Proton-M launch - Thor 5 - February 10, 2008

• Proton-M launch - Thor 5 - February 10, 2008 by anik on 07 Dec, 2007 17:31
• The launch of Proton-M rocket with Briz-M upper stage and Thor 5 satellite from Baikonur cosmodrome is scheduled in February 2008...
  
  According to http://kz-today.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1138536794&chapter=1153433735 (in Russian), the assembly of blocks and stages of Proton-M rocket has begun today...
  
  The delivery of Thor 5 satellite is planned in January 2008...
  
  Images below are from Roskosmos website...

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• #1 by anik on 15 Dec, 2007 06:51
• The official launch date is February 10...
• #2 by satlaunch on 08 Jan, 2008 16:44
• Thor 5 Blog is opened.
  
  http://www.ilslaunch.com/ils/welcome-to-the-thor-5-blog/
  
  
• #3 by anik on 12 Jan, 2008 07:26
• http://www.khrunichev.ru/khrunichev/live/full_news.asp?id=22543
  
  Today satellite should arrive to cosmodrome...
• #4 by anik on 12 Jan, 2008 10:34
• http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2752
  
  The satellite is on cosmodrome now...
• #5 by Martin.cz on 12 Jan, 2008 11:36
• Nice pictures, I have been under the impression that those "side tanks with engines" are an integral part of Proton's first stage but it seems they are detachable (easier transport ?). Interesting !
• #6 by sammie on 12 Jan, 2008 11:48
• Yeah, otherwise they couldn't be transported by rail. So it's quite a nice layout, a central oxidizer tank, and six seperate propellant tanks that are attached at the launch site.
• #7 by on 16 Jan, 2008 03:30
• Press Release from ILS website
  ______________________________________________________________________________
  
  The team's all here
  Posted by : ILS Launch Team in Baikonur, 3:26 a.m. MT on 14 January 2008
  
  Over the past several days we have grown from an Early Team of 30 to a Main Team of 58 members. This surge was facilitated by a private charter on 11 January, which brought in most of the new crew, as well as the 12 January arrival of an Antonov-124 aircraft carrying our THOR 5 spacecraft, equipment and a handful of additional team members. A winter landing in Baikonur is not an experience to be taken lightly, as a plume of snow rises from behind the recently touched-down aircraft. We arrived at the airfield in the afternoon to meet the Antonov and greet our newcomers. Most of the team spent the rest of the day at the airfield unloading our spacecraft (which endured the journey snug in its custom container) and three Sea-Land containers containing equipment and supplies for the campaign. All containers were loaded onto a train for the trip to the processing facility. The members who arrived with the Antonov were quickly ushered back to our hotel for some much-needed rest, as were those of us who were needed very early the next morning for the offload at the facility.
  
  The offload of the spacecraft and Sea-Land containers at the processing facility (Building 92A-50) began at 1 a.m. the following day. This task was expeditiously completed in just three hours by the skilled crews of Khrunichev and Orbital. The Sea-Land containers were then moved into Hall 103 for storage and unpacking. The spacecraft container was left in Integration Hall 101, where it arrived, so that it and its valuable THOR 5 payload could slowly be brought up to room temperature. This is done to ensure that the spacecraft does not endure any unneeded thermal shock or condensation. With the spacecraft resting comfortably after its long journey it was time for the rest of us to sleep, as the next day we would undertake the process of carefully removing it from its container.
  
  

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• #8 by satlaunch on 16 Jan, 2008 23:17
• The Khrunichev-built Breeze M upper stage that will be used for the THOR 5 launch arrived today at the launch site, on an Antonov AN 124-100 cargo plane. The team is in the process of moving it to Assembly and Testing Building 92A-50 for prelaunch preparations.
  
  With the Breeze M’s arrival, all key components – the core Proton rocket, its upper stage and the spacecraft – are now at the launch site. During the next week and a half, the operations with the launcher and the spacecraft will be performed independently by different teams in the same building. Then joint operations, including mating the satellite to the launcher, will begin.
  
  http://www.ilslaunch.com/ils/breeze-m-delivered/
• #9 by on 18 Jan, 2008 18:31
• FROM WWW.ILSLAUNCH.COM
  
  
  Unpacking the Spacecraft
  Posted by : ILS Launch Team in Baikonur, 1:52 p.m. Baikonur on 17 January 2008
  
  Beginning late on Sunday, and carrying on through the early hours of Monday, the team undertook the task of unpacking the THOR 5 spacecraft from its container. It was necessary to complete this process quickly, as the THOR team had to be out of Processing Hall 101 Monday morning to make way for a Russian satellite coming into the same hall. That spacecraft, Express, is scheduled to be launched Jan. 28 in the first flight for Proton in 2008.
  
  The unpacking process began with the removal of the lid of the spacecraft container. The spacecraft had been wrapped in special blankets to protect it from any possible contamination during its journey to Baikonur. Next, the blankets were carefully removed and our team got its first look at THOR 5 at the Cosmodrome. At this point a few satellite specialists inspected the spacecraft for any signs of damage. As expected, no damage was found, so we commenced removing our valuable package from its container.
  
   
  
  The spacecraft made the trip in the horizontal position. In order to remove it from the container, it had to be rotated to a vertical position, which was carefully and successfully completed by the team from Orbital. Now in its vertical position, THOR 5 was ready to be lifted by crane from its container and transferred a few feet onto a rolling dolly, where it will spend the next many days undergoing tests of all its critical systems. This is a period we refer to as Standalone Operations, where the spacecraft manufacturer, Orbital, performs tests on and ultimately fuels the spacecraft in anticipation of mating it with the Breeze M/Proton M launch vehicle.
  
  
  

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• #10 by anik on 19 Jan, 2008 16:23
• http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2774
  
  Powering up of systems of Briz-M upper stage was performed yesterday...
• #11 by Danderman on 23 Jan, 2008 14:48
• According to this site:  http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2787
  
  work is continuing on the various Proton and Briz systems in preparation for launch.
• #12 by Satori on 25 Jan, 2008 12:52
• At Baykonur continues the works on the Briz-M upper stage that will be used to launch the Thor-5 communications satellite.
  
  Images are from here.

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• #13 by on 30 Jan, 2008 19:02
• http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2828
  
  Photos of Payload fairing installation for launch of THOR-5
  
• #14 by jacqmans on 05 Feb, 2008 07:29
• 04.02.2008 launch of rocket with the communication satellite Thor 2R is planned on 10 February.
  
  http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2844
  
     At the spaceport Baikonur continues the preparation for the starting of space rocket "Proton-m with the starting block" Breeze- M "and the telecommunication automatic spacecraft Thor 2R.
     Today in the assembly and testing housing of the area of 9?-shch0 is conducted the transfer of rocket to the transporter-erector aggregate, and final procedures on the carrier rocket are performed. After the completion of works, the carrier rocket will be transported to the technical servicing station for servicing of the tanks of the low pressure of starting block "Breeze- M".
  The calculations Of roskosmosa prepare the equipment of station for the forthcoming servicing of starting block, and the combat crews of space troops of Russia, stationed in Baikonur, bring propellant components to the technical servicing station.
  
  It is planned, that the servicing will be completed on 6 February, next day it is planned to conduct the removal of rocket to the launching system of the area of 200 spaceports.
  
  The launch of space rocket "Proton-m" with the starting block "Breeze- M" and the communication satellite Thor 2R is planned from the area of 200 spaceports 14 it is hour 33 minutes on 10 February, 2008.
   
  
  
  
   
  
• #15 by jacqmans on 05 Feb, 2008 07:35
• 05.02.2008 Thor 2R are prepared for the start
  
  http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2853
  
     At the spaceport Baikonur continues the preparation for the starting of space rocket "Proton-m with the starting block" Breeze- M "and the telecommunication automatic spacecraft Thor 2R. this morning at the technical servicing station it began servicing the tanks of the low pressure of starting block" Breeze- M ".
  
  It is planned, that the servicing will continue during two days.
  In the evening on 6 February at the spaceport it is planned to conduct the session of state commission, at which will be supplied the sums of preparation on the technical complex of space rocket and the readiness of the objects of the ground-based space infrastructure of Baikonur for conducting of the removal of rocket to the launching system.
  The transport of rocket from the technical servicing station to the launching system of the area of 200 spaceports it is planned to conduct in the morning on 7 February.
  
     The launch of space rocket "Proton-m" with the starting block "Breeze- M" and the communication satellite Thor 2R is planned from the area of 200 spaceports to 14 it is hour 33 minutes of msk on 10 February, 2008.
  
• #16 by Skyrocket on 05 Feb, 2008 07:43
• Why are they calling the Satellite still "Thor-2R" - acording to Telenor it has been renamed "Thor-5" in February 2007
  http://www.telenorsbc.com/templates/Page.aspx?id=564
  
  
• #17 by pm1823 on 05 Feb, 2008 14:03
• Who cares, if in the contract papers it's still Thor-IIR they will launch Thor-IIR.  
• #18 by jacqmans on 07 Feb, 2008 08:01
• 06.02.2008 resolution of state commission about the removal RKN "Proton-"Briz 2R "to the launching system
  
  http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2864
  
  At the spaceport Baikonur took place the session of state commission, which made a decision about the conducting tomorrow, on 7 February, the removal of space rocket "Proton-m" with the starting block "Breeze- M" and the telecommunication satellite Thor 2R to the launching system of area 200.
  
  The transport of rocket will begin into 3.30 msk.
  
  After the delivery of rocket to the launching system, it will be established to the vertical position on the "zero mark" of launching pad, to the carrier rocket they will bring service boom, and the calculations of the enterprises Of roskosmosa will approach the works according to the graph of the first starting day.
  
  The launch of space rocket "Proton-m" with the starting block "Breeze- M" and the communication satellite Thor 2R is planned to 14 it is hour 33 minutes of msk on 10 February, 2008.
   
  
  
• #19 by jacqmans on 07 Feb, 2008 08:02
• 06.02.2008 Thor 2R: preparation KA for the starting is conducted according to the graph
  
  http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2861
  
  Na spaceport Baikonur continues preparation for the starting of space rocket "Proton-m" with the starting block "Breeze- M" and the Norwegian telecommunication satellite "Thor -2R" (Thor 2R).
  
  Na of technical servicing station continues servicing the tanks of the low pressure of starting block "Breeze- M".
  
  on the launching system of area 200 is conducted the conference of technical direction on the readiness of launcher for the method of rocket.
  
  Segodnya in the evening at the spaceport must pass the session of state commission, at which will be supplied the sums of preparation on the technical complex of space rocket and the readiness of the objects of the ground-based space infrastructure of spaceport Baikonur for conducting of the removal of rocket to the launching system.
  
   Transportirovku of rocket from the technical servicing station to the launching system of the area of 200 spaceports it is planned to conduct in the morning on 7 February.
     Pusk of space rocket "Proton-m" with the starting block "Breeze- M" and the communication satellite "Thor -2R" is planned from the area of 200 spaceports to 14 it is hour 33 minutes of msk on 10 February, 2008.
  
  Kosmicheskiy apparatus (KA) is created by the American company Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) on the base of platform "Star -2" (Star 2) on the contract with the Norwegian company "tele-NOR" (Telenor). Starting mass KA - 2450 kg. it is intended for the work in geostationary orbit for 15 years. KA will ensure the north of Europe, central Europe and Middle East with services to tele-communication.
   
  
• #20 by PDJennings on 07 Feb, 2008 15:27
• http://www.telenorsbc.com/templates/Page.aspx?id=601
  
  Telenor's website gives the launch mass as 2005 kg.  Evidently they decided to leave the SC oxidizer tanks empty for this flight, since no orbit raising maneuvers are anticipated.  The STAR 2 satellites normally weigh ~2500 kg when they start in a low energy GTO.
• #21 by on 07 Feb, 2008 20:23
• Proton-M was rolled out to launch pad in Baikonur Cosmodrome
  
  http://www.tsenki.com/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=571

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• #22 by jacqmans on 08 Feb, 2008 07:52
• 07.02.2008 "Thor 2R" in the readiness on the launching system
  
  http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2870
  
     Segodnya at the spaceport Baikonur took place the removal of space rocket "Proton-m" to the launching system, and work according to the graph of the first starting day is carried out.
     Transportirovka of space rocket "Proton-m" with the starting block "Breeze- M" and the Norwegian telecommunication satellite "Thor 2R" from the technical servicing station of the area of 9? to the launching system of area 200 began into 3.30 msk. At 6 A.M. the rocket was delivered to the launching system, and after installation to it they brought mobile service boom.
  
  The calculations Of roskosmosa, including specialists GKNPTS im. M.V.Khrunicheva, KB Ohm im. V.P.Barmina and other enterprises, and also foreign specialists conduct jointing ground-based communications alongside the rocket and are performed other operations according to the graph of the first starting day.
  
     Pusk of space rocket "Proton-m" with the starting block "Breeze- M" and the communication satellite "Thor 2R" is planned from the area of 200 spaceports to 14 it is hour 33 minutes of msk on 10 February, 2008.
   
  
• #23 by pm1823 on 08 Feb, 2008 18:00
• Skyrocket, you have the official answer to your question. The same as mine was.
  
  http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2878
  
  
• #24 by roy on 09 Feb, 2008 06:24
• Live Feed for Europe:
  New Skies NSS-7, transponder WHL4/EUH3, Channel 1
  338 degrees West, Ku-band, digital PAL
  downlink 11095.6 MHz (horizontal), symbol rate 5.632, FEC: 3/4
  Test signals start at 10:45 GMT, broadcast starts approximately 11:13 GMT.
• #25 by @RD170@ on 09 Feb, 2008 19:26
• It´s funny, russian procedures for launching LV are so easy. It makes launching LV a boys game.  Thanks to god we will keep this "know how" for all world. Russian mastering LV are not equaled nowadays in terms of simplicity by German, French, N.American, Chinese or any other school of engineering.
  
  If Von Braunn, Korolev and Glushko see this from heaven now, they will be happy for human. This procedures will leave human to space forever.
  
• #26 by dwmzmm on 09 Feb, 2008 19:49
• Quote

  @RD170@ - 9/2/2008  2:26 PM
  
  It´s funny, russian procedures for launching LV are so easy. It makes launching LV a boys game.  Thanks to god we will keep this "know how" for all world. Russian mastering LV are not equaled nowadays in terms of simplicity by German, French, N.American, Chinese or any other school of engineering.
  
  If Von Braunn, Korolev and Glushko see this from heaven now, they will be happy for human. This procedures will leave human to space forever.
  

  
  "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
• #27 by on 10 Feb, 2008 05:32
• Launcher in place
  Posted by ILS Launch Team, 3:48 p.m. Baikonur on 8 February 2008
  
  Yesterday the Proton M launch vehicle was transported from our processing facility to Launch Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It began its trip to the pad at exactly 6:30 a.m., which is a Russian tradition because it corresponds to the time the vehicle for Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, rolled out to the pad.
  Most of the team traveled to the pad a few hours after the transportation of the ILV began. We arrived just in time to witness the Russian specialists undertake the monumental task of erecting this huge rocket. Of course, we were not going to miss our chance to take a team photo in front of such an impressive sight.
  The Orbital, Telenor, ILS and KhSC teams are now completing final closeouts and checks, as well as rehearsing for Sunday's long-awaited launch of the Proton M/Breeze M and THOR 5.
  

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• #28 by on 10 Feb, 2008 05:34
• 3 hrs and counting down for launch of Thor-5
• #29 by blw_united on 10 Feb, 2008 07:09
• 24hr scrub due to problem fueling Proton.
• #30 by on 10 Feb, 2008 08:39
• http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2885
  
  10.02.2008 Start of THOR-2R is transferred for tomorrow - for reserve day
     
  The launch of THOR-5 (2R) planned for today from the Baikonur cosmodrome, is transferred for reserve day - for tomorrow, on February, 11th, at 14.34. p.m. Moscow time.
  
  Press-service Roskosmos
• #31 by squidf on 10 Feb, 2008 08:53
• Thanks for the info.  Where did you get that info?
• #32 by William Graham on 10 Feb, 2008 08:57
• Quote

  squidf - 10/2/2008  9:53 AM
  
  Thanks for the info.  Where did you get that info?

  
  He did provide a link in his post.
  
  Unusual for a Russian launch to be scrubbed.
• #33 by ASTUTE on 10 Feb, 2008 13:26
• According to a spokesman for Roskosmos "... at 09.25 Moscow time (06.25 GMT) the launch was postponed due to a problem in the Proton's control system. The problem appeared before fueling the rocket... "
• #34 by on 11 Feb, 2008 02:49
• This launch is the 333rd for Proton rocket History
• #35 by JohnWT on 11 Feb, 2008 10:08
• Live coverage from http://streamvox.streamos.com/vyvx/ils021008/ starting in 6 minutes
• #36 by roy on 11 Feb, 2008 10:11
• any screenshop of launch
• #37 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:15
• Has anyone managed to connect to the webcast? It should have started by now, but my player only shows "connecting". However, the test videos (TATU music videos :laugh: ) they provide to test your connection play fine for me.
• #38 by JohnWT on 11 Feb, 2008 10:18
• It is playing fine for me
• #39 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:23
• Ok, it was my firewall
  
  The commentator who didn't have time to have breakfast (too early in the Eastern Coast)

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• #40 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:27
• Some pics of the preparations:

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• #41 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:29
• Very cold weather: -17ºC, were the high temperatures during the day, starting to chill a bit more now.
• #42 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:29
• 5 minutes.

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• #43 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:33
• I don't have a recording program, so if someone does and is willing to record the launch, please do. I will be taking images and updates.
  
  Less than 1 minut
  

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• #44 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:35
• LAUNCH. All nominal +30 secs.

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• #45 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:38
• Stage 1-2 sep performed nominally, right now we're in second stage flight.

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• #46 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:40

• Second-third stage separation, along with fairing jettison confirmed.

  Some video of an orthodox priest blessing the Proton.

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• #47 by Skyrocket on 11 Feb, 2008 10:42
• Quote

  eeergo - 11/2/2008  12:40 PM
  
  

  Some video of an orthodox priest blessing the Proton.

  
  Some kind of launch preparation seldom done to western launch vehicles. Only the Atlas-V which launched HellasSat came to my mind.
• #48 by roy on 11 Feb, 2008 10:46
• we waiting to seperated soon
  
  
• #49 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:47
• Third stage depletion and separation confirmed. Now under BreezeM power.

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• #50 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:50
• Frozen people in Baikonur

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• #51 by roy on 11 Feb, 2008 10:51
• yea too much minus -17
  
  
• #52 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:52
• The commentator is having problems with Eastern names... first she almost drowned trying to say Kazakhstan and now she's said Khruchinev
• #53 by eeergo on 11 Feb, 2008 10:54

• Confirmation of the first burn ending. Now the vehicule is out of range, so second burn has to take place by its own, and they're ending the broadcast.

  Trei thanking ILS' vice-president for his support, as this was her first live commentary (we'll forgive her then )

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• #54 by Jim on 11 Feb, 2008 10:54
• Quote

  Skyrocket - 11/2/2008  6:42 AM
  
  

  Quote

  eeergo - 11/2/2008  12:40 PM
  
  

  Some video of an orthodox priest blessing the Proton.

  
  Some kind of launch preparation seldom done to western launch vehicles. Only the Atlas-V which launched HellasSat came to my mind.

  
  The base chaplain visits the control rooms before launch and passes out a prayer for the mission.
• #55 by Skyrocket on 11 Feb, 2008 11:00
• Quote

  Jim - 11/2/2008  12:54 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Skyrocket - 11/2/2008  6:42 AM
  
  

  Quote

  eeergo - 11/2/2008  12:40 PM
  
  

  Some video of an orthodox priest blessing the Proton.

  
  Some kind of launch preparation seldom done to western launch vehicles. Only the Atlas-V which launched HellasSat came to my mind.

  
  The base chaplain visits the control rooms before launch and passes out a prayer for the mission.

  
  Thanks - that was unknown to me.
• #56 by on 11 Feb, 2008 15:17
• http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=2892
  
  Successful start-up of LV Proton-M, Breeze-M, THOR-2R
  
  Today at 14.34 Moscow time from a platform ?200 cosmodromes Baikonur is carried out successful rocket firing space purpose "Proton-M" with block " Breeze-M " (manufactures KHrunichev) and the Norwegian telecommunication space vehicle "THOR-2R". The space head part was in due time separated from LV, now block " Breeze-M " deduces THOR-2R into a target orbit. On end of formation of a target orbit management satellite will be transferred to the customer.

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• #57 by William Graham on 11 Feb, 2008 17:32
• Is the red smoke in the last image normal?
• #58 by DarthVader on 11 Feb, 2008 17:34
• Quote

  GW_Simulations - 11/2/2008  10:32 AM
  
  Is the red smoke in the last image normal?

  
  Dunno but that doesn't look too rightful. As anyone recorded the webcast by any chance? I'd love to watch it    Thanks.
• #59 by Skyrocket on 11 Feb, 2008 17:45
• Quote

  GW_Simulations - 11/2/2008  7:32 PM
  
  Is the red smoke in the last image normal?

  
  Yes, perfectly normal - Protons always vent red clouds of Nitrogentetroxyde
• #60 by Nicolas PILLET on 11 Feb, 2008 19:03
• Quote

  jancarlobascu - 11/2/2008  4:49 AM
  
  This launch is the 333rd for Proton rocket History

  
  The 332nd if you don't take in account the suborbital launch of august 1970, what I do in my website :
  
  http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/proton/protonliste.html
• #61 by Stan Black on 11 Feb, 2008 19:35
• Quote

  Nicolas PILLET - 11/2/2008  2:03 PM
  
  

  Quote

  jancarlobascu - 11/2/2008  4:49 AM
  
  This launch is the 333rd for Proton rocket History

  
  The 332nd if you don't take in account the suborbital launch of august 1970, what I do in my website :
  
  http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/proton/protonliste.html
  

  
  
  Why exclude that one? It wasn't the only sub-orbital Proton!
  
• #62 by William Graham on 11 Feb, 2008 20:15
• Success confirmed:
  http://www.ilslaunch.com/ils/mission-accomplished/
  http://www.ilslaunch.com/ils/news-021108/
  
  

  Quote

  DarthVader - 11/2/2008  6:34 PM
  As anyone recorded the webcast by any chance? I'd love to watch it    Thanks.

  ILS have posted a video: http://www.ilslaunch.com/ils/we-have-liftoff/
• #63 by edkyle99 on 11 Feb, 2008 20:35
• Quote

  Stan Black - 11/2/2008  2:35 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Nicolas PILLET - 11/2/2008  2:03 PM
  
  

  Quote

  jancarlobascu - 11/2/2008  4:49 AM
  
  This launch is the 333rd for Proton rocket History

  
  The 332nd if you don't take in account the suborbital launch of august 1970, what I do in my website :
  
  http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/proton/protonliste.html
  

  
  
  Why exclude that one? It wasn't the only sub-orbital Proton!
  

  
  It was the only planned suborbital Proton flight.
  
   - Ed Kyle
• #64 by Stan Black on 11 Feb, 2008 20:36
• Quote

  edkyle99 - 11/2/2008  3:35 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Stan Black - 11/2/2008  2:35 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Nicolas PILLET - 11/2/2008  2:03 PM
  
  

  Quote

  jancarlobascu - 11/2/2008  4:49 AM
  
  This launch is the 333rd for Proton rocket History

  
  The 332nd if you don't take in account the suborbital launch of august 1970, what I do in my website :
  
  http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/proton/protonliste.html
  

  
  Why exclude that one? It wasn't the only sub-orbital Proton!
  

  
  It was the only planned suborbital Proton flight.
  
   - Ed Kyle

  
  Still it did launch
  
  
• #65 by edkyle99 on 11 Feb, 2008 20:40
• Gotta love those rare Proton (or Ariane, or Atlas, etc.) daylight launches.  Proton looks good in those black stripes when the sun shines.
  
  Congrats to Krunichev, ILS, Orbital Sciences, and Telenor Satellite Broadcasting!
  
   - Ed Kyle
  
  
• #66 by edkyle99 on 11 Feb, 2008 20:43
• Quote

  Stan Black - 11/2/2008  3:36 PM
  
  

  Quote

  edkyle99 - 11/2/2008  3:35 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Stan Black - 11/2/2008  2:35 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Nicolas PILLET - 11/2/2008  2:03 PM
  
  

  Quote

  jancarlobascu - 11/2/2008  4:49 AM
  
  This launch is the 333rd for Proton rocket History

  
  The 332nd if you don't take in account the suborbital launch of august 1970, what I do in my website :
  
  http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/proton/protonliste.html
  

  
  Why exclude that one? It wasn't the only sub-orbital Proton!
  

  
  It was the only planned suborbital Proton flight.
  
   - Ed Kyle

  
  Still it did launch
  
  

  
  Right.  All that Nicolas is saying is that it was the 332nd orbital Proton attempt.  It was also the 333rd Proton launch.
  
   - Ed Kyle
• #67 by Satori on 11 Feb, 2008 20:51
• Quote

  edkyle99 - 11/2/2008  3:43 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Stan Black - 11/2/2008  3:36 PM
  
  

  Quote

  edkyle99 - 11/2/2008  3:35 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Stan Black - 11/2/2008  2:35 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Nicolas PILLET - 11/2/2008  2:03 PM
  
  

  Quote

  jancarlobascu - 11/2/2008  4:49 AM
  
  This launch is the 333rd for Proton rocket History

  
  The 332nd if you don't take in account the suborbital launch of august 1970, what I do in my website :
  
  http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/proton/protonliste.html
  

  
  Why exclude that one? It wasn't the only sub-orbital Proton!
  

  
  It was the only planned suborbital Proton flight.
  
   - Ed Kyle

  
  Still it did launch
  
  

  
  Right.  All that Nicolas is saying is that it was the 332nd orbital Proton attempt.  It was also the 333rd Proton launch.
  
   - Ed Kyle

  
  ...well, it was also the 4549th orbital launch, the 2799th orbital russian launch and the 1203rd orbital launch from Baykonur... if my charts are wrong!!!
• #68 by Skyrocket on 11 Feb, 2008 21:28
• Quote

  edkyle99 - 11/2/2008  10:35 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Stan Black - 11/2/2008  2:35 PM
  
  

  Quote

  Nicolas PILLET - 11/2/2008  2:03 PM
  
  

  Quote

  jancarlobascu - 11/2/2008  4:49 AM
  
  This launch is the 333rd for Proton rocket History

  
  The 332nd if you don't take in account the suborbital launch of august 1970, what I do in my website :
  
  http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/proton/protonliste.html
  

  
  
  Why exclude that one? It wasn't the only sub-orbital Proton!
  

  
  It was the only planned suborbital Proton flight.
  
   - Ed Kyle

  
  Just to do a little Nitpicking: all the Proton flights with Breeze upperstage are in fact suborbital (for the three Proton stages) - only Breeze and the payload reach orbit.
• #69 by DarthVader on 11 Feb, 2008 22:18
• There's a video of the launch on Khrunichev web site (up to after the 1st stage separation I think):
  
  http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/2008/thor/thor_v.htm
  
• #70 by antonioe on 11 Feb, 2008 22:55

• Quote

  (from various posters)

  Why exclude that one? It wasn't the only sub-orbital Proton!

  It was the only planned suborbital Proton flight.

  Still it did launch

  ...well, it was also the 4549th orbital launch, the 2799th orbital russian launch and the 1203rd orbital launch from Baykonur... if my charts are wrong!!!

  
  Just to do a little Nitpicking: all the Proton flights with Breeze upperstage are in fact suborbital (for the three Proton stages) - only Breeze and the payload reach orbit.
  

  "See the little phrases go.
  Watch their funny antics.
  The men that make them wiggle so
  are teachers of Semantics"
  

  Frederick Winsor, "The Space Child Mother Goose"

   :laugh:
• #71 by Nicolas PILLET on 12 Feb, 2008 10:39
• Quote

  edkyle99 - 11/2/2008  10:43 PM
  
  Right.  All that Nicolas is saying is that it was the 332nd orbital Proton attempt.  It was also the 333rd Proton launch.
  
   - Ed Kyle

  
  Exactly !  
• #72 by Stan Black on 12 Feb, 2008 18:13
• Quote

  Nicolas PILLET - 12/2/2008  5:39 AM
  
  

  Quote

  edkyle99 - 11/2/2008  10:43 PM
  
  Right.  All that Nicolas is saying is that it was the 332nd orbital Proton attempt.  It was also the 333rd Proton launch.
  
   - Ed Kyle

  
  Exactly !  

  
  I'm sure there is more to this argument but I do not wish to make enemies!
  
  Stan
  
  P.S. Good website
• #73 by Nicolas PILLET on 13 Feb, 2008 12:36
• The only reason for which I do not take in account the 1970 suborbital launch is that it would lead me to take in account all suborbital launches of space vehicles...
  
  It is sure this is not a very good reason   , but if I did count suborbital launches, it would mean that Spoutnik was NOT the first space launch, since there were ballistic launches of R-7 before october 1957...
  
  But you're right : there are many arguments against me !
  
  Nicolas
  
  PS : Thank you !  
• #74 by Gorizont on 13 Feb, 2008 19:02
• Hello, I think that was the 335th launch.
  I used the list on "www.tbs-satellite.com" and I think it should be the most complete one.
  Also I saved the list/webpage and filled some more information in it, for example launch-times and real names fore some of the "cosmos"-types.
  
  greetings... Soeren
• #75 by Skyrocket on 13 Feb, 2008 19:55
• Quote

  Gorizont - 13/2/2008  9:02 PM
  
  Hello, I think that was the 335th launch.
  I used the list on "www.tbs-satellite.com" and I think it should be the most complete one.
  Also I saved the list/webpage and filled some more information in it, for example launch-times and real names fore some of the "cosmos"-types.
  
  greetings... Soeren

  
  No, forget the TBS list (http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/lanc_proton.html). It is outdated and contains two Proton launces, which did not take place. I once started this list for TBS, but since then i have reworked my list and the recent one you can find under http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_fam/proton.htm
  
  
• #76 by Gorizont on 13 Feb, 2008 21:02
• No, forget the TBS list (http://www.tbs-satellite.com/tse/online/lanc_proton.html). It is outdated and contains two Proton launces, which did not take place. I once started this list for TBS, but since then i have reworked my list and the recent one you can find under http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_fam/proton.htm
  -----
  Gunter
  http://space.skyrocket.de
  
  
  Hi Gunter, I know your page and visit it often. ;-)
  I will rework "my" TBS-list and delete the 2 launches. Thank you for the hint.
  
  But: By the way, there is another problem.
  The Proton with Express-AM1-launch had a "300 PUSK" writing at on of the strap-on-tanks. Have you any idea, why? At all lists, I found, this was not the 300. launch.
  (I mean this picture, which you marked with "Proton-K Blok-DM-2M (Ekspress-A 1R)" on your page.)
  Perhaps is it the 300. launch of the Block-D-type upper-stage.
  
  thanks... Soeren
• #77 by Skyrocket on 13 Feb, 2008 21:16
• Quote

  Gorizont - 13/2/2008  11:02 PM
  But: By the way, there is another problem.
  The Proton with Express-AM1-launch had a "300 PUSK" writing at on of the strap-on-tanks. Have you any idea, why? At all lists, I found, this was not the 300. launch.
  (I mean this picture, which you marked with "Proton-K Blok-DM-2M (Ekspress-A 1R)" on your page.)
  Perhaps is it the 300. launch of the Block-D-type upper-stage.
  

  
  No, it does not work for the Blok-D numbering: http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_stage/blok-d.htm
  
  The "300 Pusk" inscription is also a riddle to me.