Quote from: russianhalo117 on 01/24/2017 09:45 pmQuote from: ZachS09 on 01/24/2017 07:32 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 01/24/2017 04:19 pmQuote from: ZachS09 on 01/24/2017 03:33 pmEven if this delay won't stop, will EchoStar still want EchoStar 21 to be launched atop Proton?I ask that because they tend to change launch vehicles if the delay is too much. What if they ask ULA to use one of their Atlas Vs in the near future?Its possible, but it becomes more difficult to transport a previously fueled spacecraft as some cargo airlines do not allow spacecraft matching those circumstances or it become costly and restrictive to do so.Remind me: how long has EchoStar 21 been fueled?Preparations for fueling started on November 27, 2016 and fuel loading was completed on December 14, 2016.I understand that the hydrazine monopropellants are storable, meaning it can stay in the tanks for many years, but just in case of corrosion, how long will it be until they empty the tanks?
Quote from: ZachS09 on 01/24/2017 07:32 pmQuote from: russianhalo117 on 01/24/2017 04:19 pmQuote from: ZachS09 on 01/24/2017 03:33 pmEven if this delay won't stop, will EchoStar still want EchoStar 21 to be launched atop Proton?I ask that because they tend to change launch vehicles if the delay is too much. What if they ask ULA to use one of their Atlas Vs in the near future?Its possible, but it becomes more difficult to transport a previously fueled spacecraft as some cargo airlines do not allow spacecraft matching those circumstances or it become costly and restrictive to do so.Remind me: how long has EchoStar 21 been fueled?Preparations for fueling started on November 27, 2016 and fuel loading was completed on December 14, 2016.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 01/24/2017 04:19 pmQuote from: ZachS09 on 01/24/2017 03:33 pmEven if this delay won't stop, will EchoStar still want EchoStar 21 to be launched atop Proton?I ask that because they tend to change launch vehicles if the delay is too much. What if they ask ULA to use one of their Atlas Vs in the near future?Its possible, but it becomes more difficult to transport a previously fueled spacecraft as some cargo airlines do not allow spacecraft matching those circumstances or it become costly and restrictive to do so.Remind me: how long has EchoStar 21 been fueled?
Quote from: ZachS09 on 01/24/2017 03:33 pmEven if this delay won't stop, will EchoStar still want EchoStar 21 to be launched atop Proton?I ask that because they tend to change launch vehicles if the delay is too much. What if they ask ULA to use one of their Atlas Vs in the near future?Its possible, but it becomes more difficult to transport a previously fueled spacecraft as some cargo airlines do not allow spacecraft matching those circumstances or it become costly and restrictive to do so.
Even if this delay won't stop, will EchoStar still want EchoStar 21 to be launched atop Proton?I ask that because they tend to change launch vehicles if the delay is too much. What if they ask ULA to use one of their Atlas Vs in the near future?
According to NK forum, launch won't take place before June-July.
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 11/16/2016 08:35 pmSearching around the ILS web site, I found this web page here:http://www.ilslaunch.com/node/4713From there, I found a draft mission overview here, dated November 15:http://www.ilslaunch.com/sites/default/files/pdf/EchoStarXXI-MO-DRAFT.pdfThe launch schedule thread has this mission launching December 22.I'll be interested to hear about the conclusions of the commission investigating the performance shortfall of the previous Proton launch's second stage and the actions to fix the issue.Also, I'm wondering when the satellite will be delivered to Baikonur.It has now been updated. The ‘satellite mission’ section was blank in the draft version.http://www.ilslaunch.com/sites/default/files/pdf/EchoStarXXI-MO.pdf
Searching around the ILS web site, I found this web page here:http://www.ilslaunch.com/node/4713From there, I found a draft mission overview here, dated November 15:http://www.ilslaunch.com/sites/default/files/pdf/EchoStarXXI-MO-DRAFT.pdfThe launch schedule thread has this mission launching December 22.I'll be interested to hear about the conclusions of the commission investigating the performance shortfall of the previous Proton launch's second stage and the actions to fix the issue.Also, I'm wondering when the satellite will be delivered to Baikonur.
Russia’s Proton-M carrier rocket first launch scheduled for MayMOSCOW, March 31. /TASS/. The first launch of Russia’s Proton-M carrier rocket this year is scheduled for the end of May, Chief Designer for Launch Vehicles and Ground Infrastructure Alexander Medvedev said on Friday."The first launch is planned for the end of May," the chief designer said.The launch of an EchoStar 21 spacecraft was planned back last year but was delayed over problems found in the engines of a Proton-M carrier rocket.A total of seven Proton carrier rocket launches are planned until the end of this year under the federal space program and in the interests of commercial customers.Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos earlier recalled for tests all the engines mounted on the second and the third stages of Proton-M carrier rockets and produced at the Voronezh Mechanical Factory.According to Roscosmos, a more expensive solder failing to meet the requirements specification was used by the factory as part of the engine production.Roscosmos also gave instructions to replace the engines produced by this factory and mounted on the third stages of Soyuz-U and Soyuz-FG carrier rockets intended for launches to the International Space Station. The engines had to be replaced after an accident with a Soyuz-U carrier rocket on December 1, 2016, which resulted in the crash of a Progress MS-04 space freighter.After Roscosmos officials visited the Voronezh Mechanical Factory on January 20, Factory Director Ivan Koptev resigned of his own free will over the unsatisfactory work and quality of the enterprise’s output.
NEW YORK, April 5. /TASS/. The next launch of the Proton-M carrier rocket is scheduled to take place on May 29, Roscosmos spokesman Igor Burenkov told TASS by phone from Colorado Springs, where he is taking part in a space conference."The works proceed according to the schedule," he said. ‘We plan to carry out the first launch of Proton on May 29, to put a US satellite into orbit."Commenting on the recall of the Proton engines, the official described it as an "unprecedented matter.""We stick to the policy of transparency," he said. "It’s not about certain flaws found in those engines. We simply had some concerns that some of them may be flawed," he said.
http://tass.com/science/939427QuoteNEW YORK, April 5. /TASS/. The next launch of the Proton-M carrier rocket is scheduled to take place on May 29, Roscosmos spokesman Igor Burenkov told TASS by phone from Colorado Springs, where he is taking part in a space conference."The works proceed according to the schedule," he said. ‘We plan to carry out the first launch of Proton on May 29, to put a US satellite into orbit."Commenting on the recall of the Proton engines, the official described it as an "unprecedented matter.""We stick to the policy of transparency," he said. "It’s not about certain flaws found in those engines. We simply had some concerns that some of them may be flawed," he said.The Russian version of the TASS report says a total of seven Proton launches are planned for this year, both for Roscosmos and for commercial customers.
On track for launch: LV for the EchoStar XXI mission on its way to Baikonur its launch in May. @EchoStar, @sslmda, @ilslaunch, #EchoStarXXI
The train w/EchoStar XXI LV arrived in Baikonur at 2:10 pm today for the integration of the LV w/ the SC. #EchoStarXXI, @EchoStar, @sslmda
Photos of the @EchoStar XXI launch vehicle arriving at the #Baikonur #Cosmodrome over the weekend. @sslmda #rocket
QuoteOn track for launch: LV for the EchoStar XXI mission on its way to Baikonur its launch in May. @EchoStar, @sslmda, @ilslaunch, #EchoStarXXIhttps://twitter.com/krosemonaghan/status/858001534415720452
Moving forward: The Breeze M engine was moved to the fueling area today in Baikonur in prep for the @EchoStar XXI launch this month. @sslmda
Launch of @EchoStar 21 S-band sat for Europe mobile comms on @ILSLaunch Proton rocket set for 'end of 1st wk of June:' ILS's Thomas Carroll