LIVE: Proton-M launch with Sirius FM-5 satellite - June 30, 2009

[satlaunch]

Launch vehicle arrived at Baikonur. Launch is planned for end of June(or beginning of July).

Сегодня в 0.30 мск прибыл еще один железнодорожный состав с ракетой-носителем «Протон-М». Эта ракета с разгонным блоком «Бриз-М» должна будет вывести в космос американский телекоммуникационный спутник «Сириус-Радио ФМ-5». Пуск «Протона» запланирован на конец июня - июль.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6298

[satlaunch]

Sirius FM5 satellite is delivered to Baikonur today. Launch is planned in early July.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6338

[anik]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6390

Briz-M upper stage will arrive on June 7.

[Stan Black]

Mission overview
http://www.ilslaunch.com/assets/pdf/Sirius-FM-5-MO.pdf

RD-276 on first stage
launch platform 39
51-5 degree initial inclination

[Satori]

At the Baykonur Cosmodrome are continuing the preparations for the launch of the Sirius FM-5 satellite, according to a Roskosmos news post (in russian).

"Yesterday foreign specialists completed the autonomous testings of automatic spacecraft. The satellite was transported into hall 101 and mated to the transitional system. After conducting yhe checks of mechanical jointings and electrical connections it will be joined with the starting block Breeze- M.”

[William Graham]

According to RKA, launch is still scheduled for 29 June.
http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6504

[anik]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6512

Sirius FM-5 satellite with dispenser is docked to Briz-M upper stage.

[Satori]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6512

Sirius FM-5 satellite with dispenser is docked to Briz-M upper stage.

On this Roskosmos news posting the russian space agency is calling the Proton-M2. Is this just an error?

[William Graham]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6512

Sirius FM-5 satellite with dispenser is docked to Briz-M upper stage.

On this Roskosmos news posting the russian space agency is calling the Proton-M2. Is this just an error?

My first thought was that it was a typo, but having looked at it again, it occurs twice. We'll have to see if they use it again.

[PDJennings]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6512

Sirius FM-5 satellite with dispenser is docked to Briz-M upper stage.

On this Roskosmos news posting the russian space agency is calling the Proton-M2. Is this just an error?

My first thought was that it was a typo, but having looked at it again, it occurs twice. We'll have to see if they use it again.

Well, this used to be called the "enhanced" Proton-M, with the RD-276 and a host of composite structures and other weight saving measures.  Now that the Russians have flown a few of these, I am not surprised they might want to come up with a separate designation for it.  However, this is the first I have heard of "Proton-M2."

[William Graham]

They've used "M2" in the English language article as well as the Russian one.

[Stan Black]

www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=1097

W2A use of Proton-M2


Also possible M2

935-01 Ekspress-AM44 Ekspress-MD1
935-02 INMARSAT-4F3

[William Graham]

www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=1097

W2A use of Proton-M2


Also possible M2

935-01 Ekspress-AM44 Ekspress-MD1
935-02 INMARSAT-4F3

More likely to be DirecTV-10 and Ciel-II. These both used RD-276 engines. Inmarsat-4F3 used the lighter components of the Proton-M Enhanced, but not the uprated engines.

[Satori]

So, I think the Proton-M2 it's article 8K82KM2?

[Stan Black]

www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=1097

W2A use of Proton-M2


Also possible M2

935-01 Ekspress-AM44 Ekspress-MD1
935-02 INMARSAT-4F3

More likely to be DirecTV-10 and Ciel-II. These both used RD-276 engines. Inmarsat-4F3 used the lighter components of the Proton-M Enhanced, but not the uprated engines.

Don't forget Measat launcher that used composites, so is that an M1-and-a-half?.
This is very grey area.

And first two Proton-M were different to the next two and the two after that (Proton Mission Planners Guide revision 5 on ILS website).

But based on serial numbers; there is a clear difference between 535 and 935.

[Stan Black]

Is it me or have Proton-M2 references been removed from Roscosmos website. Google cache shows difference?
 

Use Google to search for «Протон-М2» and compare

[Satori]

Is it me or have Proton-M2 references been removed from Roscosmos website. Google cache shows difference?
 

Use Google to search for «Протон-М2» and compare

Yes, they have been removed... interesting.

[Stan Black]

Novosti Kosmonavitki news page says Протон-М2

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/news.shtml

[anik]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6551

The ascent unit is docked with Proton-M rocket.

Information about launch (in Russian, for now) from Khrunichev website: http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=22

[anik]

MEDIA ADVISORY: ILS PROTON TO LAUNCH SIRIUS FM-5
http://www.ilslaunch.com/news-062309

June 23, 2009

Payload:
SIRIUS FM-5 communications satellite
1300 Spacecraft Bus
Separated spacecraft mass: Approx.  5820 kg

Launch Vehicle:
Proton M/Breeze M
705,000 kg, including payload
58.2 m (191 ft)

Launch Date:
June 30, 2009, Baikonur

Launch Time:
01:10 Baikonur
19:10 GMT
15:10 EDT     

Launch Site:
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Pad 39

Launch Customer:
SIRIUS XM Radio Inc., New York

Satellite Manufacturer:
Space Systems/ Loral, California

Launch Vehicle Manufacturer:
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow

Launch Services Provider: 
International Launch Services, Reston, Va.

Satellite Use:
SIRIUS XM Radio Inc., is America's satellite radio company delivering commercial-free music channels, premier sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic and weather to millions of subscribers. The SIRIUS FM-5 satellite will supplement the existing fleet of SIRIUS satellites with a high-power geostationary satellite that enhances the listening experience. It will ensure SIRIUS XM’s array of audio and data services are received robustly by cars and mobile devices, improve the signal delivery to homes, and bolster the continuity of service for years to come. SIRIUS XM is installed in vehicles of every major automaker and available for sale at retailers nationwide. SIRIUS XM offers SIRIUS Backseat TV, the first live in-vehicle rear seat entertainment, featuring Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network, as well as XM NavTraffic® service for GPS navigation systems, delivering real-time traffic information to markets across North America.

Satellite Statistics:
— 1 X-Band Receive Payload, 1 S-Band Transmit Payload
__Orbital location: 96 degrees West Longitude
__Anticipated service life: 15 years

Mission Profile:
The Proton launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the SIRIUS FM-5 satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the ascent unit (Breeze M upper stage and the SIRIUS FM-5 satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the ascent unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit and finally to a geo-transfer orbit. Separation of the SIRIUS FM-5 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 14 minutes after liftoff.

Target Orbit at Separation:
Apogee: 35,786 km (22,236 miles)
Perigee:  4,207 km (2,614 miles)
Inclination: 22.9 degrees

Spacecraft Separation:
Approximately 9 hours, 14 minutes after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics:
__5th Proton Launch of 2009/ 3rd ILS Proton
__52nd Proton Launch for ILS
__4th SIRIUS XM Satellite Launched on a Proton
__11th Space Systems/ Loral Satellite Launched on a Proton

Live Launch Broadcast:
Test Signals will start at 2:30 PM EDT US 29 June 2009
Live Coverage starting at 2:49 PM EDT US 29 June 2009
Launch is scheduled for 3:10 PM EDT US 29 June 2009
Launch Broadcast concludes no later than 3:45 PM EDT US 29 June 2009 (Firm Out)

In North America the broadcast may be seen on:
SATELLITE: Galaxy 28
TRANSPONDER: C-12
ORBITAL POSITION: 89 Degrees West
BANDWIDTH 36MHz
DOWNLINK FREQ 3940.000 Horizontal

In Europe the broadcast may be seen on:
NSS 7
Digital Channel – NV8 / EUH8 Channel AB
Orbital Position 338 degrees East
Band: KU Digital PAL
Bandwidth 9 MHz
Downlink Frequency: 11684.500 Horizontal
Sym Rate 5.632
FEC 3/4

In Europe, and Baďkonur at the launch site the broadcast may be seen on:
Satellite SESAT 1 G
Digital Channel G
Band: Ku
Orbital Position
Satellite Channel - EUTELSAT SESAT 1 "G"
Bandwidth 9 MHz
Downlink Frequency: 11097.5 Horizontal
Sym Rate 5.632
FEC 3/4

More Information:
Live webcast at www.ilslaunch.com will begin approximately 20 minutes before liftoff. General mission information and launch status updates are available at the website or on the ILS U.S. domestic Launch Hotline at 1-800-852-4980.

Media Inquiries:
Karen Monaghan, Director of Communications, International Launch Services, Reston, Va.; +1-571-633-7549; mobile: +1-571-282-5195; [email protected], Visit the ILS web site at www.ilslaunch.com.