Author Topic: LIVE: Proton-M launch with Satmex 8 - March 26, 2013  (Read 46497 times)

Offline Chris Bergin

Re: LIVE: Proton-M launch with Satmex 8 - March 26, 2013
« Reply #140 on: 03/27/2013 02:48 pm »
SSL-built SATELLITE SATMEX 8 successfully

performs post-launch maneuvers

 

PALO ALTO, Calif. – March 27, 2013 — Space Systems/Loral (SSL), the world’s leading provider of commercial satellites, today announced that the Satmex 8 satellite, designed and built for Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (Satmex), was launched yesterday and is successfully performing post-launch maneuvers according to plan. The satellite deployed its solar arrays on schedule following its launch aboard a Proton Breeze M launch vehicle provided by International Launch Services (ILS) from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan. The satellite will begin firing its main thruster later today in order to start maneuvering into geosynchronous orbit.

 

“SSL shares Satmex’s focus on quality service and the use of satellite communications for an interconnected world,” said John Celli, president of SSL. “We are pleased to see Satmex 8 performing on orbit where it joins Satmex 6, also built by SSL, which continues to provide reliable service over the Americas.”

 

Satmex 8 is a Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) spacecraft that will provide video content and distribution, broadband services, and cellular backhaul in North, South and Central America. It will also help people in remote areas with services for telemedicine, distance learning, and emergency communications. When the satellite completes in-orbit testing, it will replace Satmex 5 at 116.8 degrees West longitude.

 

“SSL has been an important contributor to our fleet expansion,” said Jesus Gutierrez, program manager and director of engineering of Satmex. “We would like to thank everyone at SSL, ILS, and Satmex who dedicated their time to this satellite and made this launch a success.”

 

Satmex 8 is based on the highly reliable SSL 1300 space-proven platform, which provides the flexibility to support a broad range of applications and technology advances. The satellite is designed to deliver service for 15 years or more. With this launch, there are 72 SSL-built satellites currently on orbit. 

 

About Satmex

Satélites Mexicanos (“Satmex”) is a significant provider of fixed satellite services (“FSS”) in the Americas, coverage of more than 90% of the population of the region. As one of only two privately-managed FSS providers based in Latin America, Satmex (together with its predecessors) has designed, procured, launched and operated three generations of satellites over a 25 year period. Satmex’s current fleet is comprised of three satellites in highly attractive, contiguous orbital slots that enable its customers to effectively serve their entire coverage footprint utilizing a single satellite connection.

 

For further information, visit www.satmex.com

 

About SSL

SSL has a long history of delivering reliable satellites and spacecraft systems for commercial and government customers around the world. As the world’s leading provider of commercial satellites, the company works closely with satellite operators to provide spacecraft for a broad range of services including television and radio distribution, digital audio radio, broadband Internet, and mobile communications. Billions of people around the world depend on SSL satellites every day. For more information, visit www.ssloral.com.

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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: LIVE: Proton-M launch with Satmex 8 - March 26, 2013
« Reply #141 on: 03/27/2013 03:07 pm »
SSL-built SATELLITE SATMEX 8 successfully performs post-launch maneuvers

..................

There aren't a lot of high-res Proton launch photos around the Internet, so here's one included in the SS/L press release:  :)
Astronomy & spaceflight geek penguin. In a relationship w/ Space Shuttle Discovery. Current Priority: Chasing the Chinese Spaceflight Wonder Egg & A Certain Chinese Mars Rover

Offline Adonis1

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Re: LIVE: Proton-M launch with Satmex 8 - March 26, 2013
« Reply #142 on: 03/27/2013 06:02 pm »

Offline input~2

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Re: LIVE: Proton-M launch with Satmex 8 - March 26, 2013
« Reply #143 on: 03/28/2013 08:46 am »
The 2nd stage and both parts of fairing fell in the prescribed area SW of Lake Teletskoye, Altai R., Russian Federation

« Last Edit: 04/02/2013 04:41 pm by input~2 »

Offline input~2

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Re: LIVE: Proton-M launch with Satmex 8 - March 26, 2013
« Reply #144 on: 03/28/2013 09:39 am »
The 1st stage fell some 50km south of Karsakbay, Kazakhstan in the prescribed area

Offline input~2

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Re: LIVE: Proton-M launch with Satmex 8 - March 26, 2013
« Reply #145 on: 04/01/2013 07:22 am »
An interesting BBC article on Proton 2nd stage debris potential health hazard:
"Russians say space rocket debris is health hazard"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19127713

Edit: "The Telegraph" had a similar article in 2001
More details on debris drop zones over Altai Rep. and environmental impact (in Russian) at
http://ekologia-ra.ru/osobye-vidy-vozdejstviya-na-okruzhayuschuyu-sredu/raketno-kosmicheskaya-deyatelnost/
« Last Edit: 04/02/2013 04:43 pm by input~2 »

Offline Stan Black

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Re: LIVE: Proton-M launch with Satmex 8 - March 26, 2013
« Reply #146 on: 04/01/2013 01:31 pm »
An interesting BBC article on Proton 2nd stage debris potential health hazard:
"Russians say space rocket debris is health hazard"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19127713


Since 1998 Proton has apparently vented its spent stages; and the Proton-M allows for less residual propellents…
« Last Edit: 04/01/2013 01:34 pm by Stan Black »

Offline Lar

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Re: LIVE: Proton-M launch with Satmex 8 - March 26, 2013
« Reply #147 on: 04/01/2013 03:22 pm »
An interesting BBC article on Proton 2nd stage debris potential health hazard:
"Russians say space rocket debris is health hazard"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19127713


Since 1998 Proton has apparently vented its spent stages; and the Proton-M allows for less residual propellents…
Even so, this seems an argument in favor of reuse...
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

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