LAUNCHED: Soyuz ST-A Flight VS04 - Pleiades 1B - now December 2, 2012 (02:02UTC)

[bolun]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-feature-story/2012/9-7-2012.asp

The subsequent Arianespace mission will use a Soyuz on this launcher’s fourth flight from the Spaceport, carrying France’s Pléiades 2 very high resolution optical observation satellite.  Planned for a late November liftoff and designated Flight VS04, early preparations for this mission include initial electrical testing of the Fregat upper stage, which is positioned on a rig inside the Spaceport’s Soyuz MIK Launcher Integration Building.  Flight VS04 is a follow-on to Arianespace’s December 2011 orbiting of Pléiades 1, which was flown on the VS02 Soyuz mission from French Guiana.

[bolun]

About Pleiades

http://smsc.cnes.fr/PLEIADES/

[jacqmans]

Four medium-lift Soyuz launchers are now at the Spaceport

October 11, 2012
 

The Spaceport is operating at the rhythm of Soyuz as components for three upcoming missions with Arianespace’s medium-lift vehicle have now arrived in French Guiana, joining a completed launcher that is poised for liftoff tomorrow.
 
Delivered this month was hardware for the fourth, fifth and sixth Soyuz flights to be performed from the Spaceport – designated VS04, VS05 and VS06 in Arianespace’s launcher family numbering system.   This includes the third stage and payload fairing for Arianespace’s VS04 flight, scheduled in November.
 
The hardware arrived aboard the MN Colibri, which is one of two sea-going roll-on/roll-off ships utilized for the transport of launcher components from Europe and Russia to French Guiana.

As the countdown continues for VS03, preparations are moving into full swing for late November’s VS04 flight, to carry France’s Pléiades 2 very high resolution optical observation satellite.  Build-up of the basic three-stage Soyuz  for VS04 will be initiated next week in the Spaceport’s MIK assembly building, while this mission’s Fregat upper stage has completed its checkout in the MIK facility and is now ready for transfer to the S3B clean room for fueling during the coming week.
 
Arianespace has demonstrated Soyuz’ mission capabilities from the Spaceport in its two flights performed to date, beginning with the historic VS01 inaugural French Guiana launch in October 2011 that orbited the first two Galileo IOV satellites.  It was followed by VS02 in December 2011, lofting France’s Pléiades 1 platform along with the Chilean SSOT satellite and four French ELISA micro-satellite demonstrators.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-feature-story/2012/10-11-2012-4soyuz-launchers-at-spaceport.asp

[bolun]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/964.asp

Also at the Spaceport are launcher components for Arianespace’s three upcoming medium-lift Soyuz missions – beginning with a November 30 flight to orbit the French Pléiades 2 very high resolution optical observation satellite.

[anik]

According to SFN the launch is planned at 02:03 UTC on December 1st.

[Spiff]

That is consistent with the press release bolun posted if the press release is  Kourou time.

[jacqmans]

Pléiades 1B joins its launcher at the Spaceport for Arianespace's Soyuz mission in November


October 25, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS04
 
Activities for Arianespace’s fourth medium-lift Soyuz flight from the Spaceport is fully underway as the Pléiades 1B payload has now arrived in French Guiana – joining the mission’s launcher, which is well advanced in its preparations.
 
The dual-use, very-high-resolution satellite was delivered this week by a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft to Félix Eboué Airport near the capital city of Cayenne, where it was unloaded for transfer by road to the Spaceport.

Pléiades 1B will be orbited on a late-night November 30 flight from the ELS launch complex at the Spaceport, where the basic three-stage Soyuz vehicle already has been built up inside the MIK assembly building.  Elsewhere at the Spaceport, the launcher’s Fregat upper stage is now undergoing its fueling process in the S3B processing building.
 
The November flight – designated VS04 in Arianespace’s mission numbering system – will mark the fourth Soyuz liftoff from French Guiana since this medium-lift vehicle’s service entry in October 2011.
 
Its Pléiades 1B payload is designed to provide optical observation coverage with 50-centimeter resolution for the French and Spanish defense ministries, civil institutions, and private users.  Operating from a 695-km. quasi-polar heliosynchronous orbit, it will accompany the twin Pléiades 1A spacecraft launched last December on Arianespace’s VS02 Soyuz mission from the Spaceport.
 
The Astrium division of EADS built both Pléiades satellites for the French CNES space agency, which is prime contractor and system architect.  They are based on smaller, cheaper, more agile platforms than their predecessors – the highly-successful Spot satellite series, which was launched on Ariane family launchers by Arianespace beginning in 1986.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/968.asp

[jacqmans]

Payload preparations begin for Arianespace's next Soyuz flight from French Guiana
 
October 26, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS04
 
The Pléiades 1B payload for Arianespace’s fourth Soyuz mission from French Guiana is now undergoing its pre-launch checkout at the Spaceport, readying this Earth observation satellite for a late-night liftoff on November 30.

Built by Astrium for the French CNES space agency, Pléiades 1B is being put through its paces inside the Spaceport’s S1B payload preparation facility – where the dual-use, very-high-resolution satellite was transported following its arrival in French Guiana this week aboard a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft.

During the pre-launch preparations at the Spaceport, Pléiades 1B was removed from its shipping container in clean room conditions, and then raised to a vertical position for the startup of processing. 
 
Pléiades 1B is designed to provide optical observation coverage with 50-centimeter resolution for the French and Spanish defense ministries, civil institutions and private users. After being deployed by Soyuz, it will join the twin Pléiades 1A satellite – which was launched by an Arianespace Soyuz mission in December 2011 – for operation from a 695-km. quasi-polar heliosynchronous orbit.

This upcoming Arianespace flight is designated VS04 in the company’s mission numbering system, denoting the fourth Soyuz liftoff from French Guiana since the medium-lift vehicle’s October 2011 service entry. It also is the second Soyuz mission for launch from the Spaceport in 2012, following Arianespace’s October 12 success that orbited two European Galileo navigation satellites.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/970.asp

[jacqmans]

Arianespace's fourth Spaceport mission with Soyuz: the Pléiades 1B satellite is readied for fueling

November 12, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS04
 
The dual-use, very-high-resolution Pléiades 1B satellite payload for Arianespace's fourth Soyuz mission from French Guiana is ready for fueling, marking a new step in the preparation campaign for its nighttime launch on November 30.
 
Built by EADS' Astrium division for the French CNES space agency, Pléiades 1B has completed initial checkout in the Spaceport's S1B clean room facility, and has now been moved to the larger, multi-bay S5 payload processing center for the loading of its onboard propellant.

This satellite is designed to provide optical observation coverage with 50-centimeter resolution for the French and Spanish defense ministries, along with civil institutions and private users.  After the launch by Soyuz, Pléiades 1B will join the twin Pléiades 1A satellite, which was lofted by an Arianespace Soyuz mission in December 2011 for operation from a quasi-polar heliosynchronous orbit.
 
Offering exceptional agility to maximize acquisitions over specific areas of interest, the Pléiades satellites can be “rush programmed” to overfly designated target zones, with an automated production system generating 20 km. x 20 km. orthorectified images in 30 minutes.

The system’s capabilities were demonstrated by Pléiades 1A’s imaging of areas along the U.S. eastern seaboard affected by Hurricane Sandy, underscoring the delivery of high-detail data that is essential for emergency response. 

Arianespace’s upcoming Soyuz flight with Pléiades 1B is designated VS04 in the company’s mission numbering system for launcher family operations from the Spaceport.  It will continue the medium-lift vehicle’s mission pace, and follows the VS03 launch on October 12 with a pair of European Galileo navigation satellites; the VS02 flight on December 17, 2011, which carried Pléiades 1A, along with the Chilean SSOT civilian/defense imaging satellite and four French ELISA micro-satellites for defense electronic intelligence gathering: and the historic VS01 maiden liftoff of Soyuz from French Guiana on October 21, 2011 with two Galileo

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/979.asp

[Jester]

Uhhh, what's with the transport container ? (last two images)

Special requirements for the optics ??

[jacqmans]

Pléiades 1B’s transfer for fueling at the Spaceport is detailed in this photo series.  In the two images at left, the Astrium-built imaging satellite is positioned on a pallet inside the S1B clean room facility.  The air cushion pallet then passes through an airlock for placement in the large CCU3 spacecraft transportation container (third photo) for its move across the Spaceport to the S5 payload preparation center.

(photo 5) The CCU3 transportation container with Pléiades 1B is positioned outside the Spaceport’s S5 building, readying it for the satellite’s entry into one of this payload preparation center’s three processing bays for fueling.

[zaitcev]

The transport fixture looks large enough to accomodate ATV, and the satellite looks lonely in its cavern.

[Jester]

Pléiades 1B’s transfer for fueling at the Spaceport is detailed in this photo series.  In the two images at left, the Astrium-built imaging satellite is positioned on a pallet inside the S1B clean room facility.  The air cushion pallet then passes through an airlock for placement in the large CCU3 spacecraft transportation container (third photo) for its move across the Spaceport to the S5 payload preparation center.

(photo 5) The CCU3 transportation container with Pléiades 1B is positioned outside the Spaceport’s S5 building, readying it for the satellite’s entry into one of this payload preparation center’s three processing bays for fueling.

That I know, i've worked there ;-), the question is, why are they using CCU3 and not CCU2, special optic requirements ?

EDIT:
I checked, its because CCU2 is used by VA210

[jacqmans]

Payload integration to begin for Arianespace's Soyuz Spaceport mission with Pléiades 1B

November 16, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS04

 The mission campaign for Arianespace’s fourth Soyuz flight from the Spaceport in French Guiana is entering a new phase as preparations begin for the integration of its Pléiades 1B satellite passenger on the launcher’s Fregat upper stage.
 
Pléiades 1B – a dual-use, very-high-resolution imaging satellite – has received its hydrazine propellant load in the Spaceport’s S5 payload preparation center, while the Fregat upper stage was fueled during separate operations performed several kilometers away in the S3B processing building.
 
All is now ready for the integration of Pléiades 1B atop the Fregat stage, followed by its encapsulation by the two-piece Soyuz payload fairing.  This will occur in the S3B facility, using a multi-level integration stand.
 
Pléiades 1B will be orbited on a November 30 nighttime flight from the Spaceport’s ELS launch complex, marking the fourth Soyuz liftoff from French Guiana since this medium-lift vehicle’s service entry in October 2011 – and the second performed this year.
 
The 1-metric-ton-class Pléiades 1B spacecraft is designed to provide optical observation coverage with 50-centimeter resolution for the French and Spanish defense ministries, civil institutions, and private users.  Operating from a 695-km. quasi-polar heliosynchronous orbit, it will accompany the twin Pléiades 1A spacecraft that was lofted by Arianespace last December on Soyuz’ second mission from the Spaceport.
 
The Astrium division of EADS built both Pléiades satellites for the French CNES space agency, which is prime contractor and system architect.  They are based on smaller, less expensive and more agile platforms than their predecessors – the highly-successful Spot satellite series, which was launched by Arianespace beginning in 1986 on Ariane family launchers.
 
Arianespace Soyuz missions from the Spaceport use the autonomous, highly flexible Fregat upper stage, which is an orbital vehicle that can be restarted up to 20 times in flight – enabling it to carry out a wide variety of complex mission profiles.  Built by the Lavochkin Research and Production Association in Russia, this upper stage incorporates an array of six welded spherical tanks – with four spheres serving as the propellant tanks, while the other two operate as sealed instrumentation bays containing the flight control system, along with radio and telemetry systems.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/981.asp

[Ben the Space Brit]

Is the Mylar foil-covered cupcake the Fregat?

[Jester]

Is the Mylar foil-covered cupcake the Fregat?

Correct.

[Danderman]

Is the Mylar foil-covered cupcake the Fregat?

Fregat-M, I believe.

[Nicolas PILLET]

No, this is a standard Fregat.

[Stan Black]

No, this is a standard Fregat.

Though one featuring the third(?) generation of upgrades…

[jacqmans]

Pléiades 1B is ready for integration in the payload “stack” for Arianespace's next Soyuz mission


November 21, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS04

 The Pléiades 1B satellite passenger for Arianespace’s fourth Soyuz flight from French Guiana is ready for integration into the medium-lift launcher’s payload “stack” at the Spaceport.
 
This dual-use, very-high-resolution imaging satellite has been transferred from the S5 payload preparation center – where it was fueled with hydrazine – to the Spaceport’s S3B processing building for the integration process.
 
The S3B facility has been configured for preparation of the payload stack on Soyuz launchers operated from the Spaceport, with this component consisting of the mission’s spacecraft payload, the Fregat upper stage, and an ST-type fairing that provides protection during initial ascent through the atmosphere.
 
Fueling of the Fregat upper stage for Arianespace’s upcoming Soyuz flight was completed in the S3B building earlier this month, and this highly flexible orbital system has now been installed in an integration stand – ready to receive Pléiades 1B, followed by the payload fairing encapsulation.
 
Pléiades 1B will be lofted by Soyuz on a November 30 nighttime flight, marking the fourth Soyuz liftoff from French Guiana since this medium-lift vehicle’s service entry at the Spaceport in October 2011 – and the second performed by Arianespace this year.  The upcoming mission is designated VS04 in the company’s numbering system for its launcher family operating from the Spaceport, consisting of the medium-lift Soyuz, heavy-lift Ariane 5, and light-lift Vega.
 
With a fueled mass of approximately 1 metric ton, Pléiades 1B is to provide optical observation coverage for the French and Spanish defense ministries, civil institutions and private users.  It will operate from a 695-km. heliosynchronous orbit, joining the twin Pléiades 1A spacecraft that was launched by Arianespace last December on Soyuz’ second mission from the Spaceport.
 
France’s CNES space agency is the Pléiades prime contractor and system architect, which selected the Astrium division of EADS to build the satellites.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/983.asp

[Lewis007]

Arianespace launch kit

[jacqmans]

Arianespace's fourth Soyuz rolls out for the launch pad integration of its Pléiades 1B passenger in French Guiana
 
November 26, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS04
 
The well-planned choreography involved in final pre-launch preparations of a Soyuz vehicle at the Spaceport is now underway as Arianespace’s flight with the Pléiades 1B satellite remains on schedule for liftoff on Friday, November 30 from French Guiana.
 
This activity started with creation of the mission’s payload “stack,” beginning with the installation of Pléiades 1B atop its Fregat upper stage on November 21.   Performed inside the Spaceport’s S3B payload processing building, the integration was followed by the “stack’s” completion on November 22 with its encapsulation by the two-piece Soyuz ST payload fairing.
 
In parallel, the Spaceport’s ELS launch site for Soyuz also was busy as the basic three-stage launcher was raised from the tooling used for its integration in the MIK assembly building and placed on a horizontal transporter/erector rail car November 23 for transfer to the launch pad.  Soyuz’ rollout from the MIK facility occurred today, enabling the Soyuz to be erected in its vertical position at the pad, where it is now 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, providing a protected environment for tonight’s installation of the Pléiades 1B payload “stack” – which will be hoisted inside the gantry and secured atop the Soyuz.
 
Friday’s nighttime Soyuz launch with Pléiades 1B is to mark Arianespace’s fourth mission for the medium-lift vehicle at the Spaceport since its French Guiana service entry in October 2011 – and the second performed by the company with the Russian-built launcher this year from South America.
 
With a fueled mass of approximately 1 metric ton, the dual-use Pléiades 1B spacecraft will provide very-high-resolution optical imaging coverage for the French and Spanish defense ministries, civil institutions and private users.   It will operate from a 695-km. circular orbit, joining the twin Pléiades 1A spacecraft launched by Arianespace last December on Soyuz’ second mission from the Spaceport.

The Pléiades prime contractor and system architect is France’s CNES space agency, which selected the Astrium division of EADS to build both the Pléiades 1B and 1A satellites.   

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/984.asp

[jacqmans]

http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=19717

[jacqmans]

Integration of the Soyuz is now complete for Friday’s Arianespace Spaceport mission with Pléiades 1B

November 27, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS04
 
Arianespace’s fourth Soyuz for launch from the Spaceport in French Guiana is now undergoing final checkout for a November 30 evening liftoff following installation of its Pléiades 1B observation satellite atop the medium-lift vehicle.
 
Pléiades 1B’s mating with Soyuz occurred during the second half of yesterday, only hours after this Russian-built vehicle was rolled out to the launch pad in the Spaceport’s northwestern sector.  The satellite was fitted as part of an integrated payload “stack,” consisting of the very-high-resolution optical spacecraft, the Fregat upper stage that will place it into a circular orbit, and the Soyuz ST fairing.

This activity occurred inside the 53-meter-tall mobile gantry that provides a protected environment for the vertical payload installation – which is one of the main differences in launcher handling at the Spaceport compared to the horizontal processing of vehicles on Soyuz launch sites at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.
 
The dual-use Pléiades 1B spacecraft has a fueled mass of approximately 1 metric ton, and is designed to offer optical imaging coverage for French and European defense ministries, institutions and civil users.   Operating from a 695-km. circular orbit, it will join the twin Pléiades 1A satellite launched by Arianespace last December on Soyuz’ second mission from the Spaceport.  Both spacecraft were built by the Astrium division of EADS.
 
France’s CNES space agency is prime contractor and architect for the Pléiades system, which is part of a joint effort with Italy’s Cosmo-Skymed satellite series, which provides radar imaging coverage of the Earth.  Participants in the Pléiades program are the space agencies of France, Austria, Belgium, Spain and Sweden; along with the defense ministries of France, Italy and Spain.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/986-vs04.asp

[jacqmans]

Arianespace’s Soyuz mission with Pléiades 1B is given the “go” for liftoff tomorrow from French Guiana
 

November 29, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS04
 
The fourth Arianespace Soyuz mission from French Guiana has been given the green light for liftoff tomorrow night, following the launch readiness review held today.
 
This assessment – performed prior to each Arianespace flight – validated the “go” status of Soyuz and its Pléiades 1B satellite passenger, along with the Spaceport’s launch infrastructure and the network of tracking stations that will follow the mission.
 
Liftoff of the Soyuz on November 30 is set for a precise moment – 11:02:50 p.m. local time in French Guiana – initiating a 55-minute mission to deploy Pléiades 1B in a 695-km. circular orbit, inclined 98.2 deg.
 
With a fueled mass of approximately 1 metric ton, the dual-use Pléiades 1B spacecraft will provide optical imaging coverage for French and European defense ministries, institutions and civil users.   It is to join the twin Pléiades 1A satellite launched last December by Arianespace on Soyuz’ second mission from the Spaceport.   
 
With great agility, a quick-response ground segment and daily revisit capability, the Pléiades system offers a new generation of “real-world” satellite Earth imagery at a resolution of 70 cm.

France’s CNES space agency is prime contractor and architect for the Pléiades system, which is part of a joint effort with Italy – whose Cosmo-Skymed satellite series delivers radar imaging coverage of the Earth.  The Pléiades 1A and 1B spacecraft were built by EADS’ Astrium division.
 
Participants in the Pléiades program are the space agencies of France, Austria, Belgium, Spain and Sweden; along with the defense ministries of France, Italy and Spain.

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/987.asp

[Galactic Penguin SST]

As usual, those CNES guys have a pretty complete set of shots documenting the pre-launch activities (and launch) from French Guiana: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pkpro/sets/72157631966834541/ 

[Chris Bergin]

Moved for live coverage.

[anik]

One hour ago at CSG.

[Chris Bergin]

T-60 mins.

[Starlab90]

I just checked the Ariane site. They have a countdown clock showing the broadcast will begin around 20 minutes before launch, or in less than 40 minutes.

[Chris Bergin]

I just checked the Ariane site. They have a countdown clock showing the broadcast will begin around 20 minutes before launch, or in less than 40 minutes.

Yes, this is very much like their Ariane 5 coverage. Always very slick.

[Mapperuo]

Always a pretty sight.

[Chris Bergin]

SCRUB!!

[Prober]

scrubbed

[Chris Bergin]

No reason given. Apparently Mr Le Gall was speaking before they went live and the commentator said they are scrubbing for 24 hours. Strange, but oh well.

[catdlr]

Mission Update

Postponement of the Soyuz launch with Pléiades 1B

November 30, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS04

Arianespace’s Soyuz mission with the Pléiades 1B optical imaging satellite from French Guiana has been postponed for 24 hours after an anomaly occurred during the countdown.

Liftoff at the Spaceport’s ELS launch site is now rescheduled for December 1 at 11:02:50 p.m., local time in French Guiana.

The launch vehicle and its satellite payload will remain in a safe standby mode for a resumption of the final countdown.

[patchfree]

Google automatic translation from french:
Thirty minutes before departure of the fourth mission
Russian launcher in French Guiana, a red "launch complex" came
bar table operations.

Arianespace has decided
to postpone the launch of 24 hours. According to Jean-Yves Le Gall,
chief executive of Arianespace, "switching equipment that
regulates electric waves coming from launcher "sending" of
signals not normal. "

Despite two-way operational
this equipment, Arianespace was willing to take risks. immediately
decision, technicians began dismantling and
change the offending equipment. A new chronology is
scheduled for this Saturday night, always with a H0, that is to say, without window
firing.

http://www.franceguyane.fr/actualite/economie-consommation/soyouz-reporte-de-24-heures-145707.php

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Google automatic translation from french:
Thirty minutes before departure of the fourth mission
Russian launcher in French Guiana, a red "launch complex" came
bar table operations.

Arianespace has decided
to postpone the launch of 24 hours. According to Jean-Yves Le Gall,
chief executive of Arianespace, "switching equipment that
regulates electric waves coming from launcher "sending" of
signals not normal. "

Despite two-way operational
this equipment, Arianespace was willing to take risks. immediately
decision, technicians began dismantling and
change the offending equipment. A new chronology is
scheduled for this Saturday night, always with a H0, that is to say, without window
firing.

http://www.franceguyane.fr/actualite/economie-consommation/soyouz-reporte-de-24-heures-145707.php

Yup, it appears that one of the three power channel switching devices went down. Interestingly one Russian Soyuz veteran (Vladimir Antipov) remarked that the Soyuz would have already been launched with just two operational power channels if this launch is from Baikonur! 

http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum12/topic13093/?PAGEN_1=5

http://www.forum-conquete-spatiale.fr/t14423p30-lancement-soyouz-st-a-vs04-pleiades-1b-2-decembre-2012

The equipment is replaced, and it looks good for launch right now!

[Chris Bergin]

Realigned for the second attempt.

[Prober]

[Rahkashi]

Does anyone know of a feed that works for the iphone?

[pippin]

Umm. Arianespace has an App. It streams on iPad, doesn't it do so on iPhone, too?

[Chris Bergin]

Webcast about to start.

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Green board at T-12 mins.

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

[Prober]

[Chris Bergin]

Heh!

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Prober]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

It looks like this mission could have been done with a Vega.....

[Satori]

[Prober]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

T-120 seconds.

[Satori]

[Prober]

[Chris Bergin]

LAUNCH!

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Nominal first stage.

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Great camera angle.

[Prober]

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Staging. 1-2 Sep.

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Fairing sep.

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

STAGING.

2-3 Sep.

[Satori]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Hope all is well with the block I: apparently the RD-0110 flying Progress M-17M on October 31 had some fishy readings during the flight..... 

http://www.tsskb-progress.ru/novosti/tcskb-progress-itogi-raboty-za-oktiabr.html

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Staging. 3-4 Sep. On the Fregate.

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Chris Bergin]

Fregate is burning.

[Prober]

Hope all is well with the block I: apparently the RD-0110 flying Progress M-17M on October 31 had some fishy readings during the flight..... 

http://www.tsskb-progress.ru/novosti/tcskb-progress-itogi-raboty-za-oktiabr.html

I have some mixed feelings after something was said, got me thinking.  Elon keeps talking while this Soyuz is in its 4th flight in 1 years time.  How many operational SpaceX flights in the same time?

[Satori]

End of first Fregat burn. Into ballistic phase now.

[Chris Bergin]

20 mins of LOS - as expected.

[Satori]

Still on ballistic phase. Next Fregat burn will take place at T+41m 56s (~0244UTC).

[Satori]

Second Fregat burn!

[Satori]

Ignition confirmed!

[Chris Bergin]

11 mins to S/C Sep.

[Satori]

All Fregat parameters are normal...

[Satori]

End of Fregat second burn...

[Satori]

[Satori]

Pleiades-1B sep!

[Chris Bergin]

There we go. Successful mission. Congrats to all involved!

[Satori]

Congratulations to all concerned!!!

[Rocket Science]

Congrats, well done... Happy hats all around! 

[Artyom.]

My congratulations ! Well done!

[Artyom.]

[Artyom.]

http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2012/VS04-success.asp

Soyuz delivers from the Spaceport! Arianespace's medium-lift launcher orbits Pléiades 1B
 

December 1, 2012 – Soyuz Flight VS04
 
The maturity of Arianespace’s Soyuz launch system at French Guiana – and its confirmed role as a full-fledged member of the company’s launcher family – were demonstrated once again by tonight’s successful orbiting of the Pléiades 1B satellite from the Spaceport.
 
During a flight lasting 55 minutes, the Soyuz vehicle deployed its 970-kg. passenger into a targeted circular orbit of 695 km., inclined 98.2 deg., marking the medium-lift vehicle’s fourth mission from French Guiana since its introduction at this near-equatorial launch site in October 2011.
 
Pléiades 1B is a very-high-resolution dual-use satellite designed to provide optical imaging coverage for French and European defense ministries, institutions and civil users.  It joins the twin Pléiades 1A spacecraft that was launched in December 2011 on Arianespace’s second Soyuz mission from the Spaceport.   

Arianespace Chairman & CEO Jean-Yves Le Gall noted tonight’s launch was the ninth at French Guiana in 2012 for the company’s launcher family; following the lightweight Vega’s maiden flight in February; medium-lift  missions with Soyuz in October and today; along with heavy-lift Ariane 5 flights in March, May, July, August, September and November.

Le Gall thanked all involved in these successes, including the teams who work at the Spaceport for such an “impressive” year – during which a total of 23 primary and secondary payloads were placed into orbit from French Guiana.
 
The Pléiades 1A and 1B satellites launched by Arianespace create an optical observation system with great agility, a quick-response ground segment and daily revisit capability – offering a new generation of “real-world” satellite Earth imagery at a resolution of 70 cm.  Both Pléiades spacecraft are based on smaller, less expensive and more agile platforms than their predecessors – the highly-successful Spot satellite series that was lofted by Arianespace on its Ariane family launchers beginning in 1986.
 
France’s CNES space agency is prime contractor and architect for the Pléiades system, which is organized as part of a joint effort with Italy – whose Cosmo-Skymed satellite series delivers radar imaging coverage of the Earth. 

Pléiades program participants are the space agencies of France, Austria, Belgium, Spain and Sweden; along with the defense ministries of France, Italy and Spain.
 
The Pléiades 1A and 1B spacecraft were built by EADS’ Astrium division.
 
Arianespace will wrap-up its 2012 launch activity at the Spaceport with a year-ending Ariane 5 mission on December 19 to orbit the Mexsat Bicentenario and Skynet 5D satellites.

[Nicolas PILLET]

According to NPO Lavochkin's press release, it was a Fregat-M... 

03.12.2012
Европейский КА выведен разгонным блоком «Фрегат»

2 декабря 2012 года в 6 часов 2 минуты мск со стартового комплекса Гвианского космического центра (ГКЦ) произведен запуск европейского КА дистанционного зондирования Земли «Плеяды-1Б» ракетой-носителем «Союз-СТ-А» с разгонным блоком «Фрегат-М» №1020.

Это был 36-й запуск РБ «Фрегат». Штатное функционирование РБ «Фрегат» при выведении европейского космического аппарата на целевую орбиту ещё раз показало, что разгонный блок разработки ФГУП «НПО им. С.А. Лавочкина» является одним из самых надежных в мире средств выведения космических аппаратов.

Разгонный блок «Фрегат», разработанный и изготовленный специалистами ФГУП «НПО им. С.А. Лавочкина», предназначен для выведения космических аппаратов различного назначения на орбиты искусственных спутников Земли и на отлётные траектории совместно с ракетами-носителями среднего и тяжелого класса.

Pleiades (Плеяды) – новое семейство космических аппаратов оптического наблюдения сверхвысокого пространственного разрешения, состоящее из двух спутников «Плеяды-1А» и «Плеяды-1Б», первый из которых 17 декабря 2011г. был выведен из ГКЦ ракетой-носителем «Союз-СТ-А» с разгонным блоком «Фрегат» на солнечно-синхронную орбиту высотой 694 км.

Проект «Союз в ГКЦ» осуществляется на основе Межправительственного соглашения между Россией и Францией, подписанного в ноябре 2003 года.

Первый запуск российской ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ» из Гвианского космического центра был успешно выполнен 21 октября 2011 года. Два КА «Галилео-IOV» М1 были запущены РН «Союз-СТ-Б» с РБ «Фрегат-МТ» №1030.

[ugordan]

For all the history this launch vehicle has, it's nice to finally be able to see some half-decent tracking footage of it in action.

[Nicolas PILLET]

The press release of Orion-KhIT, which provides the two batteries for the Fregat upper stage, also says that it was a Fregat-M...

02.12.12 г. с Гвианского космического центра (Франция) произведён успешный запуск РН «Союз-STA» с РБ «Фрегат-М» со спутником «Pleiades-2». Энергообеспечение РБ «Фрегат-М» осуществлялось батареями 9ER14PS-20 (2 шт.).

http://www.orion-hit.ru/company/news/news_85.html

[gwiz]

There don't seem to be any TLEs on Space Track.  Is this another programme where they are going to withhold the data?

[gosnold]

Yes, the French have an agreement with the US and the TLEs of their military sats are not disclosed (they were for some time, and the French started mentioning that "unexpected satellites" were seen by their tracking radar, and the US withdrew the TLEs.)
Edit:Actually Pleiades being a dual use satellite, the TLEs are available. My bad.

[tlesinsk]

First image by Pléiades 1B:

http://www.astrium-geo.com/en/19-gallery?img=15577

[gwiz]

Actually Pleiades being a dual use satellite, the TLEs are available.

Where?  Space-track still hasn't got them.

[pargoo]

     Link to hi-res launch photos: http://cnes.photonpro.net/cnes/DocVisuCS.do?SearchMode=visu_doc_by_theme&sw0=526&selToStore=2&HistoLabel=VS004+SOYOUZ+ST-A&visuCour=DocPC&searchType=theme

[woods170]

     Link to hi-res launch photos: http://cnes.photonpro.net/cnes/DocVisuCS.do?SearchMode=visu_doc_by_theme&sw0=526&selToStore=2&HistoLabel=VS004+SOYOUZ+ST-A&visuCour=DocPC&searchType=theme

That link only results in connection timeouts.
For those interested: go to http://cnes.photonpro.net/cnes
Then click on "ACTUALITE PRESSE" and then click on "VS004 SOYOUZ ST-A". Presto!

[pargoo]

     Thanks for fixing that.  Dunno why it's timing out...

[Lewis007]

Some videos of various stages of launch processing

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Another launch view angle - this time from TsSKB Progress: