Proton-K launch with Raduga-1 satellite - February 28, 2009

[Stan Black]

On the launch platform

Does anyone knows what platform is being used for this launch?

Thanks!

http://www.mil.ru/848/1045/1276/kv/19240/index.shtml?id=58956
http://www.kt.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1138536794&chapter=1153478856

81/24

[Satori]

And we have a very nice launch video in here.

[Gorizont]

Thank you for the video, Satori!
I have downloaded it some seconds ago. ;-)

Soeren

[edkyle99]

And we have a very nice launch video in here.

Wow.  Thanks! 

Best.  Proton.  Launch.  Video.  Ever. 

 - Ed Kyle

[ugordan]

Best.  Proton.  Launch.  Video.  Ever. 

Agreed. There's just something about the Proton - the red/brown initial exhaust, blowing dirt out the flame trench, the split second ignition-to-liftoff timing and then it just appears to ride on an invisible trail until the Mach diamonds become real visible. And then it tops it off with a little dramatic red venting here'n'there.

It may use propellants toxic as hell, but it's a majestic vehicle. Thanks for the video, Satori.

[eeergo]

Majestic indeed. You can even see the interestage grid cover bluckling and fracturing by the shockwave, then shedding pieces during the first few seconds. What material is it? I seem to recall the Ekspress' Proton had some upgrade consisting on carbon fiber there, but this is an old K.

[Satori]

Best.  Proton.  Launch.  Video.  Ever. 

It may use propellants toxic as hell, but it's a majestic vehicle. Thanks for the video, Satori.

It's one of my dreams one day to see one of these nice birds liftoff... maybe next year, who knows?

[Gorizont]

"It's one of my dreams one day to see one of these nice birds liftoff... maybe next year, who knows?"

This also is one of my dreams! The Proton is my "favourite" vehicle. ;-)

Soeren

[eeergo]

Interesting time-lapse sequence seen by an amateur Australian observer showing the last two burns of the -presumably- BlockDM-2 upper stage to inject the Raduga into GEO:

http://www.spaceweather.com/swpod2009/04mar09/Michael-Mattiazzo1.gif?PHPSESSID=gvk2il2lpvltbn4n8i47d1pqi5

Seen in:

http://www.spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=04&month=03&year=2009

[Danderman]

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-03/11/c_13773852.htm

Russia's geostationary military communication satellite Raduga-1 has likely lost communications with the flight control center, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.  Citing a source in the Russian aerospace industry, the report said the satellite might have run out of fuel and not be controlled by ground control center anymore.

Earlier this week, the Raduga-1 approached within three kilometers of a South Korean COMS-1 satellite after the Russian satellite began to become uncontrollable in space. Currently the distance between the two satellites is about 120 kilometers.  After the incidents, the South Korean aerospace institute said it had to modify the orbit of its COMS-1 to avoid a repetition of the possible collision.

However, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency said there was no reason to say the satellite has broken down.  "According to available data, no dangerous encounters of Raduga-1 with foreign spacecraft have been observed," Itar-Tass quoted another source as saying.

The source also said the Defense Ministry is considering whether to let the Raduga-1 burn up in the atmosphere or raise it to a disposal orbit.   

[kevin-rf]

How does it get the delta V to burn up in the atmosphere?

[Danderman]

Apparently, this particular Raduga-1 was launched in 2004.