Progress M-63 launch - February 5

[anik]

The launch of Progress M-63 cargo ship by Soyuz-U rocket from Baikonur cosmodrome is scheduled for February 7, 2008...

According to http://kz-today.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1138536794&chapter=1153433009 (in Russian), the rocket was delivered to cosmodrome by train today...

[anik]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2633

Progress M-63 cargo ship has arrived to cosmodrome by train today...

[anik]

New launch date is February 5th due to STS-122 launch on February 8th...

[ssb]

Chris Bergin 10/1/2008 11:44 AM (#230325 - in reply to #222617)

Feb 2 looking solid as per PRCB.

Something is inconsistent here =)

[Chris Bergin]

ssb - 10/1/2008  7:01 PM

Chris Bergin 10/1/2008 11:44 AM (#230325 - in reply to #222617)

Feb 2 looking solid as per PRCB.

Something is inconsistent here =)

You're quoted a post during the PRCB - where all engineering schedules show Feb 2. At the conclusion of the PRCB they moved to NET Feb 7 due to Progress (that's what meetings are for), posted that and have an article on site. Moving posts from other threads will confuse people

[anik]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2768

Pneumovacuum tests of Progress M-63 cargo ship in the vacuum chamber have been successfully finished yesterday...

January 29, 2008. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Progress M-63 cargo vehicle fuelled with propellant components and compressed gases was delivered to the Spacecraft Assembly and Testing Facility for final processing operations.

Images of payload fairing installation in the Progress M-63

http://www.tsenki.com/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=568

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2831

[jacqmans]

January 31, 2008. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Designers inspection of the Progress M-63 cargo vehicle was completed.

http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss16/progress-m-63/photo_01-31.html

[jacqmans]

February 01, 2008. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Orbital module of the Soyuz-U launch vehicle, containing Progress M-63 spacecraft was transported from the spacecraft processing facility for the general integration with LV.

http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss16/progress-m-63/photo_02-01.html

[patchfree]

And now the general integration is achieved.

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2840

[Lawntonlookirs]

It seems that the Russian Soyuz is very quickly assembled and reliable.  Interesting pictures, and I am sure we will see some of the launch.

[eeergo]

Lawntonlookirs - 2/2/2008 4:17 PM It seems that the Russian Soyuz is very quickly assembled and reliable. Interesting pictures, and I am sure we will see some of the launch.

While I agree with you in the "quickly-assembled and reliable" part, this vehicule is a Progress, as you certainly will have read in the thread's title. Of course, it's based in Soyuz design and shares a big commonality, but it's nevertheless a simpler version. Undoubtedly, the Soyuz capsule must be far more difficult to build and assemble, given its human-rated nature.

[jacqmans]

Soyuz Roll out to the pad:

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2842

[Lawntonlookirs]

Some more great pictures.  I noticed the snow on the ground, and after putting some more thought in to the location the Baikonur launch site, I would assumme that Russia doesn't have the same temperature restrants as they have with the Shuttle.   Is their a simple explanation to why the Progress and Soyus can launch during colder weather?

[MKremer]

The simple explanation is that Russian boosters were (and are) designed to function properly in those conditions. (Remember the R7 booster was originally designed as an ICBM that needs to be ready to launch anytime, anywhere.)

Shuttle components (including the SRBs) were originally designed for the average, much more benign, Florida coast weather conditions, plus the TPS is endangered by any kind of ice accumulations that could impact the orbiter.

[Suzy]

What is the number of the Soyuz-U rocket being launched?

1730th launch of Soyuz rocket and 714th for Soyuz-U variant

[jacqmans]

February 02, 2008. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Technical management meeting chaired by V.A. Lopota, President, General Designer of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia, and Government Commission meeting were convened. A decision is made to roll out Soyuz-U launch vehicle with Progress M-63 transport vehicle to the launch pad.

http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss16/progress-m-63/photo_02-02_1.html



February 03, 2008. Baikonur launch site, branch office of S.P.Korolev RSC Energia

Soyuz launch vehicle was rolled out from the integration building to the launch pad. Soyuz-U launch vehicle with Progress M-63 transport vehicle is installed on the launch pad. L-2 days activities have been started.

http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/iss16/progress-m-63/photo_02-03.html

[jacqmans]

04.02.2008 Russian "progress" starts to two days of earlier than "atlantisa", it will deliver on S the loads of the first need

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2850

   Transport cargo ship "progress M-63" tomorrow, on 5 February, into 16:03 Moscow time starts from the spaceport Baikonur. The launch of "progress" was postponed on to the request OF NASA - NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION to two days earlier than the specified time.

   In the number it is cargo the first need - 420 kg. of water in the tanks of system "spring", the means of the guarantee of gas composition, water-non, means of health and hygiene guarantee, food, linen for the crew, the means of the preventive maintenance of the unfavorable action of weightlessness and rendering to medical aid, equipment for medical control and inspection, lamps, system of control and navigation, electric power supply system, system of maintenance and repair, complex of supporting means of crew. The messages for the crew enter into the latter. In their number, as previously it communicated, record of Vladimir vysotskiy's concerts, about ten of different films, two DVD- disks with the video recordings of the concerts of Vladimir vysotskiy "Tallin- Moscow" and "Groznyy- Moscow", and also several musical CD with the records Of stravinskogo and Tschaikovsky ". Several artistic films.

Furthermore, for conducting the number of scientific experiments, including on the contract with European space agency and Korea, on S it will be crossed BY KTSN - complex of purposeful loads, where materials and equipment for scientific destination enter.
Jointing "progress M-63" with the international space station is planned on 7 February - during the day of the start of American ship "Atlantis".
 
 

[jacqmans]

04.02.2008 two "progress", without considering "atlantisa"/ joint project "to conduct" and Roskosmosa.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2851

   Two "progress", without considering "atlantisa"
Joint project RIK "to conduct" and Roskosmosa. Correspondent - Natalie burtseva
On 5 February from the spaceport Baikonur starts carrier rocket to "Soyuz". It will put into orbit transport ship "Progress-63M".

Thirty years ago for space left the first automatic transport ship "Progress-1". Then it delivered to crew of orbital station "Salyut-6" to Yuri Romanenko and to Georgiy Grechko the first party of load from the Earth.

"within this period as a whole were neglected 117 ships, including to S of 28 ships. Within this period of time not there it was not one launching failure ", with the pride said Vyacheslav tsvetkov, chief of design department along the space transport systems RKK" energy ".
In space, of course, it is not tight. However, in order to govern spacecraft on the approach to S, place for the maneuver is necessary. Russian specialists hurry, in orbit there will for the first time simultaneously be three transport ships. the "progress M-63", which flies to S, which worked out its of "62-1", which already two weeks will conduct scientific experiments. And on 7 February to them it must be joined shuttle "Atlantis".

"progress" will be joined to the Russian segment, shuttle to the American segment, in this plan they are untied. But simultaneously to work with the attached shuttle is not extremely desirable ", noted Yuri Grigoryev, deputy design project leader OF RKK" energy ".
Cargo ship "progress M-63" according to graph had to start two days later in order to make possible "62- mu" quietly to be unjointed from the station. But, on the request OF NASA - NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION, starting was postponed on 5 February because of the terrestrial problems of shuttle "Atlantis". The launch of shuttle was transferred for the different reasons from December of past year. And is here finally declared the day of its start - on 7 February.

"Russian specialists examined difficulties, counted ballistics. And was made the decision to transfer start on 5 February so that the shuttle would have its window, in order to ensure start ", described Yuri Grigoryev.

Guesses and idle conjectures grow as snowball. Two transport workers cannot be governed simultaneously. Communication channel with TsUPom is designed only for the passage of commands only to one ship. Information appeared, that was possible the refusal of automation.

"are begun to operate the same control posts. But this problem is solved. There are methods of breeding the ships. Here there are no problems, although the additional work appears ", reported Yuri skurskiy, first deputy chief by flights TSUP.
"equipment is disposed for the different frequencies, thus, the commands, which go aboard one ship, they do not go aboard the other spacecraft", explained Vyacheslav tsvetkov, chief of design department along the space transport systems RKK "energy".

There is information, that the American side again plans to transfer the start of shuttle. But precise date and time of the launch of "progress M-63" are determined.
Last winter month promises to become for S rich to the guests. Following "atlantisom", from the spaceport of Kourou in orbit will leave the first European truck "Jules vern". It is symbolic, that will occur this during February, when will be noted the 180- anniversary of great French science fiction writer, that anticipated in its works that which now appears completely ordinary.
 

[ksc_houston]

Will be any launch coverage ?

[jacqmans]

ksc_houston - 5/2/2008  9:45 AM

Will be any launch coverage ?

No

[Olaf]

According to http://rian.ru/technology/20080205/98423754.html the launch has occured.

It is confirmed by http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2857.

[Satori]

Progress M-63 launch images from RKK Energiya site...

[Spirit]

No, the launch occured: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition16/exp16_p28.html

[jacqmans]

Success of the 1730th launch of Soyuz
Evry, February 5, 2008

The 1730th flight of a Soyuz launch vehicle was performed Tuesday, February 5, 2008 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 19:03 Baikonur time (14:03 Paris time).

Starsem, Arianespace and their Russian partners report that the Progress cargo spacecraft was accurately placed on the target orbit for another mission to the International Space Station. This was the first Soyuz family mission in 2008.

Last year was marked by three successful Soyuz flights performed under Starsem's responsibility: two launches, which delivered into orbit eight Globalstar satellites for Globalstar, Inc. (scoring a total of 32 Globalstar satellites launched by 8 Soyuz launch vehicles) and one launch with the Radarsat-2 spacecraft for MacDonald Dettwiler and Associates Ltd.

With the introduction of Soyuz at the Guiana Space Center (CSG), this famed Russian medium-class launch vehicle will become an integral part of the European launch vehicle fleet, together with the heavy-lift Ariane 5 and the lightweight Vega. To be offered to the commercial market, the Soyuz in French Guiana is Europe's reference medium-class launch vehicle for governmental and commercial missions.

Starsem is the Soyuz Company, bringing together all key players involved in the production, operation and international commercial marketing of the world's most versatile launch vehicle. Shareholders in Starsem are Arianespace, Astrium, the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Samara Space Center.

The next Starsem launch will occur at Baikonur by the end of April. It will deliver into orbit the Giove-B satellite for the European Space Agency.

[jacqmans]

05.02.2008 successful launching 112- GO according to the calculation of space "truck" "progress"

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2857

   S of the area ?y of spaceport Baikonur into 16.02.54 msk was today produced the successful starting of space rocket to "Soyuz" with the cargo transport ship "Progress-m63". Starting passed in the normal mode. This of 112-1 according to the calculation space "truck" from a series of the "progress", which accident free fly here already 30 years.
"there is separation of apparatus from starting block in the preset time on 529-1 second of flight after start!" - they confirm in Roskosmose.

   Teper' "progress M-63" await on S. Jointing "truck" with S is planned in two days on 7 February 17 it is hour 33 min. Moscow time.

 
 

http://www.vesti.ru/videos?vid=120848&cid=1&doc_type=news&doc_id=161060

VESTI report from Baikonur and launch video

[jacqmans]

PRESS-RELEASE
about the launch of Progress M-63 logistics spacecraft
to the International Space Station
   
http://www.energia.ru/eng/news/news-2008/press_release-02-05.html

February 05, 2008. Baikonur launch site,

branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia
In accordance with the mission plan and Russian commitments under the International Space Station (ISS) project, a cargo transportation spacecraft Progress M-63 was launched from Baikonur launch site at 16:02:57 Moscow Time.
The objective of the launch is to deliver to ISS more than 2.5 tons of various cargoes that are needed to support the operation of the space station in manned mode and provide living and working conditions for the crew. Sent from the ground to the orbit were supplies of oxygen, water and food, propellants, consumables, scientific instrumentation and equipment.
The spacecraft was put into a parking low-Earth orbit with the following parameters: 51.63° inclination, 191.2 km minimal altitude, 263.6 km maximum altitude, 88.77 minutes orbital period. The onboard systems of the spacecraft operate normally.
At the launch site, the spacecraft prelaunch processing and launch were performed under the direction of the State Commission (chaired by the head of Roscosmos A.N.Perminov). The Commission was basing its decisions to proceed with each next step in processing and launching on the opinions of the Technical Management headed by the President of RSC Energia, Designer General V.A.Lopota.
According to the telemetry data and reports from the crew of ISS Expedition 16, the space station systems operate in normal mode. The station is ready for docking with the spacecraft. The spacecraft docking with ISS is scheduled for February 7, 2008, 17:38 Moscow Time, to the docking port on the Pirs docking compartment-module vacated on February 4 by Progress M-62 logistics spacecraft which went into free flight mode.

For reference:

Currently working onboard ISS is a crew consisting of: Peggy Whitson (NASA astronaut, crew Commander), Yuri Malenchenko (test-cosmonaut Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Flight Engineer 1) and Daniel Tani (NASA astronaut, Flight Engineer 2).
S.P.Korolev RSC Energia is the prime manned space flight organization in the Russian rocket and space industry, responsible for the development of the ISS Russian Segment, its integration into the Space Station and its operation, including development and operation of principal Russian modules (Zvezda, Pirs, etc.), manufacturing, launch and operation of Soyuz TMA and Progress M spacecraft.
Progress M-63 is the 27th Russian logistics spacecraft launched to ISS within the framework of this project.

Currently conducted at S.P.Korolev RSC Energia are scheduled factory tests on Progress M-64 and the first Progress-type spacecraft belonging to a new modification. This modification has improved spacecraft structure and on-board systems, its instrumentation is built using state-of-the-art digital technology components, which permits to increase its upmass and enhance its functionality. Launches of these cargo spacecraft to ISS are to take place as early as this year.
The program of free flight of Progress M-62 calls for conducting space experiments to study plasma blobs occurring during its thruster firings. Upon completion of its free-flight mission, the spacecraft is to be commanded it into a reentry trajectory and brought down to its designated impact area in the ocean on February 15, 2008.

[Satori]

Anyone has the exact launch time in the format 1302:54.XXXUTC and the launcher serial number?

Thanks!

[astropl]

Satori - 6/2/2008  12:13 AM

Anyone has the exact launch time in the format 1302:54.XXXUTC and the launcher serial number?

Thanks!

Exact launch time: 13:02:57.039 (yes, 57 seconds...).

[Suzy]

jancarlobascu - 5/2/2008  2:43 PM  1730th launch of Soyuz rocket and 714th for Soyuz-U variant

Actually I meant the rocket's serial number (No. 10-?)  

Also what were the correct serial numbers for these previous Progress launches (there are 2 numbers the same):

• M-60: Soyuz-U No.106
• M-61: Soyuz-U No.108
• M-62: Soyuz-U No.106

 

[anik]

Suzy - 7/2/2008  9:48 AM

what were the correct serial numbers for these previous Progress launches

Ts15000-104 for M-60, Sh15000-108 for M-61, according to Novosti kosmonavtiki magazine...

[psloss]

The ISS-H PAO reports that final approach to the station has begun.

[Lawntonlookirs]

Looks like the the Progress just docked.  A busy time at the ISS

Plis visit Expedition 16 Thread for view Progress M-63 docking coverage

[jacqmans]

February 7, 2008. S.P. Korolev RSC Energia – MCC-M, Korolev, Moscow region.
Russian logistics spacecraft Progress M-63, after two days in free flight, docked with the International Space Station.
Proximity operations, final approach maneuvers and docking were performed in automatic mode. Initial contact with the docking port of the Pirs docking module-compartment occurred at 17:30 Moscow Time within coverage of Russian ground tracking stations.

[anik]

anik - 7/2/2008  1:17 PM

Suzy - 7/2/2008  9:48 AM

what were the correct serial numbers for these previous Progress launches

Ts15000-104 for M-60, Sh15000-108 for M-61, according to Novosti kosmonavtiki magazine...

Sh15000-109 for M-62, according to that magazine as well...

[Suzy]

anik - 9/2/2008  6:16 AM  

anik - 7/2/2008  1:17 PM  Ts15000-104 for M-60, Sh15000-108 for M-61, according to Novosti kosmonavtiki magazine...

 Sh15000-109 for M-62, according to that magazine as well...

Thanks! So M-63 was No. ...110? 

[anik]

Suzy - 9/2/2008  9:01 AM

So M-63 was No. ...110?

Ts15000-106, according to Novosti kosmonavtiki magazine.