Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 06/08/2017 07:31 pmNow that EchoStar XXI has successfully launched, is there any apparent activity at Baikonur regarding the Blagovest launch campaign?During preparation of EchoStar-21, we have seen wide-angle pictures of MIK-92A-50 showing that no other launcher was there yet.
Now that EchoStar XXI has successfully launched, is there any apparent activity at Baikonur regarding the Blagovest launch campaign?
SOURCES: Assembly of #Proton rocket with #Blagovest military comsat finally completed after difficult compaign: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2017.html#blagovest
August 17: A Proton rocket to launch the Blagovest No. 11L military communications satellite from Baikonur. The launch was previously planned for September and October 2016 and then the end of June 2017. On July 3, 2017, ISS Reshetnev, the spacecraft manufacturer, announced that the satellite had been delivered to the launch site.According to sources familiar with the matter, the Blagovest launch campaign had to overcome a number of technical problems under a very tight deadline. During the assembly of the first stage, a wrong cable connection in the strap-on tanks pushed the preparations at least one day behind schedule. Next, engineers discovered problems with several avionics units requiring urgent air deliveries of replacements from Moscow. Even a dynamometric key used in processing turned out to be defective, while its hastily delivered replacement turned out to be foreign-made, which military controllers banned from operations.Facing multiple problems, the team had to work overnights and over a weekend, but managed to complete the assembly at the Proton's processing complex on time for the rollout of the launch vehicle to the Pad 24 at Site 81 on August 13. However the State Commission overseeing the launch and convened on August 12, had to authorize the rollout to the pad and liftoff on August 17. Although there were no technical hurdles before the mission at that point, Pad 24 had been formally certified for operations only until July 31, 2017, industry sources said. Fortunately, a formal waiver extending the pad operations until July 31, 2019, was signed on August 10, clearing the way for the rollout of the rocket as originally scheduled. The vehicle was installed on the launch pad in preparation for liftoff at 01:07 Moscow Time on August 17 (6:07 p.m. EDT on August 16).
Seeking confirmation, if possible...1.Is the launch vehicle at the pad?Also:2.As this is a Ministry of Defense payload, there will be no live launch webcast?3.Will the payload receive a Kosmos designation? Kosmos 2520?4.Is the launch vehicle a Phase IV upgrade? Or is it an earlier version?
http://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=459025Interfax-AVN says Blagovest has been successfully placed into orbit.