch was 2,360,000 to compensate and be able to win the fight over gravity.
Two minutes into the flight, the first stage burned out and was jettisoned. The four engine second stage then fired for the next three and one-half minutes propelling the craft higher as it continued on it's 51 degree inclination.
After burning it's third stage, the Breeze-M upper stage began a series of four major burns to get the spacecraft closer to it's transfer orbit of 308 x 23,412 miles as the vehicle crossed over an area between northwest Africa and southern Europe.
After achieving a near geostationary orbit, the Breeze-M released Intelsat 16 at 5:14 am EST (1014 GMT) this morning as it flew high off Africa's east coast and above the equator. Intelsat 16 will begin a nearly 15 year mission in a few months providing HDTV services to Mexico and Brazil through SKY network, a division of DIRECTv.
The International Launch Services Proton M rocket lifted-off at 7:39 pm EST, Thursday (0039 GMT) or 6:39 am local time this morning from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
Carrying the Intelsat 16 television satellite, the Proton departed a very cold, below zero launch complex 39 and climbed into a dark sky as it flew eastward powered by six RD-275 engines in a 360-degree formation.
Total lift-off weight of the fueled rocket was 1,523,000 million pounds. Proton's thrust at launch was 2,360,000 to compensate and be able to win the fight over gravity.
Two minutes into the flight, the first stage burned out and was jettisoned. The four engine second stage then fired for the next three and one-half minutes propelling the craft higher as it continued on it's 51 degree inclination.
After burning it's third stage, the Breeze-M upper stage began a series of four major burns to get the spacecraft closer to it's transfer orbit of 308 x 23,412 miles as the vehicle crossed over an area between northwest Africa and southern Europe.
After achieving a near geostationary orbit, the Breeze-M released Intelsat 16 at 5:14 am EST (1014 GMT) this morning as it flew high off Africa's east coast and above the equator. Intelsat 16 will begin a nearly 15 year mission in a few months providing HDTV services to Mexico and Brazil through SKY network, a division of DIRECTv.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Russian Proton rocket launches DirecTV satellite
A new satellite which will increase the amount of high definition channels DirecTV offers arrived in orbit tonight, and will spend the next several hours moving into a permanent position to service the United States this spring.An International Launch Services Proton-M rocket lifted-off on time at 7:22 pm EST tonight (0022 GMT Tuesday morning) from a chilly pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome and into an overcast sky.
The silver 191-foot tall Proton launched into the cold night sky on the final space shot of 2009, and flew eastward out of Kazakhstan and over Mongolia. Two minutes into the flight, the first stage separated from the upper stage.
Spacecraft separation is planned for 4:32 am EST (3:32 pm Baikonur time) on Tuesday.
The seventh ILS Proton launch of the year carried the Boeing-built DirecTV 12 will provide expanded high definition channels for the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.The satellite will use two huge Ka-band refelctors -- each measuring nearly 3 meters in diameter -- for the reception and transmission of over 200 cable channels.
Since 1994, Boeing has built 11 satellites for DirecTV.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Proton-M prepares for Monday night launch
On a cold, frosty Christmas morning at the Yuzhny Space Center in Kazakhstan, a Russian Proton-M rocket was transfered to launch pad 39 in preparation for it's night launch on the morning of December 29th (local time).The snow covered space center was a beautiful touch to a desert region as the Proton was moved by railway. Thank-you to S.Sergeev at Yuzhny for the great images and read our story below)
SpaceLaunchNews.com will carry the prelaunch through ascent LIVE beginning at 7PM EST on Monday evening (0:00 GMT on Tuesday morning).
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Russian Proton to Launch DirecTV Satellite Monday
A Russian rocket will deliver to orbit a telecommunications satellite for the Americas next week as the final earth launch of the year.A new DirecTV satellite will support broader high definition broadcasts to the United States, and increase the amount of HD channels DirecTV carries. Built by Boeing Space, the spacecraft will orbit in geostationary orbit, and will support an additional 200-plus HD channels for the broadcast company.
Liftoff of the Proton M rocket (UR-500) with the DirecTV-12 satellite is planned for December 28th at 7:22 pm EST (0022 GMT Dec. 29) from pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The 1.55 million pound Proton M's launch profile will see the rocket fly eastward over Kazakhstan, neighboring Mongolia and eastern China before sailing over the Korean peninsula and southern Japan. It's orbital inclination will then carry it over the southern Pacific Ocean and then up toward South America.
The Proton's first stage -- which supports six liquid fueled RD-276 engines and a core engine -- will burn from launch until just prior to stage separation at T+2 minutes. The second stage will then burn three RD-0210 engines for the next 206 seconds of the flight. The rocket's third stage will next take over to carry the satellite into low earth orbit.
A series of five burns will then raise the craft's orbit ever higher to it's geo-transfer orbit.
Spacecraft separation from it's kick motor is scheduled to occur nine hours, ten minutes post-launch over southern Somalia, Africa, in an initial orbit of 3,181 x 22,236 miles.
Designed to operate for 15 years, the DirecTV satellite will become operational by March and operate over the equator at a planned position of 102.8 west longitude.
The 131-transponder DirecTV-12 spacecraft was mated to the Proton's adapter on December 13. A day later, the adapter was then mated to the rocket's Breeze-M upper stage, according to International Launch Services.
Monday's launch will be the seventh ILS Proton launch of 2009, and only the 56th Proton launch for ILS overall.
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