Author Topic: Soyuz ST-B Flight VS11 - Galileo FOC-M2 FM03&04 - March 27, 2015 (21:46 UTC)  (Read 58460 times)

Offline jacqmans

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Getting ready for launch: Final payload integration is underway for Soyuz’ Galileo passengers

March 17, 2015 – Soyuz Flight VS11

The two Galileo navigation satellites for Arianespace’s upcoming medium-lift flight have “joined up” with their payload dispenser system – a key step in the preparations for this March 27 mission.

During activity at the Spaceport’s S5A preparation hall in French Guiana, the Galileo Full Operational Capability (FOC) spacecraft were mounted on their two-sided dispenser system, readying them for integration on Soyuz’ Fregat upper stage and encapsulation in the payload fairing. These steps will create the “upper composite,” which is installed atop Soyuz once the workhorse vehicle is moved to its Spaceport launch zone.

Designated Soyuz Flight VS11 in Arianespace’s numbering system, Soyuz’ 11th launch from the Spaceport in French Guiana is planned for an evening liftoff on March 27 at precisely 6:46:18 p.m. local time.

On this mission, Arianespace’s medium-lift launcher will carry out a nearly 3-hour, 48-minute mission to place its Galileo passengers into a targeted circular orbit at an altitude of 23,522 km., inclined 55.04 degrees to the equator.

Soyuz Flight VS11’s passengers are the latest FOC satellites in the Galileo program, which will create a European-operated space-based navigation system. Providing a highly accurate global positioning system under civilian control, the complete Galileo constellation will consist of 30 satellites in total, along with European control centers and a worldwide network of sensor and uplink stations.

The European Commission is managing and funding Galileo’s FOC phase – during which the network’s complete operational and ground infrastructure will be deployed. The European Space Agency has been delegated as the design and procurement agent on the Commission’s behalf.

The FOC spacecraft to be lofted on Soyuz Flight VS11 were built by OHB System in Bremen, Germany, with their navigation payloads supplied by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. in Guildford, UK.
Jacques :-)

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Ready for integration: Soyuz’ two Galileo passengers are transferred for their next preparation phase

March 20, 2015 – Soyuz Flight VS11

The Galileo satellite passengers for Arianespace’s March 27 Soyuz flight from French Guiana are now ready for integration into the medium-lift launcher’s payload arrangement.

During activity earlier this week, these two Full Operational Capability (FOC) spacecraft were transferred from the Spaceport’s S5A preparation hall – where they were fueled and mounted on their two-sided dispenser system – to the S3B facility for the integration process.

The Spaceport’s S3B facility has been configured for preparation of the payload arrangement on Soyuz launchers operated from French Guiana, with this component consisting of the mission’s spacecraft payload, the Fregat upper stage and a fairing that provides protection during initial ascent through the atmosphere.

Designated VS11 in Arianespace’s numbering system, the upcoming flight will be performed from the purpose-built launch site for Soyuz – which is located in the Spaceport’s northern sector.

The Galileo program is Europe’s initiative for satellite navigation, providing a highly accurate global positioning system under civilian control – to consist of 30 satellites in total, along with European control centers and a worldwide network of sensor and uplink stations.

Galileo’s complete operational network and its ground infrastructure will be deployed during the program’s FOC phase, which is being managed and funded by the European Commission. The European Space Agency has been delegated as the design and procurement agent on the Commission’s behalf.

The two Galileo FOC spacecraft were built by OHB System in Bremen, Germany; while their navigation payloads were supplied by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. in Guildford, UK.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2015/1268.asp
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Final payload integration process begins for this week’s Arianespace Soyuz launch from the Spaceport with two Galileo spacecraft

March 23, 2015 – Soyuz Flight VS11

The payload build-up has been completed in French Guiana for Arianespace’s medium-lift Soyuz mission on March 27, which is to orbit the third and fourth Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation system.

These latest preparations – which occurred in the Spaceport’s S3B clean room facility – involved installation of the two Galileo spacecraft with their dispenser system atop Soyuz’ Fregat upper stage, followed by encapsulation in the two-piece protective payload fairing.

The completed unit, called the “upper composite,” will be mated atop Soyuz after the workhorse vehicle’s rollout from the MIK integration building – where launcher assembly is handled – to the launch zone.

Scheduled for liftoff on March 27 at precisely 6:46:18 p.m. local time in French Guiana, Soyuz will carry out a nearly 3-hr., 48-min. mission from launch to separation of the two Galileo satellite passengers. Fregat – which is responsible for the final orbital maneuvers – will perform two burns separated by a three-hour-plus ballistic phase to reach the targeted deployment point.

Galileo is Europe’s initiative for satellite navigation. Its complete operational and ground structure will be deployed during the FOC phase, which is managed and funded by the European Commission, with the European Space Agency delegated as the design and procurement agent on the Commission’s behalf.

OHB System built the Galileo FOC satellites for launch by Soyuz, while Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. supplied their navigation payloads.

The upcoming mission is designated Flight VS11 in Arianespace’s numbering system, and will mark the company’s fourth launch to date carrying Galileo spacecraft.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2015/1269.asp
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Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Soyuz is in the launch zone for Arianespace’s March 27 mission to loft the next two Galileo FOC satellites

March 24, 2015 – Soyuz Flight VS11

The Soyuz for Arianespace’s next medium-lift mission is in the launch zone at French Guiana, where it stands ready to receive the two spacecraft passengers that will join Europe’s Galileo global navigation satellite system.

Applying procedures that have been followed since the workhorse Soyuz launcher inaugurated the Space Age, the basic three-stage vehicle for Arianespace’s March 27 flight emerged today from its MIK integration building in the Spaceport’s northwestern sector.

Riding horizontally on a transporter/erector rail car, Soyuz was transferred to the ELS launch zone – which was followed by its erection to the vertical orientation and positioning over the launch pad, suspended in place by four large support arms.

With this step completed, all was ready for the purpose-built 53-meter-tall mobile gantry to be moved into position around the launcher – a phase of the processing in French Guiana that differs from Soyuz operations at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.  The gantry provides a protected environment for installation of the “upper composite,” which consists of the two Galileo spacecraft, the Soyuz’ Fregat upper stage and a two-piece protective payload fairing.

The March 27 launch – designed VS11 in Arianespace’s numbering system – is scheduled to lift off at precisely 6:46:18 p.m. local time in French Guiana, with its Galileo satellite passengers to be deployed during a flight lasting approximately 3 hrs., 47 min. Total payload lift performance is estimated at 1,597 kg., which includes a combined mass of some 1,428 kg. for the two spacecraft.

Flight VS11’s passengers – built by OHB System, with Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. supplying their navigation payloads – are the third and fourth Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites in the Galileo program, which is creating a European-operated space-based navigation system.

The European Commission is managing and funding Galileo’s FOC phase – during which the network’s complete operational and ground infrastructure will be deployed. The European Space Agency has been delegated as the design and procurement agent on the Commission’s behalf.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2015/1270.asp
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Offline jacqmans

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Galileo spacecraft are integrated for their Arianespace Soyuz launch on March 27

March 25, 2015 – Soyuz Flight VS11

The next medium-lift Soyuz to be launched from French Guiana is now complete following the integration of its “upper composite” – which consists of two Galileo satellite passengers, their protective payload fairing and the Fregat upper stage.

This activity was performed at the Spaceport’s ELS launch complex. It began with the upper composite’s transfer yesterday from the S3B payload preparation facility to the launch pad on a special transporter, and was followed by its hoisting to the upper level of a purpose-built mobile gantry – which provides a protected environment for the vertical installation atop Soyuz.

Final checkout of the completed launch vehicle is now underway, leading up to the Arianespace liftoff that is planned on Friday, March 27 at precisely 6:46:18 p.m. local time in French Guiana.

The mission’s payload – a pair of Full Operational Capability (FOC) spacecraft that will further expand Europe’s Galileo global navigation satellite system – are to be deployed during a flight lasting approximately 3 hrs., 47 min.

OHB System built the two spacecraft in Bremen, Germany as prime contractor. Their navigation payloads, which will generate the precision positioning measurements and services to users worldwide, were supplied by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. in Guildford, UK.

Galileo’s FOC phase – during which the network’s complete operational and ground infrastructure will be deployed – is being managed and funded by the European Commission, with the European Space Agency delegated as the design and procurement agent on the Commission’s behalf.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2015/1271.asp
Jacques :-)

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Which orbital planes and slots are these 2 heading to? (the same ones that FM01/02 was to be at?)
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Offline russianhalo117

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Which orbital planes and slots are these 2 heading to? (the same ones that FM01/02 was to be at?)
not sure. you mind swing this over to live before you go to sleep

Offline jacqmans

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Arianespace’s Soyuz is approved for its March 27 flight to deploy two Galileo navigation satellites
 

 March 26, 2015 – Soyuz Flight VS11

Authorization has been given for tomorrow’s Arianespace Soyuz launch from French Guiana, providing the “green light” for this medium-lift mission that will further expand Europe’s Galileo global navigation satellite system.

The approval was granted today after the regular pre-launch review for Arianespace flights – which confirmed the readiness of Soyuz and its payload of two Galileo Full Operational Capability (FOC) spacecraft, the launch site and associated infrastructure at the Spaceport, as well as the network of downrange tracking stations.

This March 27 mission – designated VS11 in Arianespace’s numbering system – will be performed from the purpose-built ELS launch facility for Soyuz. Its liftoff is scheduled at precisely 6:46:18 p.m. local time in French Guiana, with the Galileo satellites to be deployed during a flight lasting approximately 3 hrs., 47 min.

Produced by OHB System, these relay platforms – which are the constellation’s third and fourth FOC satellites for launch, and the seventh and eighth Galileo spacecraft to be lofted overall – weigh some 715 kg. each and will operate in medium-Earth orbit. Their navigation payloads were supplied by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.

The Galileo navigation system provides highly accurate global positioning services under civilian control.  The European Commission is funding and managing its FOC phase, during which the network’s complete operational and ground infrastructure will be deployed; with the European Space Agency designated as the system’s design and procurement agent.

Flight VS11 will be Arianespace’s second mission performed in 2015 (following a lightweight Vega launch in February), as well as the 11th Soyuz liftoff performed from French Guiana since this workhorse vehicle’s 2011 introduction at the Spaceport.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2015/1272.asp
Jacques :-)

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Moved for live coverage! Good luck Jester with your babies!  :D
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Offline Chris Bergin

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Offline Chris Bergin

To live coverage....
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Online Steven Pietrobon

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Five minutes to coverage start with some funky music, Euro style.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online Steven Pietrobon

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Countdown stuck at 79 seconds to go before coverage starts.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Chris Bergin

Green at T-19 mins.
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Online Steven Pietrobon

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Stephane Israel, CEO of Arianespace introducing mission.
« Last Edit: 03/27/2015 08:27 pm by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online Steven Pietrobon

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Enjoy the show!
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Online Steven Pietrobon

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Live from the pad!

Status panels are green.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Chris Bergin

Good day to you Katy.
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Online Steven Pietrobon

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Katy Haswell is our English commentator.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Chris Bergin

Big vent. Used to get SpaceX fans into a fit ;D
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