NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
International Space Flight (ESA, Russia, China and others) => Russian Launchers - Soyuz, Progress and Uncrewed => Topic started by: beidou on 12/06/2013 08:34 pm
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The satellite will enable Turksat AS to offer telecommunication and direct TV broadcasting services throughout Turkey, as well as in Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Turksat 4A, which will be positioned at 42 degrees east longitude, will provide Ku-band high-power direct TV broadcasting channels and both C- and Ka-band communications channels.
Source: http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/turksat-4a.htm (http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/turksat-4a.htm)
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Turksat 4A launch poster
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Turksat 4A launch poster
Nice picture? Where did you get that? ;)
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A Briz-M upper stage has been delivered to Baikonur to support the injection of the Turksat 4A satellite to orbit. An Antonov cargo aircraft carrying the Briz-M upper stage on board landed at the Baikonur’s Yubileiny Airport today.
http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=2944 (In Russian)
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And the launcher was delivered to Baikonur cosmodrome today
http://www.federalspace.ru/20071/ (In Russian)
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I was told (unofficially), that the launch date now NET February 14. The Turksat 4A satellite will be delivered to Baikonur cosmodrome on January 16 .
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Launch scheduled on Feb. 15 per www.turksat.com.tr/content/view/1453/195/
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I was told (unofficially too :) ), that the launch is planned at
00:36 (local time) on February 15, i.e. at 18:36 UTC on February 14.
And the satellite will be delivered to Baikonur now on January 17 :) .
Upd:
New launch time - 21:09:03 UTC on February 14
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Turksat 4A is delivered to Turkey at Mitsubishi Electric Kamakura facility.
NHK news with video.
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20140108/k10014353574000.html (Japanese)
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Mission Overview: http://www.ilslaunch.com/sites/default/files/pdf/TURKSAT-4A%20Mission%20Overview%20final.pdf
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Turksat 4A satellite was delivered to Baikonur cosmodrome today.
http://www.federalspace.ru/20128/ (http://www.federalspace.ru/20128/) (on Russian)
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And photos from my friend from Baikonur.
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More photos from Roskosmos.
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Baikonur: Preparations for the launch rocket "Proton-M" spacecraft "Turksat-4A"
20/01/2014 12:19 ::
At Baikonur continues preparations for the launch of a space rocket (RKN) "Proton-M" with the upper stage (RB) "Breeze-M", intended for injection into the target orbit communications spacecraft (SC) "Turksat-4A."
January 20 in assembly and testing (MIC) 92A-50 foreign experts continue to test autonomous spacecraft "Turksat-4A."
In parallel, in the next room specialists of rocket-space industry Russia operations on the dock of the first stage of the rocket "Proton-M" with the package of the second and third stages.
Also scheduled for today transportation booster "Briz-M" to the gas station, where the operation will be performed on refueling propellants pressure vessels.
Start ILV "Proton-M" with RB "Breeze-M" and SC "Turksat-4A" scheduled for mid-February 2014
(Google translation)
http://www.federalspace.ru/20141/
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New launch time - 21:09:03 UTC on February 14
Is that the correct launch time? And from which pad will this launch be from - 24 or 39? (I've seen both versions on NSF)
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And from which pad will this launch be from - 24 or 39? (I've seen both versions on NSF)
Use this (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26990.msg1151679#msg1151679) version.
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So it seems that pad 200/39 is down for maintenance again?
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So it seems that pad 200/39 is down for maintenance again?
No, it is redistribution of loads for both launch pads.
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The Turksat 4A satellite has been installed on the Briz-M upper stage.
http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=2975 (In Russian)
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New launch time - 21:09:03 UTC on February 14
Is that the correct launch time?
Yes, according to the latest information, launch time - 21:09:03 UTC ;) .
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New launch time - 21:09:03 UTC on February 14
Is that the correct launch time?
Yes, according to the latest information, launch time - 21:09:03 UTC ;) .
Launch time confirmed by Turksat: http://www.turksat.com.tr/tr/haberler/228-teledunya-web-turksat-4a-uydusu-ve-teknik-tanitim-toplantisi
Türksat 4A haberleşme uydumuz, 14 Şubat 2014 Cuma günü saat: 23.09’da (TS ile) Kazakistan’daki Baykonur Üssünden uzaya gönderilecek.
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MEDIA ADVISORY: ILS PROTON TO LAUNCH TURKSAT-4A
Payload:
TURKSAT-4A communications satellite
DS2000 Platform
Separated spacecraft mass: 4,850 kg
Launch Vehicle:
Proton M/Breeze M
705,000 kg (1,554,000 lb), including payload
56.2 m (184ft)
Launch Date:
15 February 2014
Launch Time:
03:09:03 Baikonur
06:09:03 Tokyo
16:09:03 EST, 14 Feb
21:09:03 GMT, 14 Feb
23:09:03 Turkey, 14 Feb
Launch Site:
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Pad 24
Satellite Operator:
TURKSAT, Turkey
Satellite Manufacturer:
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Japan
Launch Vehicle Manufacturer:
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Russia
Launch Services Provider:
International Launch Services, USA
Satellite Use:
TURKSAT-4A is a commercial communication satellite built by Mitsubishi Electric. The satellite will provide telecommunication and direct TV broadcasting services over a wide geographic region between west of china and east of England spanning Turkey, as well as Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. TURKSAT-4A consists of multiple transponders with an expected on-orbit Maneuver life of 30 years. TURKSAT-4A satellite will expand the space capacity of Turkey and provide enhanced performance to its coverage areas. The satellite will provide high flexibility of switchability and connectivity among different service areas to its customers.
Satellite Statistics:
_Mitsubishi Electric’s DS2000 platform
_36 transponders
_2084 MHz communications capacity
_Extensive coverage & connectivity over Turkey, Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa
_Satellite Maneuver Lifetime: 30 years
Mission Profile:
The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 24 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the TURKSAT-4A satellite onboard. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the TURKSAT-4A satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geostationary transfer orbit. Separation of the TURKSAT-4A satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 13 minutes after liftoff.
Target Orbit at Separation:
Perigee: 9,673 km
Apogee: 35,786 km
Inclination: 12.7 degrees
Spacecraft Separation:
Approximately 9 hours, 13 minutes after liftoff
ILS Mission Statistics:
_1st ILS Proton Launch in 2014
_85th ILS Proton Launch Overall
_1st TURKSAT Satellite Launched on ILS Proton
_1st Mitsubishi Electric Satellite Launched on ILS Proton
Live Broadcast:
Live test signals for Europe and Baikonur beginning at 15:15 EST/20:15 GMT
Live Coverage starting at 15:45 EST/ 20:45 GMT
Launch is scheduled for 16:09:03 EST/ 21:09:03 GMT
Broadcast concludes no later than 16:45 EST/ 21:45 GMT
Webcast can be seen at:
http://turksat4a.imgondemand.com
In Baikonur and Europe, the Launch Broadcast will be seen on the following (HD):
Eurovision Network Services confirmation EBU REF 14/005851/01
Eutelsat 10A: 10 deg East TXP B3 CHANNEL 12MHZ SLOT 3G12
Uplink Frequency: 14381 MHZ POL Y BY D-FRA-022 UP1
Downlink Frequency: 11081 MHZ POL X
HD 1080i 50Hz DVBS2 8PSK 9.875Ms/s FEC 3/4,
P RoF 0.2 (MPEG4/H.264 420 21.503 Mbps)
Audio: 1 SOUND MONO
Audio: 2 SOUND MONO
More Information:
Live streaming will begin approximately 20 minutes before liftoff. General mission information and launch status updates are available at www.ilslaunch.com. You can also follow us on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook for mission updates.
http://www.ilslaunch.com/newsroom/news-releases/media-advisory-ils-proton-launch-turksat-4a
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Yesterday morning, the Proton-M has been rolled out to the Fueling Station for loading the Briz-M low-pressure tanks with propellants.
http://www.federalspace.ru/20205/ (In Russian)
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http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=299
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State Commission meeting was convened today. A decision is made to roll out Proton-M LV with Turksat 4A satellite to the launch pad 81/24.
http://www.federalspace.ru/20209/ (In Russian)
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Proton M Erected on Pad at Baikonur
Processing for the first Proton mission of this year proceeds as scheduled. A Proton is to orbit the 5000-kg Turkish TurkSat 4A satellite by mid-February.
Subject to the State Review Board’s decision, the Proton M/Breeze M/TurkSat 4A integrated launch vehicle (ILV) was rolled out of the Processing Facility to the Launch Complex earlier this morning.
ILV was erected on the pad and Khrunichev in collaboration with other space-industry companies started the Countdown Day One operations.
Prior to roll-out the Proton spent several days at the Fueling Shed. The vehicle was moved to this station on February 09 (on the completion of ILV integration and tests at Integration-and-Test Facility 92A-50) for loading the Breeze M low-pressure tanks with propellants.
The upcoming launch is scheduled for February 15.
http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=919
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Khrunichev information about the launch:
As a result of operation of I, II, III stages, the "Proton-M" launch vehicle injects an orbital unit, consisting of a SC, an AS and an upper stage, into sub-orbital trajectory along the route which provides a parking orbit inclination of i = 51.5°.
The perigee and apogee altitudes are shown for radius of the spherical Earth of RE = 6378 km The further injection into the target orbit is realized with the help of "Breeze-M" US as per the flight pattern with five burns of US SE.
The total duration of injection from the LV lift-off till SC separation will be 33180 s (9 h 13 min 00 s).
The upper stage cyclogram for work after the OU separation from III stage is given in Fig.First burn of SE (from 706 s till 972 s from LOC) is performed in 124 seconds after separation from LV; as a result a parking orbit is formed.
Second burn of SE (from 4053 s till 5119 s from LOC) is performed in the parking orbit first ascending node area; as a result an intermediate orbit is formed. At 4500 s after SE second burn completion, US CS will issue the command for TPC closing (tflight = 9619 s).
At the end of OU flight in the intermediate orbit at 600 s before SE third burn beginning, US CS will issue the command for TPC opening (tflight = 11910 s). Third burn of SE (from 12510 s till 13390 s from LOC) is performed in perigee of intermediate orbit in the area of ascending node.
Fourth burn of SE (from 13527 s till 13704 s from LOC) is performed after 137 s after the SE third burn completion. In the interval between the burns, APT is jettisoned. As a result of third and fourth burns, the transfer orbit is formed with apogee close to the target orbit apogee. At 3600 s after SE fourth burn completion, US CS will issue the command for TPC closing (tflight = 17304 s).
At the end of OU flight in the transfer orbit at 600 s before SE fifth burn beginning, US CS will issue the command for TPC opening (tflight = 31295 s). Fifth burn of SE (from 31895 s till 32443 s from LOC) is realized in the transfer orbit apogee in the area of descending node, as a result US transfers the SC into the target orbit. After SE fifth burn completion, TPC closing is not performed.
The SC separation is realized after 12 minutes and 17 seconds after the US SE last shut-down.
http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=669
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Does anybody know what is the purpose of intermediate orbit (270x5000x50.3°)? Why not burn directly from parking orbit into ~180x35786x51.5°? This sounds more efficient since we can take advantage of Oberth effect. The only reason I can think of is phasing (ensuring appropriate LAN). Also - why target orbit is inclined (picture shows 12.7° inclination)? Shouldn't GSO be equatorial? Or satellite is expected to do off-plane GSO insertion burn itself?
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Does anybody know what is the purpose of intermediate orbit (270x5000x50.3°)? Why not burn directly from parking orbit into ~180x35786x51.5°? This sounds more efficient since we can take advantage of Oberth effect. The only reason I can think of is phasing (ensuring appropriate LAN). Also - why target orbit is inclined (picture shows 12.7° inclination)? Shouldn't GSO be equatorial? Or satellite is expected to do off-plane GSO insertion burn itself?
Regarding the final orbit, the payload is far too heavy for the Proton-M/Briz-M to place into geosynchronous orbit so the Russians leave the satellite in the most efficient orbit that they can. When the satellite is deployed, the orbital parameters are chosen to minimise the velocity change required by the satellite to reach geosynchronous orbit. You can prove this by spending a few hours with an Excel spreadsheet!
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Regarding the final orbit, the payload is far too heavy for the Proton-M/Briz-M to place into geosynchronous orbit so the Russians leave the satellite in the most efficient orbit that they can. When the satellite is deployed, the orbital parameters are chosen to minimise the velocity change required by the satellite to reach geosynchronous orbit. You can prove this by spending a few hours with an Excel spreadsheet!
No need to spend hours - I'm big time KSP player with real solar system mod so I've got spreadsheet ready :)
My calculations indicate that separation orbit is only 985 m/s short of GSO, while "commercial standard" GTO is 1500 m/s (Ariane-5 or Atlas-V reference mission) or 1800 m/s (Proton-M reference mission) short of GSO.
So it looks like the situation is opposite - satellite is lighter than in reference mission and so excess performance is used to reduce deltaV needed by sat for GSO insertion.
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Video of the roll-out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHpqotdQ_C8
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And photos :)
http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=299
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US flag on the rocket?
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Does anybody know what is the purpose of intermediate orbit (270x5000x50.3°)? Why not burn directly from parking orbit into ~180x35786x51.5°? This sounds more efficient since we can take advantage of Oberth effect. The only reason I can think of is phasing (ensuring appropriate LAN). Also - why target orbit is inclined (picture shows 12.7° inclination)? Shouldn't GSO be equatorial? Or satellite is expected to do off-plane GSO insertion burn itself?
The Breeze M has an unusually low thrust to weight ratio for an upper stage. It uses an intermediate orbit because it doesn't have time to raise apogee all the way to synchronous height in one pass.
Exercise for the student: calculate the fraction of an orbit used during the 2nd Breeze M burn. It looks like an impulsive burn on the cyclogram, but it is not!
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US flag on the rocket?
ILS
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Live coverage of Turksat 4A :
TsENKI:
Start: 19:10:00 February 14, 2014 (UTC).
End: 22:10:00 February 14, 2014 (UTC).
Launch time: 21:09:03 February 14, 2014 (UTC)
http://www.tsenki.com/en/broadcast/broadcast/live1.php
http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live6.php
ILS:
http://turksat4a.imgondemand.com/
Broadcast will begin at 20:45 UTC.
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Moved for live coverage later...
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The State Commission confirmed the scheduled lift-off time of the Proton-M LV and gave the go-ahead to loading the LV with propellants.
http://www.federalspace.ru/20224/ (In Russian)
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NOTAMs
First stage:
K0049/14 - ATS ROUTE SEGMENTS CLSD: 1. A113 TIROK-GISIR FM 25 KM TO 65 KM 2. B822 LUGER-BETIK FM 35 KM TO 80 KM SFC/UNL. DAILY 2030-2200, 14 FEB 20:30 2014 UNTIL 15 FEB 22:00 2014. CREATED: 11 FEB 08:49 2014
2nd stage & Fairing
P0598/14 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD B206 ARNUL - AKTAS, G489 TELRU - AKTAS. SFC - UNL, DAILY 2030-2200, 14 FEB 20:30 2014 UNTIL 15 FEB 22:00 2014. CREATED: 10 FEB 06:46 2014
P0606/14 - RESTRICTED AREA UNR1238 ACT. SFC - UNL, DAILY 2030-2200, 14 FEB 20:30 2014 UNTIL 15 FEB 22:00 2014. CREATED: 10 FEB 09:15 2014
3rd stage
A0567/14 - THE RUSSIAN FEDERAL SPACE AGENCY HAS PLANNED A MISSILE LAUNCH. DEBRIS FROM THIS LAUNCH WILL FALL WITHIN AN AREA BOUNDED BY 2515N/16000E 2600N/16045E 2330N/16335E 2245N/16248E BACK TO THE POINT OF ORIGIN. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY ALL NON-PARTICIPATING AIR TRAFFIC ARE ADVISED TO AVOID THE NOTAMED AREA. IFR AIRCRAFT UNDER ATC JURISDICTION SHOULD ANTICIPATE CLEARANCE AROUND THE NOTAMED AREA. SFC - UNL, DAILY 2100-2230, 14 FEB 21:00 2014 UNTIL 17 FEB 22:30 2014. CREATED: 12 FEB 19:10 2014
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Major events
Event Time from lift-off, sec. UTC
Readiness upper stage -113 14.02.2014 21:07:10
Authorization for initial engine thrust -2 14.02.2014 21:09:01
Command to release propulsion system first stage to full thrust 0 14.02.2014 21:09:03
Lift off contact signal 0 14.02.2014 21:09:03
Break membrane oxidant propulsion system 2nd stage 119 14.02.2014 21:11:02
Command to shut down propulsion system and separation of 1st stage 120 14.02.2014 21:11:03
Command to start vernier engine of third stage 324 14.02.2014 21:14:27
2nd stage separation 327 14.02.2014 21:14:30
Command to start 3rd stage main engine 330 14.02.2014 21:14:33
Fairing jettison 345 14.02.2014 21:14:48
Shutdown main engine of third-stage 571 14.02.2014 21:18:34
End of rocket active phase, orbital unit separation 582 14.02.2014 21:18:45
Engine ignition 1 [Briz-M] 706 14.02.2014 21:20:49
Engine burnout 973 14.02.2014 21:25:16
Engine Ignition 2 4053 14.02.2014 22:16:36
Engine burnout 5119 14.02.2014 22:34:22
Engine Ignition 3 12510 15.02.2014 0:37:33
Engine burnout 13389 15.02.2014 0:52:12
APT separation 13439 15.02.2014 0:53:02
Engine Ignition 4 13526 15.02.2014 0:54:29
Engine burnout 13704 15.02.2014 0:57:27
Engine Ignition 5 31895 15.02.2014 6:00:38
Engine burnout 32443 15.02.2014 6:09:46
SC separation 33180 15.02.2014 6:22:03
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Does anybody know what is the purpose of intermediate orbit (270x5000x50.3°)? Why not burn directly from parking orbit into ~180x35786x51.5°? This sounds more efficient since we can take advantage of Oberth effect. The only reason I can think of is phasing (ensuring appropriate LAN). Also - why target orbit is inclined (picture shows 12.7° inclination)? Shouldn't GSO be equatorial? Or satellite is expected to do off-plane GSO insertion burn itself?
The Briz M fourth stage is powered by an Isayev S5-98M engine that only produces about 2 tonnes thrust. It takes more than 50 minutes for that small thrust engine to burn through all of the propellant in the stage and in its extra drop tank. There simply isn't enough time near perigee for the stage to perform an efficient single burn, so the work is broken up into several passes. The last two burns take place after the drop tank has been jettisoned.
- Ed Kyle
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Going to need you guys to cover this one. My internet is all over the place with the country in a mess. I'll get an article on for it of course.
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Hang in Chris. Spring is coming. I saw it yesterday in Iowa. Sunlight and warm air. Who knew?
Here's a bit of fun from the roll out video. This has to be the world's coolest train.
- Ed Kyle
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T-2h All personnel should be in their final positions for launch.
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Proton-M still with the service structure attached. It will be moved back at T-1h.
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a quick screen grab
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Awful webcast from Tsenki.
Service structure was retracted...
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http://www.federalspace.ru/317/
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Turksat 4A updated coverages: http://www.satlaunch.net/2011/10/turksat-4a-coverages-footprints.html
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At T-35m the LV GN&C GLSTE armed the launch abort systems. Readiness green indicator light illuminated on the launch abort unit front panel. Two redundant displays on the launch abort unit erre synchronized to the CD clock and start countdown. SC launch unit abort switch is now active.
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ILS coverage has begun. My internet is behaving at the moment, so I'll do what I can, but a joint effort ensures if one of us falls over (i.e. me) then we're covered.
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Hi Jennifer! :)
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John's all dressed up.
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from http://www.turksat.com/img/news-file/6bcb1949e4bf827b01d81d0e69ed5b9f.pdf
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Chilly! Proton doesn't care.
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T-15m
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Absolutely love the accent of the lady who narrates the mission profile. #Swoon
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Turksat Satellite Communication, Cable TV and Operation A.S. gives the verbal readiness on countdown network.
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First ILS launch for these guys.
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At T-5m The LV GN&C GLSTE will send a T-300 sec command signal to the Briz-M GN&C GLSTE to synchronize the lift-off time. Briz-M will begin transfer to internal power.
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T-5m All looks good for launch...
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Notable the promo videos don't show the satellite. The tech is apparently proprietary - well at least one side of the bird.
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Well there's a graphic of her at least.
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T-120 seconds... LV GN&C begins transfer to internal power. Briz-M completes transfer to internal power,
sends “BRIZ-M GO” signal to LV GN&C GLSTE.
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At T-3.1 seconds... LV GN&C GLSTE performs a final GO/NO-GO check of the LV, Breeze M and SC. If all the
integrated LV components are GO, the first stage ignition sequence start is sent at the estimated time.
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LAUNCH!!!!
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LAUNCH!!
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Good first stage.
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Stage 1/2 sep!
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Second stage is operating well
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Confirmation of 1-2 Staging. Second stage firing.
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Nice dawn photo (traditional rollout time) for the Proton-M.
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Stage 2/3 sep!
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And we also have fairing separation...
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3rd stage separation...
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And we are on the first of five Briz-M burns...
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The first ignition of the Briz-M started right at the time it was expected (706 seconds into the flight).
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First ignition of the Briz-M was completed.
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Remember this is a 9 hour plus long mission, so still lots of work to do.
Don't forget to read Chris article about this launch at http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/02/ils-open-2014-proton-m-launch-turksat-4a/
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In the next hours we will have...
Major events
Event Time from lift-off, sec. UTC
Engine Ignition 2 4053 14.02.2014 22:16:36
Engine burnout 5119 14.02.2014 22:34:22
Engine Ignition 3 12510 15.02.2014 0:37:33
Engine burnout 13389 15.02.2014 0:52:12
APT separation 13439 15.02.2014 0:53:02
Engine Ignition 4 13526 15.02.2014 0:54:29
Engine burnout 13704 15.02.2014 0:57:27
Engine Ignition 5 31895 15.02.2014 6:00:38
Engine burnout 32443 15.02.2014 6:09:46
SC separation 33180 15.02.2014 6:22:03
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So far so good! Thanks to Rui and others! :)
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Well the 400th Proton launch is now just 6 launches away! 8) Hard to say right now whether that one will fell on an ILS launch or on a Russian federal mission - although the next 3 planned are all non-ILS missions:
Proton No. SC Date
394 Turksat 4A 14.02.2014
395 Ekspress-AT1/AT2 15.03.2014
396 Ekspress-AM4R 06.04.2014
397 Luch-5V/KazSat-3 28.04.2014
-- Inmarsat-5F2 XX.05.2014?
-- Turksat 4B XX.06.2014?
-- Astra 2G 2Q 2014?
-- GLONASS-M x3 2Q 2014?
-- Mexsat-1 NET 2Q 2014?
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h86DZhMFxGo
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Second Briz-M ignition should have started by now...
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Schedule time of the end of the 2nd Briz-M ignition.
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The report on the NK forum is:
"Есть второе включение"
which means in this context "there is second ignition".
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Going to need you guys to cover this one. My internet is all over the place with the country in a mess. I'll get an article on for it of course.
The frustration with the ISP and brain rust from the rain must have lead to this line in the article :)
"The Proton booster launching the Sirius FM-6 satellite..."
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2nd to 4th burns all A-OK. 5th burn coming up in 15 minutes.
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5th burn completed nominally. Spacecraft separation in 8 minutes.
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Spacecraft separation occurred as scheduled.
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2 Objects have been catalogued by USSTRATCOM:
(epoch Feb 15, 0047UTC)
Object A, 39522/2014-007A in 351 x 22185 km x 49.38° (presumably the APT)
Object C, 39524/2014-007C in 429 x 35859 km x 49.09° (presumably S/C +Briz-M in transfer orbit)
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Orbital unit tracks under ground coverage are indicated in red in the figure below.
Satellite release was 19.5 seconds early (same as Inmarsat-5-F1, shouldn't have much impact)
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http://www.ilslaunch.com/newsroom/news-releases/ils-proton-successfully-launches-turksat-4a-turksat (http://www.ilslaunch.com/newsroom/news-releases/ils-proton-successfully-launches-turksat-4a-turksat)
ILS PROTON SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES TURKSAT-4A FOR TURKSAT
BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, February 15, 2014 – International Launch Services (ILS), a leader in providing mission integration and launch services to the global commercial satellite industry, successfully launched the TURKSAT-4A satellite into orbit today on an ILS Proton vehicle. The satellite was built by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation for TURKSAT Satellite Communication, Cable TV and Operation Inc. Co. (TURKSAT A.S.), one of the world’s leading operators in the satellite communication business. This was the first ILS Proton launch for both the satellite operator and the manufacturer; it was also the first Proton launch of the year.
The ILS Proton Breeze M vehicle launched from Pad 24 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 03:09 today local time (14 February: 21:09 GMT and 16:09 EST). The first three stages of the Proton used a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the TURKSAT-4A satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M performed planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geostationary transfer orbit. Separation of the TURKSAT-4A satellite occurred approximately 9 hours and 13 minutes after liftoff.
TURKSAT-4A will provide telecommunication and direct TV broadcasting services over a wide geographic region between west of China and east of England, spanning Turkey, as well as Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. TURKSAT-4A is a multi-band satellite with an expected on-orbit maneuver lifespan of 30 years. The satellite will provide high flexibility of switchability and connectivity among different service areas to its customers.
The satellite weighed 4.8 metric tons at liftoff and is the ninth satellite built on Mitsubishi Electric’s DS2000 platform, a fully proven modular platform with the flexibility to handle a broad range of payload applications.
ILS President Phil Slack stated, “This is the first ILS Proton launch for our partners, Mitsubishi Electric and TURKSAT, and we are happy to have such a strong foundation for our new relationship. We are honored to be entrusted to deliver our customers’ satellites to orbit. Thank you to all of the teams at Mitsubishi Electric, TURKSAT, Khrunichev, and ILS, who have made this launch a success.”
Ozkan Dalbay, TURKSAT A.S. CEO and Chairman of the Board, said, “The TURKSAT-4A satellite will increase coverage and enhance customer services across Turkey as well as through areas of Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Today's launch is a significant milestone that strengthens our ties with both ILS and Khrunichev. Thank you to everyone involved in the success of this launch.”
Mitsubishi Electric General Manager of Space Systems Division, Yasunori Kamochi added, “We appreciate that through ILS’ conscientious efforts, they conducted a flawless mission leading to the successful launch of TURKSAT 4A, our first Proton launch. We are certain that ILS’ assurance in quality and scheduling will allow our customer to engage its satellite mission in a timely manner. We would like to thank everyone involved with the TURKSAT-4A launch for their diligence and outstanding capabilities.”
This was the 85th ILS Proton Launch and the 394th launch for Proton overall since its maiden flight in 1965. The Proton Breeze M vehicle is developed and built by Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center of Moscow, Russia’s premier space industry manufacturer and majority shareholder in ILS.
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First signal received from the S/C; solar panels fully deployed.
The S/C will be located first at 50°E during 3 months for tests
(source (http://www.turksat.com/tr/haberler/233-turksat-4a-uydumuz-basariyla-firlatildi))
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My congratulations :) !!
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Turksat-4A separation took place at 0621:43.528UTC.
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2 Objects have been catalogued by USSTRATCOM:
(epoch Feb 15, 0047UTC)
Object A, 39522/2014-007A in 351 x 22185 km x 49.38° (presumably the APT)
Object C, 39524/2014-007C in 429 x 35859 km x 49.09° (presumably S/C +Briz-M in transfer orbit)
and now Object B
Object B, 39523/2014-007B in 8384 x 32903 km x 13.05° (presumably Briz-M)
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Roscosmos video of the launch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqlHihpTrfc
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Roscosmos photos of the launch... http://www.roscosmos.ru/20227/
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And Khrunichev launch photos are available at http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=299
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2 Objects have been catalogued by USSTRATCOM:
(epoch Feb 15, 0047UTC)
Object A, 39522/2014-007A in 351 x 22185 km x 49.38° (presumably the APT)
Object C, 39524/2014-007C in 429 x 35859 km x 49.09° (presumably S/C +Briz-M in transfer orbit)
Object A and C have now been switched (A becoming the S/C)
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Wow a 30 year lifetime according to ILS. :o
Record in the making?