LIVE: Proton-M - Eutelsat W2A satellite - April 3, 09

LIVE: Proton-M - Eutelsat W2A satellite - April 3, 09 by anik on 24 Dec, 2008 15:04
ILS TO MARK 50TH PROTON LAUNCH IN FIRST QUARTER 2009 WITH EUTELSAT W2A SATELLITE; Additional Eutelsat Mission to follow in 2010
http://www.ilslaunch.com/news-12230

RESTON, Va., Dec. 23, 2008 – International Launch Services (ILS) and Eutelsat Communications S.A. have set a first quarter 2009 launch date for the W2A satellite, which will be the 50th commercial Proton launch for ILS as well as its first mission of the new year. In addition, the companies announced a new contract under which ILS will launch another Eutelsat mission in 2010. That payload is not yet named.

These announcements come on the heels of the successful Dec. 10 launch of the ILS Proton Breeze M from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. That mission, with the Ciel II satellite, was the sixth ILS launch of the year and the 4th successful mission in 4 months’ time.

Eutelsat contracted with ILS in 2007 to launch one of its W series satellites on the Proton Breeze M vehicle. W2A was designated as the payload in November 2008. The Proton vehicle is Russia’s premier heavy-lift launcher and is built by Khrunichev Space Center, the majority owner of ILS.

The W2A satellite, built by ThalesAleniaSpace, is a Spacebus 4000 C4 model, similar to the Ciel II satellite just launched. The W2A spacecraft will carry three payloads, including the first S-band payload for Europe. This feature will launch the Solaris Mobile communications service across the continent. Solaris Mobile is a joint venture between SES ASTRA and Eutelsat Communications. The W2A C-band and Ku-band payloads will provide Europe and North Africa with an array of direct-to-home and business services.

Frank McKenna, president of International Launch Services, said: “ILS is committed to providing Eutelsat with top-quality launch services and the same precise, on-time delivery that all our customers rely upon and expect. W2A will be our first satellite launched in 2009 and our 50th overall. We are proud to be celebrating this significant milestone with Eutelsat’s W2A mission.”

“We are pleased to renew our relationship with ILS for a launch on the powerful Proton booster. The flexibility and schedule adherence that ILS offers and delivers is absolutely essential. This contract gives important added assurance of access to space for our satellite launch program”, said Giuliano Berretta, Chairman and CEO of Eutelsat.
#1 by satlaunch on 24 Dec, 2008 15:08
Quote from: anik on 24 Dec, 2008 15:04
ILS TO MARK 50TH PROTON LAUNCH IN FIRST QUARTER 2009 WITH EUTELSAT W2A SATELLITE; Additional Eutelsat Mission to follow in 2010
http://www.ilslaunch.com/news-12230

...In addition, the companies announced a new contract under which ILS will launch another Eutelsat mission in 2010. That payload is not yet named.

...

Probably, Eutelsat W3B or KA-SAT
#2 by Gorizont on 06 Feb, 2009 13:55
Today at night at Tyura-Tam station, arrived the train, which delivered the Proton-M-rocket, intended for the commercial launch.

After the fulfillment of the necessary customs procedures, the composition with the rocket was sent to area 92.

The rocket is intended to use, together with the Briz-M upper-stage, for the liftoff of a foreign telecommunication satellite into the geostationary orbit.
Sequential launch is planned for the second-half of the spring of 2009.

The rocket is made by the Moscow state space scientific and industrial center "Khrunicheva.
Also it is one of "best in their class" carriers; it is characterized by reliability and technological effectiveness.

Launches of the first modification of rocket are conducted from the middle of the 60's of past century.
In all, the Proton has more than 300 launches.
In 2001 began the flight tests of the "Proton-M" - the modernization of the "Proton-K".
Modernized version is characterized by higher ecological characteristics, numerical system of control and modernized engines.

Due to an improvement in the energy characteristics, the load capacity of rocket grew, now on it places in orbit more weighting payloads.

Press service FKZ "Baykonur"

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5360

Soeren

edit:
On ILS´s page I found the information about the launch, for which the rocket was delivered to Baikonur.

http://www.ilslaunch.com/news020609
#3 by satlaunch on 08 Feb, 2009 10:38
Topic about the Eutelsat W2A launch was opened before. http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=15379.0

(Thanks, I have forgotten about first topic and now merged both topics - anik)
#4 by Gorizont on 08 Feb, 2009 12:47
Anik, thanks for merging the different threads into one.
I did not found earlier information about a next ILS-launch, or a previous thread about it. ;-).

Soeren
#5 by Gorizont on 26 Feb, 2009 09:28
The launch-team has arrived in Baikonur.

some facts:
• Launch Date: Mar. 28, 2009 22:29 Baikonur / 12:29 EDT/ 16:29 GMT
• Satellite Provider: Thales Alenia Space
• Satellite Operator: Eutelsat
• Purpose: Mobile Multimedia Broadcast Services

http://www.ilslaunch.com/w2a-mission-control
#6 by Stan Black on 26 Feb, 2009 18:51
RD-276 engines on first stage and 48-degree initial inclination
http://www.ilslaunch.com/assets/pdf/W2A-MO-final.pdf
#7 by Gorizont on 02 Mar, 2009 18:11
On February 28, the W2A satellite was delivered to Baikonur, for the preparation of the start with the Proton-M.
The day before, the basic groups of specialists from the foreign and Russian organizations - participants in the starting company arrived.
W2A is developed and produced by the French department of the French-Italian company "Thales Alenia Space" to order of the global operator of the satellite communication Eutelsat (Paris, France).

Contract to the liftoff with the use of the Proton-M with the Breeze-M upperstage concluded the company "International launch services" (ILS).

Liftoff must take place in the month, at the end of March. This will be the 50th commercial launch of the Proton within the framework of ILS´ activity.

Today in the clean hall of the assembly and testing housing 92A-50, the specialists TAS began the first series of the planned electrical checkings of the sat.
There, on the technical complex, the start command of Khrunichev (developer and the producer of rocket and upperstage) now conducts the regular testings of the rocket and prepared the beginning works with it, which tomorrow must be delivered to the spaceport.

For Khrunichev the campaign with W2A, is the third, with the use of the Proton-rocket in 2009.
In February this year took place immediately two successful launchings of this carrier (within the framework of the federal space program, also, in the interests of Defense Ministry).
W2A will enter into the orbital group of the operator "Eutelsat Cmmunications".

Press center Khrunichev

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5559
#8 by Gorizont on 04 Mar, 2009 09:16
On March 4, 2009 the an "Polet" aircraft AN-100 “Ruslan” delivered from Sheremet'yevo Airport (Moscow) to the airfield “Yubilyeny” at Baikonur, the "Briz-M" upper stage for the Proton-M rocket.
Sequential transportation of the upper stage is realized in order of "Khrunichev".

The launch of the “Proton-M” with the “Briz-M” upper stage is outlined for the end of March.

2009 is an anniversary for the airline “Polet”. In June will be carried out 10 years from the moment of the signing of the general agreement between Roskosmos and "Polet" about the designation by its general ferryman of federal Space Agency RF.
In 10 years, the aircraft of airline transported 70 automatic spacecrafts, produced at the leading enterprises in the space field of Russia - "Khrunichev", "NPO Lavochkin", "NPO Energo-Mash" and "RKK Energya”.

Information service "Polet"

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5577
#9 by Gorizont on 06 Mar, 2009 21:25
(originally posted by the ILS Launch Team, 7:55 a.m. EST on 6 March 2009)

Launch Preparation Continues

Stand alone operations are ongoing for Thales and KhSC.
While Thales performs electrical and mechanical Spacecraft checkouts in H103A, KhSC works in H101 to prepare for operations on the Breeze-M which arrived at Yubileiny and was transported by truck to 92A-50 on 4 Mar.

The Launch vehicle is finishing pneumatic testing and after cleaning and testing, the payload fairing halves are resting in storage until integration.

RUAG specialists are scheduled to arrive within the week to begin work on the separation system.
Coordination meetings between the teams are increasing in frequency and duration which means the Spacecraft and payload adaptor fitcheck is just on the horizon.

http://www.ilslaunch.com/w2a-blog
#10 by satlaunch on 10 Mar, 2009 08:02
Launch date changed to March 30, 16:27 UTC.

http://www.ilslaunch.com/w2a-mission-control
#11 by anik on 11 Mar, 2009 14:52
http://www.kt.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1138536794&chapter=1153479879

The fuelling of high pressure tanks of Briz-M upper stage by propellants has begun today.
#12 by anik on 12 Mar, 2009 14:19
http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5648

The fuelling of high pressure tanks of Briz-M upper stage by propellants has finished today.
#13 by Gorizont on 14 Mar, 2009 10:43
At the spaceport Baikonur continues the preparation for the liftoff of the
Proton-M with the Briz-M upper stage and and the European telecommunication satellite Eutelsat W2A.
The autonomous tests of the W2A-satellite were successfully completed.

Today in the assembly and test building in area 92A-50, the teams of foreign specialists with the support of the colleagues of Khrunichev approached servicing the propellant components of the "engine installation". (?)

In the same assembly and test building the teams of the specialists of Roskosmos conducted the tests of the Briz-M upper stage.

The launch of Eutelsat W2A is planned on March 28, 2009.

Press service Roskosmos

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5663
#14 by William Graham on 14 Mar, 2009 12:50
Quote from: Gorizont on 14 Mar, 2009 10:43
The launch of Eutelsat W2A is planned on March 28, 2009.

ILS are still saying 30 March.
#15 by Gorizont on 14 Mar, 2009 14:31
"ILS are still saying 30 March."

Yes, I also think, that this is the "correct" launch-date.
I only made a translation, without thinking about the new launch-date. (sorry!) ;-)

Soeren
#16 by Gorizont on 18 Mar, 2009 09:19
Spacecraft Fuel Loading is completed.
Also some photos are available.

http://www.ilslaunch.com/w2a-mission-control
#17 by satlaunch on 21 Mar, 2009 12:36
Launch postponed to early April.

http://vz.ru/news/2009/3/20/267336.html
#18 by anik on 23 Mar, 2009 15:08
I was told new launch date is April 4.
#19 by anik on 23 Mar, 2009 17:41
Quote from: anik on 23 Mar, 2009 15:08
I was told new launch date is April 4

Correction from http://www.ilslaunch.com/w2a-mission-control

Launch - April 3, 16:24 UTC.

Media Advisory: ILS PROTON TO LAUNCH W2A
http://www.ilslaunch.com/news-032309x