Author Topic: LIVE: Sea Launch - SICRAL 1B - April 20, 2009 (Read 58524 times)

SIM city · « **Reply #20 on:** 02/17/2009 02:27 pm »

The Sea Launch homepage now says the launch has been delayed due to further tests and verification. It must be going back to Italy.

http://www.sea-launch.com/

satlaunch · « **Reply #21 on:** 03/14/2009 10:06 am »

Sicral 1B launch date is NET April 19, 08:16-09:13 UTC.

http://fdfhome.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/fdf_activity.doc

anik · « **Reply #22 on:** 03/21/2009 06:32 am »

http://www.sea-launch.com/current_launch.htm

"Sea Launch resumed preparations for the launch of the SICRAL 1B communications satellite in March, following a delay that allowed our customer to make further tests and verifications on their spacecraft. We are currently planning to launch SICRAL 1B in April for Telespazio, a Thales/Finmeccanica company, based in Rome"

anik · « **Reply #23 on:** 04/02/2009 02:23 pm »

Payload Transfers from Payload Processing to Rocket Integration
http://www.sea-launch.com/mission_sicral_1b/payload_transfer/payload_transfer.html

Rocket Transfers from Integration to Launch Platform
http://www.sea-launch.com/mission_sicral_1b/rocket_transfer/rocket_transfer.html

anik · « **Reply #24 on:** 04/03/2009 03:35 pm »

Rocket Rolls out to the Launch Pad for Final Tests
http://www.sea-launch.com/mission_sicral_1b/erect/erect.html

Approximate schedule (according to previous launches):
Odyssey depart - April 4,
Sea Launch Commander depart - April 7,
Countdown begin - April 16.

anik · « **Reply #25 on:** 04/04/2009 07:19 am »

Odyssey Launch Platform Departs
http://www.sea-launch.com/mission_sicral_1b/lp_depart/lp_depart.html

anik · « **Reply #26 on:** 04/05/2009 06:23 pm »

Webcam is switched on: http://www.navigon.net/sl/pictures/

mlorrey · « **Reply #27 on:** 04/06/2009 05:31 am »

Quote from: anik on 04/05/2009 06:23 pm

Webcam is switched on: http://www.navigon.net/sl/pictures/

Excellent. I love seeing launch companies that do this stuff to increase openness and transparency, it helps build public confidence in space launch in seeing whats going on.

anik · « **Reply #28 on:** 04/06/2009 04:18 pm »

Sea Launch Prepares for the Launch of SICRAL 1B
http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2009/nr_090406.html

Long Beach, Calif., April 6, 2009 -- The Sea Launch vessels have departed Sea Launch Home Port for the Equator, in preparation for the launch of Telespazio’s SICRAL 1B communication satellite, on April 19. Liftoff is planned for 01:16am Pacific Time (08:16 GMT), at the opening of a 57-minute launch window.

Upon arrival at the launch site, at 154 degrees West Longitude, the Sea Launch team will initiate a 72-hour countdown. After ballasting the Odyssey Launch Platform to launch depth, the team will roll out and erect a Zenit-3SL rocket on the launch pad, execute final tests and then proceed with fueling operations and launch. Prior to fueling, all personnel on the Launch Platform will transfer to the Sea Launch Commander for the duration of the mission. The team monitors both marine and launch operations remotely from the ship, positioned about four miles uprange of the platform.

anik · « **Reply #29 on:** 04/14/2009 03:29 pm »

According to MSDB, the launch is delayed to April 20 with the same launch window.

lbiderman · « **Reply #30 on:** 04/15/2009 01:29 pm »

Quote from: anik on 04/14/2009 03:29 pm

According to MSDB, the launch is delayed to April 20 with the same launch window.

Two launchs on the same day (Falcon 1)? Cool!

ugordan · « **Reply #31 on:** 04/15/2009 01:31 pm »

Quote from: lbiderman on 04/15/2009 01:29 pm

Two launchs on the same day (Falcon 1)? Cool!

Wouldn't be the first time, on April 3/4 this year there were two launches within a 10 hour span. I'm betting something will get delayed this time, though.

William Graham · « **Reply #32 on:** 04/15/2009 01:40 pm »

Quote from: lbiderman on 04/15/2009 01:29 pm

Two launchs on the same day (Falcon 1)? Cool!

Could be three if the PSLV doesn't slip again

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #33 on:** 04/16/2009 02:29 am »

kevin-rf · « **Reply #34 on:** 04/16/2009 11:47 am »

sprinkler test or did someone try to ignore the no smoking sign

anik · « **Reply #35 on:** 04/16/2009 08:00 pm »

Sea Launch Counts Down to SICRAL 1B Launch
http://www.sea-launch.com/news_releases/2009/nr_090416.html

Long Beach, Calif., April 16, 2009 -- The Sea Launch team is initiating a 72-hour countdown at its equatorial launch site, in preparation for the launch of Telespazio’s SICRAL 1B communications satellite on April 20. Liftoff is planned at 01:16 am PDT (8:16 GMT), at the opening of a 57-minute launch window.

The team arrived at the launch site, at 154 degrees West Longitude, on April 15 and began ballasting operations to increase stability at launch depth. A final series of tests on the launch system and the spacecraft are now underway. Prior to fueling operations, the platform will be evacuated, with all personnel safely positioned on the ship, now in launch position about four miles from the platform. Less than two hours after liftoff, a Zenit-3SL vehicle will insert the the 3,038 kg (6,697 lb) satellite into a high perigee geosynchronous transfer orbit, on its way to a final orbital position at 11.8 degrees East Longitude.

Built by Thales Alenia Space for a 13-year design life, the dual-use Italsat 3000 spacecraft includes one EHF/Ka band, three UHF-band and five active SHF-band transponders. Telespazio, a Finmeccanica/Thales company, will use some of the satellite's transmission capacity to support communications services to NATO and the European defense market, while meeting evolving requirements of both the Italian defense ministry and NATO.

Sea Launch will provide live coverage of the SICRAL 1B mission via satellite and website, beginning at 1:00 am (8:00 GMT) on April 20. Live streaming video will be posted at: http://www.sea-launch.com/current_index_webcast.html. Transponder coordinates for downlinking our live satellite feed will be provided at: http://www.boeing.com/nosearch/sealaunch/broadcast.html.

D_Dom · « **Reply #36 on:** 04/18/2009 01:30 am »

Ronsmytheiii · « **Reply #37 on:** 04/19/2009 01:37 pm »

looks like the service arm for the fairing has been removed:

D_Dom · « **Reply #38 on:** 04/19/2009 07:49 pm »

Just a trick of the light. Transporter Erector is still in place. Images available here: http://www.navigon.net/sl/
Hard to see even in daylight, at night the spotlights overpower the camera and detail is washed out.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #39 on:** 04/19/2009 10:15 pm »

And just a reminder that this launch is at 9:16am UK, 10:16am Europe.