27-03-2009 In Baikonur is completed assembling the rocket with Eutelsat W2A
At the spaceport Baikonur continues the preparation for the liftoff of
the Proton-M with the Briz-M upper stage and the European telecommunication satellite Eutelsat W2A.
Yesterday in the assembly and test building in the area 92A-50 the teams of Russian specialists completed assembling the rocket, after mating to the carrier rocket the space head part (Eutelsat W2A under the nose fairing and upper stage “Briz-M”).
The electrical checkings of connections were executed after the completion of assembling.
The joint reviews of space rocket today are conducted and preparation for the transportation of rocket to the technical servicing station, where will be carried out servicing the low pressure tanks of the upper stage, occurs.
The launch is planned on April 3, 2009.
Press service of Roskosmos
http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5785
Today in the assembly and test building in area 92A-50 the teams of the specialists of enterprises in the space field of Russia, conduct the transfer of the rocket from the work site, where it passed overall assembling, to the transporter-erector aggregate.
The supercharging of tanks will be executed after the completion of transfer.
After the completion of work, the rocket will be transported to the technical servicing station for servicing the low pressure tanks of the Briz-M upper stage.
Launch is planned on April 3, 2009.
http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5799
30-03-2009 state commission made a decision about transporting the Proton-M to the launch site
At the spaceport Baikonur is completed the preparation for the transport to the launch site.
Today at 14 hours Moscow time, at the spaceport began the session of state commission, at which were supplied the sums of the missile preparation of space application, readiness of the teams of spaceport and objects of ground-based space infrastructure for performing of work on the launching system.
State commission made the decision to conduct tomorrow in the morning the removal of rocket to the launch site in area 200.
The transport of the rocket from the technical servicing station to the launch site will begin at 4.30 Moscow time.
The launch is planned for 20 hours 24 minutes Moscow time on April 3, 2009.
Press service of Roskosmos
http://www.tsenki.com/NewsDoSeleFed.asp?NEWSID=5820
31-03-2009 Proton-M is established on the launch system
This morning, at the spaceport Baikonur, the rocket was transported to the launch site.
The transportation of rocket from the technical servicing station to the launch site began at 4.30 Moscow time.
At 7.20 (Mst), the rocket was delivered to the launch site in area 200 and at 8.20 (Mst), the rocket was established to the vertical position on the launch pad.
After the supply of mobile service boom the teams of Roskosmos will begin works according to the plan of the first starting day.
The launch is planned for 20.24 Moscow time on April 3, 2009.
Press service Roskosmos
http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5824
Video: LV Proton-M with SC EutelSat W2A raised on the launch pad.
http://www.tvroscosmos.ru/frm/video/start43.php
Interesting note: on the tvroskosmos page the Proton-M is designated 8M82M. Is this an error or is this the designation of the uprated version of the Proton-M (usually the designation was 8K82KM).
Yes, it's an error. GRAU index of Proton-M is 8K82KM.
Yes, it's an error. GRAU index of Proton-M is 8K82KM.
I have seen both designations used before. My understanding is that they can be used interchangeably, but I don't really know.
Well, I else can understand using 8K82M, instead of correct 8K82KM, but 8M82M is 101% error.
8 - GRAU department #
K - rocket complex
8 - Chelomei OKB-52
2 - # product (1 was UR200)
K - space destination(new 3d stage)
M - modernized
Watch the launch live:
:: Via the Internet
http://www.ktprod.com/ils040309/:: HOT BIRD™ at 13° East
Frequency: 10.853 GHz
Horizontal polarisation
Symbol rate: 27500
DVB-S (QPSK)
FEC 3/4
MPEG-2 / PAL
:: Sesat 1 at 36° East
Frequency: 11.0975 GHz
Horizontal Polarisation
Symbol rate: 5.632 Msymbol/s
DVB-S (QPSK)
FEC 3/4
MPEG-2 / PAL
Webcast to start in 19 minutes
Proton-M on the pad at Baykonur