LIVE: Proton-M launch with Sirius 4 satellite - November 17

• LIVE: Proton-M launch with Sirius 4 satellite - November 17 by anik on 19 Oct, 2007 13:52
• According to Novosti kosmonavtiki website, Sirius 4 satellite has arrived aboard aircraft to Baikonur cosmodrome today...
  
  The launch of Proton-M rocket with Briz-M upper stage and Sirius 4 satellite is scheduled in the second half of November...
• #1 by anik on 22 Oct, 2007 14:20
• ILS Proton Launch Scheduled In November For SES' SIRIUS 4 Satellite
  http://www.ilslaunch.com/zmedia/newsarchives/newsreleases/rec190/
  
  "McLEAN, Va., Oct. 22, 2007 - International Launch Services (ILS) has scheduled its next Proton Breeze M commercial mission for November 18 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, with the launch of the SIRIUS 4 satellite for SES SIRIUS of Sweden.
  
  The SIRIUS 4 satellite arrived in Baikonur Friday (October 19). The satellite, a Lockheed Martin A2100AX model, will weigh approximately 4600 kg at liftoff, making it the largest in the SIRIUS fleet. SIRIUS 4 is a multi-mission Ku-and Ka-band satellite offering a wide range of communications services across Europe and Northern Africa.
  
  A Russian State Commission concluded that during the September 6 JCSAT-11 mission on Proton, a damaged cable prevented activation of the pyro bolts that were to have separated the first and second stages of the rocket. Proton flights resume this Thursday (October 25) with a Russian federal mission to orbit three Glonass satellites.
  
  ILS' independent Failure Review Oversight Board (FROB) reviewed the conclusions and corrective actions in early October and concurred with the commission's findings. ILS has begun a series of briefings for insurers and customers.
  
  "As we have started the launch campaign for SIRIUS 4, we are focused on performance," said ILS President Frank McKenna. "We acknowledge the diligent effort from the people who enabled such a timely return to flight - the Russian State Commission; our partner, Khrunichev; our customer; the satellite manufacturer; the FROB members; and the U.S. Defense Technology Security Administration.
  
  "With the launch teams now in Baikonur and the arrival of the satellite, we are proceeding steadily with diligence and determination toward a launch on 18 November," McKenna said"
• #2 by anik on 23 Oct, 2007 14:16
• SES SIRIUS 4 Blog
  http://www.ilslaunch.com/blog/
• #3 by anik on 26 Oct, 2007 15:15
• According to http://kz-today.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1138536794&chapter=1153429247 (in Russian), Briz-M upper stage has been delivered to Baikonur cosmodrome by An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft yesterday...
• #4 by anik on 26 Oct, 2007 15:47
• Spaceflight Now informs the launch will be at 22:40 UTC on November 17...
• #5 by anik on 27 Oct, 2007 07:34
• Sirius 4 Mission Overview
  http://www.ilslaunch.com/missionoverview/ or
  http://www.ilslaunch.com/upload/bin/Sirius4MO-FINAL-B.pdf
• #6 by William Graham on 27 Oct, 2007 08:53
• Is this the standard Proton-M, or the enhanced version?
• #7 by anik on 01 Nov, 2007 15:53
• Preparations on Schedule for SIRIUS 4 Launch
  01.11.2007
  http://www.khrunichev.ru/khrunichev_eng/live/full_news.asp?id=14859
   
  "Preparations continue on schedule for the launch of SES’s SIRIUS 4 spacecraft onboard Khrunichev-manufactured Proton Breeze M launch vehicle at Baikonur launch site, in Kazahstan.
  
  The schedule for the next couple of days includes moving of the Breeze M upper stage from Assembly and Testing building area (“MIK” 92A-50) to technological fuelling station for fuelling to be carried out jointly by Khrunichev’s and Russian space industry’s technicians.  
  
  Once fuelled, the upper stage will be transferred back to the processing and assembly area, where final tests of the upper stage will be conducted prior to mating to the spacecraft and adapter. The mating operations will start on 4th November.
   
  The launch of a 4600-kg,Lockheed Martin-built multi-mission communications satellite     SIRIUS 4 onboard  Proton Breeze M launch vehicle is scheduled for 18 November 2007"
• #8 by Nicolas PILLET on 01 Nov, 2007 18:32
• Quote

  GW_Simulations - 27/10/2007  10:53 AM
  
  Is this the standard Proton-M, or the enhanced version?

  
  I think that there is no more "classical" Proton-M. All the launchers since DirecTV-10 are "enhanced".
• #9 by William Graham on 01 Nov, 2007 18:54
• Quote

  Nicolas PILLET - 1/11/2007  8:32 PM
  
  

  Quote

  GW_Simulations - 27/10/2007  10:53 AM
  
  Is this the standard Proton-M, or the enhanced version?

  
  I think that there is no more "classical" Proton-M. All the launchers since DirecTV-10 are "enhanced".

  
  I think the last one (that failed) was standard.
• #10 by Nicolas PILLET on 02 Nov, 2007 09:11
• Why do you think that ?
• #11 by anik on 02 Nov, 2007 14:02
• From http://www.ilslaunch.com/blog/
  
  All Tanked Up and No Place to Go (Yet)
  1 November 2007  
  
  "Over the last three days, the expert LMCSS Propulsion Team has performed the spacecraft propellant loading operations. Since these are hazardous operations, the Processing Facility was restricted to "essential personnel" only. The rest of us "non-essential" personnel (no offense intended) were banished to the hotels for most of the day. The fuel loading occurred Tuesday as fuel was meticulously transferred from the propellant storage containers to the on-board spacecraft fuel tank. Wednesday, preparations were made for the oxidizer loading, and today the oxidizer was successfully transferred into the spacecraft oxidizer tanks. Throughout these hazardous operations, emergency personnel and an "escape bus" were in place in the event of an emergency"
• #12 by Stan Black on 03 Nov, 2007 09:17
• Quote

  GW_Simulations - 1/11/2007  2:54 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Nicolas PILLET - 1/11/2007  8:32 PM
  
  

  Quote

  GW_Simulations - 27/10/2007  10:53 AM
  
  Is this the standard Proton-M, or the enhanced version?

  
  I think that there is no more "classical" Proton-M. All the launchers since DirecTV-10 are "enhanced".

  
  I think the last one (that failed) was standard.

  
  Afternoon all,
  
  Think Protons are supposed to be manufactured serially, and not customised for each mission.
  
  But 535-21 for Measat had composite structures, whilst 535-20 for DirecTV 10 had all the enhancements.
  http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/2006/measat/msat_inf.htm
  
  So what is the current Proton-M configuration?
  
  http://www.ilslaunch.com/liftoff/story04.html
  Bonner: Since one of our primary objectives is to improve reliability, the Proton enhancements will not be offered as customizable options. Doing so would create longer production times and increase the potential for error. Instead, the goal is best put as "do one thing and do it well." By early 2009, Khrunichev plans to be producing and launching only one configuration of the Proton Breeze M, for both ILS commercial and Russian government missions with a payload capability in excess of six metric tons.
  
  And of course
  535-04
  535-05
  535-17
  535-18
  535-19
  are yet to fly
  
  
  Stan
• #13 by anik on 05 Nov, 2007 06:57
• According to http://kz-today.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1138536794&chapter=1153430150 (in Russian), the assembly of stages of Proton-M rocket has begun yesterday...
  
  Electric tests of Briz-M upper stage and its preparation to the assembly with adapter and Sirius 4 satellite are continuing...
• #14 by anik on 09 Nov, 2007 18:56
• According to Novosti kosmonavtiki website, today the space head part (Sirius 4 satellite + adapter + Briz-M upper stage + fairing) has been transported for general assembly with Proton-M rocket...
  
  The fuelling of low pressure tanks of upper stage by propellants is scheduled for November 12th...
  
  The rollout of rocket to the launch pad No. 200/39 is planned on November 14th...
• #15 by anik on 10 Nov, 2007 05:39
• MEDIA ADVISORY: ILS PROTON TO LAUNCH SES' SIRIUS 4
  http://www.ilslaunch.com/zmedia/newsarchives/newsreleases/rec203/
  
  "November 9, 2007
  
  Payload: SIRIUS 4, A2100 AX platform
  
  Separated mass: 4,385 kg (9,667 lbs)
  
  Launch Vehicle: Proton M/Breeze M
  
  Weight at liftoff: 691,272 kg (1.5 million lbs) including payload
  
  Height: 56.2 m (184 ft)
  
  Launch Time: 04:39 Nov. 18 Baikonur; 23:39 Nov. 17 CET; 22:39 Nov. 17 GMT; 17:39; Nov. 17 EST
  
  Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan Launch Pad 39
  
  End User: SES SIRIUS, Solna, Sweden
  
  Satellite Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Commercial Space Systems,Newtown, PA
  
  Launch Vehicle Manufacturer: Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow
  
  Launch Services Provider: International Launch Services, McLean, Va.
  
  Satellite Use: Multi-mission satellite that will provide a wide range of telecommunications services, providing coverage over Europe, Africa and the Baltic/Nordic region.
  
  Satellite Statistics:
  
  52 active Ku-band transponders
  
  2 active Ka-band transponders
  
  Anticipated service life of 15 years
  
  Mission Profile: The Proton launch vehicle will use a 4-burn Breeze M mission design to inject the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent trajectory to place the Breeze M fourth stage, with the satellite, into a suborbital trajectory, from which the Breeze M will place itself and the spacecraft into a circular parking orbit of 173 km (107.5 miles) inclined at 51.5 degrees. Once the upper stage and SIRIUS 4 are in the parking orbit, the unit will then be propelled into its transfer orbit by a series of additional burns of the Breeze M. Following separation from the Breeze M, the spacecraft will perform a series of liquid apogee burns to raise perigee, lower inclination, and circularize the orbit at the geostationary altitude of 35,786 km (22,236 miles).
  
  Target Orbit at Separation: Apogee: 35,786 km (22,236 miles); Perigee: 7,030 km (4,368 miles); Inclination: 17.3 degrees
  
  Spacecraft Separation: Approximately 9 hours, 13 minutes after liftoff
  
  ILS Mission Statistics:
  
  4th ILS Proton launch in 2007
  
  43rd ILS mission on Proton
  
  10th Proton launch of A2100 bus
  
  329th Proton launch"
• #16 by anik on 12 Nov, 2007 15:16
• Today, according to http://kz-today.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1138536794&chapter=1153430861 (in Russian), Proton-M rocket has been transported to fuelling station for fuelling of low pressure tanks of Briz-M upper stage by propellants...
• #17 by anik on 13 Nov, 2007 15:36
• According to http://www.ln.mid.ru/ns-dvbr.nsf/a84cf38ed768735943256ccc003bcff1/a4780c7b9e3523a4c32573920031aa30?OpenDocument the exact planned launch time is 22:39:47 UTC on November 17th...
• #18 by anik on 14 Nov, 2007 19:17
• Proton M Rocket with SIRIUS 4 Satellite Installed on Launch Pad in Baikonur Cosmodrome
  14.11.2007
  
  http://www.khrunichev.ru/khrunichev_eng/live/full_news.asp?id=14869
   
  "Following the successful completion of the operation readiness review, the go–ahead for the roll out operations was given by the Russian State Commission yesterday. The operations started early this morning, on November 14.
   
  The fully assembled space launch vehicle (Proton Breeze M rocket with SIRIUS 4 spacecraft) has been already erected vertically on the launch pad.
  
  Within the following couple of days the Russian space industry’s technical team will perform routine checks of the rocket, upper stage, spacecraft, as well as guidance and control rocket systems checks on the launch pad"
  
  Photos of Proton-M rollout are on http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2579

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• #19 by anik on 15 Nov, 2007 16:24
• Good information about this launch is on http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/eng/pl_pusk.htm