Author Topic: LIVE: Soyuz ST-A Flight VS14 - Sentinel-1B & Microscope/3xCubesat April 25, 2016  (Read 69098 times)

Offline Lewis007

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Some additional launch pics (high-res) posted by ESA and Arianespace

Offline Jester

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clean hi-res one
« Last Edit: 04/27/2016 01:30 pm by Jester »

Offline Star One

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I found this article covering the launch useful as it also covered the differences between the Soyuz-ST & other Soyuz variants.

http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/04/27/first-countdown-at-new-russian-cosmodrome-aborted-in-final-minutes/

Offline Lewis007

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Revised VS-14 launch poster/sticker, this one without the grounded Norsat cubesat.

Offline SwissCheese

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First Sentinel-1B image of Svalbard, Norway (with an "arctic" color map). That was quick!



http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Sentinel-1B_delivers
« Last Edit: 04/29/2016 01:00 pm by SwissCheese »

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Offline Yiosie

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Interesting (and potentially concerning) update: Sentinel-1B operations have been halted since 23 December 2021 following an electrical anomaly of some kind.

Copernicus Sentinel-1B anomaly [dated Dec. 23, 2021]

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Copernicus Sentinel-1B is unavailable since 23 December 2021 at 06:53 UTC, no data are being generated.
An anomaly occurred onboard, that will require some time for detailed analyses.
The satellite is in a nominal mode, the SAR has been temporarily switched off. Further news will be issued on the recovery operations.

Copernicus Sentinel-1B anomaly (update) [dated Dec. 25, 2021]

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Following the related news of 23 December 2021, detailed investigations have taken place. Specific actions will be performed over the next days to implement an onboard configuration change that will prevent the re-occurrence of the anomaly (that could result in satellite safety risks).
This requires simulations and system validation activities on ground, before upload to the satellite.

This satellite unavailability period may potentially last up to 2 weeks, however all efforts to shorten this unavailability are being deployed.

Copernicus Sentinel-1B anomaly (2nd update) [dated Jan. 7]

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Following the previous news on the Sentinel-1B anomaly that occurred on 23 December 2021, the resuming of the operations was carefully prepared including the on-board configuration changes preventing the anomaly to occur again.

However, during the preparation of the recovery operations, it became clear that the initial anomaly was a consequence of a potential serious problem related to a unit of the power system of the Sentinel-1B satellite. The operations performed over the last days did not allow to reactivate so far a power supply function required for the radar operations.

Further investigations to identify and remedy the root cause will be performed over the next days.

Offline Asteroza

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Sentinel 1B not being available will have a big impact on open SAR data sets, as the need both A and B for the 6 day revisit rate. Some science commenters are noting that 12 day baselines represent a substantial problem for their monitoring data sets.

Offline Rondaz

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As you have become aware, we have had some anomalies with @CopernicusEU #Sentinel1-B lately. Investigations on this are being pursued to identify & try to remedy its root cause. The problem is related to a unit of the power sub-system.

https://twitter.com/AschbacherJosef/status/1481577622849167365

Offline GWR64

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https://sentinels.copernicus.eu/web/sentinel/-/copernicus-sentinel-1b-anomaly-3rd-update/1.2?redirect=%2Fweb%2Fsentinel%2F-%2Fcopernicus-sentinel-1b-anomaly-updat-2%2F

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Copernicus Sentinel-1B anomaly (3rd update)
14 January 2022

Following the previous news on the Sentinel-1B anomaly that occurred on 23 December 2021, further attempts to reactivate the proper functioning of the satellite power system’s affected unit were executed, but were not successful.

All necessary investigations to identify the root cause and possibly fix the issue are on-going.

The satellite remains under control, the thermal control system works properly and the regular orbit control manoeuvres are routinely performed.

We apologize for the inconvenience caused.

Offline russianhalo117

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Cross post since 1C and 1D proposed to be expedited to replace 1A and 1B.

First Vega-C flight now scheduled for May; Sentinel-1C scheduled for mid-2023 (or Q4 2022).

ESA considering moving up radar satellite launch after Sentinel-1B malfunction [dated Jan. 18] (bolds mine)

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The European Space Agency is considering accelerating the launch of a new Earth science satellite after an existing one malfunctioned last month and remains out of service.

Sentinel-1B, a radar imaging satellite launched in April 2016, malfunctioned Dec. 23. Shortly after the anomaly, ESA said they expected to take up to two weeks to restore the satellite to service. However, in a Jan. 7, update, officials said the malfunction was caused by a “potential serious problem related to a unit of the power system” on the spacecraft.

<snip>

As part of the overall Copernicus program, which is jointly run by ESA and the European Union, two new radar imaging satellites, Sentinel-1C and -1D, are in development. Sentinel-1C is scheduled to undergo a flight acceptance review in October before a launch currently scheduled for some time in 2023.

Aschbacher and other ESA officials suggested that launch could be moved up if Sentinel-1B cannot be restored. “We’re now looking into launching them as soon as we can,” he said of Sentinel-1C and -1D.

Simonetta Cheli, director of Earth observation at ESA, said that if the investigation into the Sentinel-1B malfunction doesn’t require any design changes to Sentinel-1C, ESA would be ready to launch Sentinel-1C at any time after the October flight acceptance review. “The current launch date is mid-’23 for -1C, so we would look for any opportunity for potentially launching earlier,” she said. “We don’t have an option yet.”

Daniel Neuenschwander, director of space transportation at ESA, said the launch manifest will depend on the date and outcome of the inaugural flight of the Vega-C, currently scheduled for May. “I see an opportunity at the end of ’22,” he said, with some contract modifications required to support an earlier launch.

Offline Yiosie

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Sentinel-1B status update from today's ESA Council briefing:

https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/1504485686073720837

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Aschbacher: situation is not good regarding efforts to restore Sentinel-1B Earth observation satellite, but not giving up. ESA earth science director Simonetta Cheli says ESA will spend a few more weeks trying to replicate power supply problem on the ground.

Offline Yiosie

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A Sentinel-1B status update was included in the ESA briefing that took place a few days ago:

ESA ends cooperation with Russia on lunar missions [dated Apr. 13]

Quote from: SpaceNews
The briefing also provided a glimmer of hope for Sentinel-1B, the radar imaging satellite that has been out of service since last December when the power supply for its radar payload malfunctioned. Engineers have spent months working to diagnose the problem in the hopes of being able to return it to service while ESA also makes plans to launch a replacement, Sentinel-1C, in the first half of 2023.

“There was quite an interesting reaction in one of the many tests we have conducted,” he said. In that test, the antenna power supply turned on for 4.4 seconds before turning off again. “We’re investigating what this means. We assume there’s some degradation of a capacitor at the core of this problem, but we are not sure yet.”

He said ESA will continue efforts to get the Sentinel-1B payload working again until it’s “100% sure” it can’t be returned to service. “Still, it’s fair to assume that there’s a likelihood that Sentinel-1B may not be recovered.”

Offline GWR64

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https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Copernicus/Sentinel-1/Mission_ends_for_Copernicus_Sentinel-1B_satellite
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Mission ends for Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite
03/08/2022

On 23 December 2021, Copernicus Sentinel-1B experienced an anomaly related to the instrument electronics power supply provided by the satellite platform, leaving it unable to deliver radar data. Since then spacecraft operators and engineers have been working tirelessly to rectify the issue. Unfortunately, despite all concerted efforts, ESA and the European Commission announce that it is the end of the mission for Sentinel-1B. Copernicus Sentinel-1A remains fully operational and plans are in force to launch Sentinel-1C as soon as possible.

ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, Simonetta Cheli, stated, “Unfortunately, we have to announce the end of the mission for the Copernicus Sentinel-1B satellite. The conclusion drawn by the Anomaly Review Board is that it is impossible to recover the 28V regulated bus of the satellite’s C-band synthetic aperture radar antenna power supply unit, which is needed to provide power to the radar electronics.


“Sentinel-1A remains very healthy in orbit, continuing to deliver high-quality radar images for a multitude of applications. Our focus is on fast-tracking the launch of Sentinel-1C. Now, thanks to the successful inaugural flight of the Vega-C rocket on 13 July, we, with Arianespace, are targeting the launch in the second quarter of 2023.”

European Commission’s Acting Director for Space (Directorate General for Defence Industry and Space), Paraskevi Papantoniou, stated, “The permanent unavailability of Sentinel-1B satellite represents an important loss for the European Union’s space programme and the European Commission is engaged to mitigate its impact. We notably managed to move forward the launch of Sentinel-1C satellite.

“Meanwhile, Copernicus Contributing Mission data, including from European New Space companies, will continue to be used to support the most critical Copernicus Services products that are affected. The preparations for the de-orbiting of Sentinel-1B satellite are an example of our joint commitment, for the European Union and ESA, to clean and responsible space, using the EU's Space Surveillance and Tracking capabilities.”

In April 2014, Sentinel-1A was the first satellite to be launched for Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Union’s space programme. While the European Union is at the helm of Copernicus, ESA develops, builds and launches the dedicated Sentinel satellites. It also operates some of the missions.

After the Sentinel-1B launch in April 2016, with the mission comprising two identical satellites orbiting 180° apart, the mission was able to image the planet with a maximum repeat frequency of six days, down to daily coverage at high latitudes.

Carrying advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth’s surface, the ambitious Sentinel-1 mission raised the bar for spaceborne radar.

The mission benefits numerous Copernicus services and applications, such as those that relate to Arctic sea-ice monitoring, iceberg tracking, routine sea-ice mapping, glacier-velocity monitoring, surveillance of the marine environment including oil-spill monitoring and ship detection for maritime security as well as illegal fisheries monitoring. It is also used for monitoring ground deformation resulting from subsidence, earthquakes and volcanoes, mapping for forest, water and soil management, and mapping to support humanitarian aid and crisis situations.

With such an important role to play and users relying on timely data, ESA acted as soon as it was clear that Sentinel-1B’s power issue could take some weeks to resolve, which was the hope at the end of December.

ESA’s Sentinel-1 Mission Manager, Pierre Potin, said, “Together with the European Commission we are making sure to bridge some of the data gaps by adjusting the Sentinel-1A observation plan and through radar data from other satellite missions that contribute to the Copernicus programme. For example, we are able to use data from Canada’s Radarsat-2 and Radarsat Constellation Mission, Germany’s TerraSAR-X, Italy’s COSMO-SkyMed and Spain’s PAZ to support operational sea-ice monitoring for the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service.

“While we continue to try to minimise inconvenience to users and push to get Sentinel-1C into orbit as soon as we can, we are also preparing for the responsible disposal of Sentinel-1B.”

The Sentinel-1 Spacecraft Operations Manager, Alistair O’Connell, added, “We have Sentinel-1B under control, all other systems except the power affected unit, which prevents the radar from being switched on, continue to function nominally and we perform regular monitoring of the spacecraft health and routine orbit control manoeuvres. We will keep Sentinel-1B under control until we can begin the disposal process, which we will start after Sentinel-1C is safely in orbit.

“Deorbiting Sentinel-1B will be carried out according to space debris mitigation requirements that were in place for ESA projects at the time of design of Sentinel-1A and Sentinel-1B, meaning that re-entry in the atmosphere will take place within 25 years. In practice, the re-entry duration is expected to be much shorter.”

Copernicus Sentinel-1C features a world premiere of a new separation mechanism which will help avoid space debris.

A summary of the description of the anomaly, of the investigations and the recovery attempts, as well as the parallel Sentinel-1 mission level actions and way forward is available on the Sentinel Online website.

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Summary of the failure. An incorrectly soldered ceramic capacitor in the radar 28 V power supply is believed to be the main suspect.

"Out of these 18 potential common cause failure modes, one mode was highlighted, and is related to a potential leakage of a ceramic capacitor which is part of the main and redundant regulators of the 28V power regulated bus. This capacitor had to be replaced as a result of a non-compliance detected during the manufacturing and testing phase. For the repair, the capacitor was soldered using a process that may have damaged the component although it was fulfilling product assurance requirements applicable at the time it was applied."
« Last Edit: 08/06/2022 05:26 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1643517359896817666

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Last week, we diverted the #Sentinel1B spacecraft to avoid a #conjunction with an intact (but not manoeuverable) satellite – the NPSat-1 mission from @NPS_Monterey.

#CollisionAvoidance

https://twitter.com/esaoperations/status/1643517363210395650

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A conjunction with another spacecraft (rather than 'just' debris) requires careful coordination between operators.

In this case, the rapid and excellent communication with the Naval School meant we could keep both spacecraft safe.

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