Author Topic: LIVE: Dnepr launch with DubaiSat-1 - July 29, 2009 (Read 35399 times)

anik · « **on:** 06/03/2009 04:15 pm »

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6385

Dnepr is delivered to Baikonur cosmodrome. Rocket will launch DubaiSat-1, Deimos-1, NanoSat-1B, UK DMC-2, AprizeSat-3 and AprizeSat-4 satellites.

eeergo · « **Reply #1 on:** 06/11/2009 07:26 pm »

Video of the Dnepr's booster stage installation into the silo:

Gorizont · « **Reply #2 on:** 06/11/2009 08:10 pm »

WOW! I have never seen this before. Thank you!

greetings...
Soeren

Space Lizard · « **Reply #3 on:** 06/11/2009 09:44 pm »

Impressive canister!

anik · « **Reply #4 on:** 06/25/2009 02:46 pm »

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6577

DubaiSat-1, Deimos-1 and UK DMC-2 satellites have arrived to cosmodrome today.

anik · « **Reply #5 on:** 06/29/2009 08:30 pm »

Prelaunch Activities with Spacecraft to Be Launched by RS-20
29-06-2009

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6608

Foreign experts started prelaunch processing of the satellites to be launched by RS-20 rocket carrier. UK DMS-2 (UK) and Damos-1 (Spain) spacecraft are located in the integration and test facility, building 40, site 31.
The second group of foreign specialists is planned to arrive on July 1. Then, Dubaisat-1 (United Arab Emirates) will be unloaded from the container for further prelaunch operations.

Danderman · « **Reply #6 on:** 06/30/2009 03:36 pm »

DubaiSat-1 processing, courtesy of Roskosmos.

eeergo · « **Reply #7 on:** 06/30/2009 05:53 pm »

That battered truck kills me

Seriously though, that's a pretty good way of reducing launch costs, for spacecraft that can handle it.

anik · « **Reply #8 on:** 07/01/2009 06:57 pm »

Dubaisat-1 Prelaunch Processing Commences at Baikonur
01-07-2009

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6624

Baikonur space port: prelaunch operations with the RS-20 rocket continue at Baikonur. The rocket is to be disposed of, but it is to loft 6 spacecraft at the same time.
Experts from Korean Republic, which developed and manufactured Dubaisat-1 satellite for United Arab Emirates, started unloading the equipment from the transport container.
Then, the work sited will be equipped, monitoring hardware installed in the clean room. Spacecraft will be retrieved from its container. After that, the experts will commence processing of the spacecraft.

steveo67 · « **Reply #9 on:** 07/02/2009 07:31 am »

Quote from: eeergo on 06/30/2009 05:53 pm

That battered truck kills me

Seriously though, that's a pretty good way of reducing launch costs, for spacecraft that can handle it.

If it can't handle a truck ride then I doubt it'll survive launch!

eeergo · « **Reply #10 on:** 07/02/2009 10:23 am »

Quote from: steveo67 on 07/02/2009 07:31 am

Quote from: eeergo on 06/30/2009 05:53 pm
That battered truck kills me

Seriously though, that's a pretty good way of reducing launch costs, for spacecraft that can handle it.

If it can't handle a truck ride then I doubt it'll survive launch!

Risk of sudden horizontal displacement, no A/C or environmental control whatsoever, bumps with higher amplitude than those possible on a rocket...

I doubt they would put a full-fledged comsat in a truck like that.

ckiki lwai · « **Reply #11 on:** 07/02/2009 10:42 am »

Quote from: eeergo on 07/02/2009 10:23 am

Quote from: steveo67 on 07/02/2009 07:31 am
Quote from: eeergo on 06/30/2009 05:53 pm
That battered truck kills me

Seriously though, that's a pretty good way of reducing launch costs, for spacecraft that can handle it.

If it can't handle a truck ride then I doubt it'll survive launch!

Risk of sudden horizontal displacement, no A/C or environmental control whatsoever, bumps with higher amplitude than those possible on a rocket...

I doubt they would put a full-fledged comsat in a truck like that.

I remember a presentation about the Indian space program where they showed a picture of a satellite on a cart pulled by a donkey

I'll try to find later today.

Skyrocket · « **Reply #12 on:** 07/02/2009 10:57 am »

Quote from: ckiki lwai on 07/02/2009 10:42 am

Quote from: eeergo on 07/02/2009 10:23 am
Quote from: steveo67 on 07/02/2009 07:31 am
Quote from: eeergo on 06/30/2009 05:53 pm
That battered truck kills me

Seriously though, that's a pretty good way of reducing launch costs, for spacecraft that can handle it.

If it can't handle a truck ride then I doubt it'll survive launch!

Risk of sudden horizontal displacement, no A/C or environmental control whatsoever, bumps with higher amplitude than those possible on a rocket...

I doubt they would put a full-fledged comsat in a truck like that.

I remember a presentation about the Indian space program where they showed a picture of a satellite on a cart pulled by a donkey
I'll try to find later today.

I think, you are rembering this photo of the APPLE satellite:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/balu/521823049/
I have doubts, that they put the flight article on the donkey cart. Probably only a model.

anik · « **Reply #13 on:** 07/02/2009 03:09 pm »

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6640

Preparation of DubaiSat-1 satellite in clean room has begun today.

anik · « **Reply #14 on:** 07/03/2009 07:54 pm »

Baikonur: Spacecraft Propellant Filling for Future Cluster Launch
03-07-2009

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6648

Preparation of 6-spacecraft-cluster launch by RS-20 continues at Baikonur.
Foreign experts, supported by Vympel Design Bureau specialists, started propellant filling into Deimos-1 spacecraft. Pressurized gases are fueled in a special room (site 31, building 40). UK DMS-2 filling is planned for July 4.

anik · « **Reply #15 on:** 07/06/2009 02:54 pm »

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6670

The preparation of an ascent unit has begun today.

osiossim · « **Reply #16 on:** 07/08/2009 09:53 am »

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6687

No picture this time. Cubesats arrived.

anik · « **Reply #17 on:** 07/08/2009 07:40 pm »

Deimos-1 and UK DMS-2 Installed on the Separation System Adapters
08-07-2009

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6691

Prelaunch processing of the satellites to be launched on RS-20 rocket continue at Baikonur.
Deimos-1 and UK DMС-2 were installed on the separation system adapters of the RS-20 upper composite today. The operation was carried out by foreign experts in the integration and test facility, site 31.

anik · « **Reply #18 on:** 07/20/2009 02:41 pm »

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6778

The launch is scheduled for July 29.

anik · « **Reply #19 on:** 07/27/2009 08:00 pm »

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6878

The launch is postponed till July 30.

anik · « **Reply #20 on:** 07/28/2009 05:28 pm »

Quote from: anik on 07/27/2009 08:00 pm

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6878

The launch is postponed till July 30

I was told this report has wrong date of launch, which is still planned on July 29.

patchfree · « **Reply #21 on:** 07/29/2009 12:36 pm »

The launch will be videocasted at the following address: http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live.php

Start of the transmission: 21h UTC

Jirka Dlouhy · « **Reply #22 on:** 07/29/2009 01:28 pm »

Live broadgast before 18:46 UTC, today Vesti:

http://www.vesti.ru/video1.asx?vid=onair

William Graham · « **Reply #23 on:** 07/29/2009 02:24 pm »

Quote from: patchfree on 07/29/2009 12:36 pm

The launch will be videocasted at the following address: http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live.php

Start of the transmission: 21h UTC

I don't think you mean UTC. That or they plan to start the webcast two hours after launch.

Danderman · « **Reply #24 on:** 07/29/2009 04:33 pm »

From the kosmotras.ru site:

The launch is scheduled for 29.07.09 at 22hrs 46 min Moscow time.

Which agrees with the 18:46 UTC launch time mentioned above. This translates to:

10:46 PDT

13:46 EDT

if I remember correctly.

Edit: or maybe not. I cannot remember if UTC accommodates Daylight Savings Time or not. So, 18:46 UTC may be 10:46 in California, or maybe 11:46, I don't know.

Danderman · « **Reply #25 on:** 07/29/2009 05:34 pm »

at 10:34 PDT, I notice the Tsenki site is showing a very dark scene, perhaps live from Baikonur, where it is night already.

patchfree · « **Reply #26 on:** 07/29/2009 05:50 pm »

Quote from: GW_Simulations on 07/29/2009 02:24 pm

Quote from: patchfree on 07/29/2009 12:36 pm
The launch will be videocasted at the following address: http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live.php

Start of the transmission: 21h UTC

I don't think you mean UTC. That or they plan to start the webcast two hours after launch.

Sorry 17h 30 UTC

patchfree · « **Reply #27 on:** 07/29/2009 05:51 pm »

Quote from: Danderman on 07/29/2009 05:34 pm

at 10:34 PDT, I notice the Tsenki site is showing a very dark scene, perhaps live from Baikonur, where it is night already.

I confirm

patchfree · « **Reply #28 on:** 07/29/2009 05:53 pm »

Presently they broadcast video from the satellites preparation. It's better than a black square of Baïkonour night...

patchfree · « **Reply #29 on:** 07/29/2009 05:54 pm »

Remerber that is a "underground" rocket so you can't observe the rocket...

patchfree · « **Reply #30 on:** 07/29/2009 05:57 pm »

The launch will take place in 50 min

Bean Kenobi · « **Reply #31 on:** 07/29/2009 06:04 pm »

Quote from: patchfree on 07/29/2009 05:57 pm

The launch will take place in 50 min

I don't think so... launch already happened ! I saw it on http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live.php twenty minutes ago...

Maybe I'm wrong but it seemed live

patchfree · « **Reply #32 on:** 07/29/2009 06:17 pm »

Quote from: Bean Kenobi on 07/29/2009 06:04 pm

Quote from: patchfree on 07/29/2009 05:57 pm
The launch will take place in 50 min

I don't think so... launch already happened ! I saw it on http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live.php twenty minutes ago...

Maybe I'm wrong but it seemed live

You are wrong: launch at 22h46 Moscow Time, 20h46 Paris Time and 18h46 UTC

patchfree · « **Reply #33 on:** 07/29/2009 06:18 pm »

Now you can observe a black image with three spots: it's the launch pad...

Bean Kenobi · « **Reply #34 on:** 07/29/2009 06:23 pm »

Ok, sorry

On http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live.php, they labelled it "LIVE", I thought so...

Patchfree, where do you watch it please ?

patchfree · « **Reply #35 on:** 07/29/2009 06:28 pm »

From the same source but "live" is always indicated during a transmission of a launch, even if they propose videos to wait the launch time

Bean Kenobi · « **Reply #36 on:** 07/29/2009 06:29 pm »

OK, thanks.

anik · « **Reply #37 on:** 07/29/2009 06:31 pm »

The launch time is 18:46:29 UTC.

patchfree · « **Reply #38 on:** 07/29/2009 06:33 pm »

It's my first Dniepr launch by night...

I have no idea about we'll can view in such conditions...

patchfree · « **Reply #39 on:** 07/29/2009 06:36 pm »

T-10 min

patchfree · « **Reply #40 on:** 07/29/2009 06:41 pm »

T-5 min

patchfree · « **Reply #41 on:** 07/29/2009 06:45 pm »

T-1 min

patchfree · « **Reply #42 on:** 07/29/2009 06:47 pm »

liftoff

patchfree · « **Reply #43 on:** 07/29/2009 06:49 pm »

Stages separation

anik · « **Reply #44 on:** 07/29/2009 06:49 pm »

Launch images

patchfree · « **Reply #45 on:** 07/29/2009 06:51 pm »

We have now to wait for confirmation of a clean launch...

William Graham · « **Reply #46 on:** 07/29/2009 07:16 pm »

Roskosmos reports that the launch was successful.
http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6920

jcm · « **Reply #47 on:** 07/30/2009 02:57 am »

Objects 2009-041A to J now cataloged.

Based on the (somewhat old) prelaunch info I have, the objects cataloged in orbit appear to be:

A Deimos 1 634 x 677 km
B Dubaisat-1 665 x 681 km
C UK DMC-2 623 x 677 km
D Aprizesat 4 606 x 677 km
E Nanosat 1B 586 x 677 km
F Aprizesat 3 565 x 677 km
G Dnepr gas-dynamic shield 541 x 678 km
H Dnepr rocket stage 668 x 1302 km
J Upper payload platform 641 x 677 km

The Dnepr rocket carries on burning as the satellites are dispensed,
so they end up at different heights and the rocket stage ends up with
a higher apogee.

Danderman · « **Reply #48 on:** 07/30/2009 04:55 am »

I am having a little trouble understanding the orbital elements as described above, in particular how the upper stage could be dropping off the various payloads on the way up, but with its perigee lower than the apogee of the payloads, and a much higher apogee. I find it difficult to imagine the required maneuvers to place all these payloads in orbits with a similar apogee, but with the upper stage having a much higher apogee.

jcm · « **Reply #49 on:** 07/30/2009 05:30 am »

Quote from: Danderman on 07/30/2009 04:55 am

I am having a little trouble understanding the orbital elements as described above, in particular how the upper stage could be dropping off the various payloads on the way up, but with its perigee lower than the apogee of the payloads, and a much higher apogee. I find it difficult to imagine the required maneuvers to place all these payloads in orbits with a similar apogee, but with the upper stage having a much higher apogee.

I think it's just that the upper stage keeps on burning after it's dropped off
the last payload. The payloads are released in order of increasing perigee
of course. The last one, Dubaisat, is in a 665 x 681 km orbit (vs 680 x 680 originally planned). Upper stage keeps going, eventually perigee becomes apogee and it ends up in circa 680 x 1300. Why perigee is in fact
only 668 vs 680 is another question - not too hard to have happen if the thing is not burning quite horizontally.

Satori · « **Reply #50 on:** 07/30/2009 09:35 am »

Launch images from Roskosmos http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6920

Danderman · « **Reply #51 on:** 07/30/2009 11:12 pm »

Quote from: jcm on 07/30/2009 05:30 am

Why perigee is in fact
only 668 vs 680 is another question - not too hard to have happen if the thing is not burning quite horizontally.

That kind of was my question. Why would "not burning quite horizontally" generate a perigee that low?

eeergo · « **Reply #52 on:** 08/02/2009 09:13 pm »

There's a nice factsheet with a cutaway diagram with information about Nanosat-1B following this link:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_b1AE8x4eLKI/SnDz3XbqKTI/AAAAAAAANbs/l5eHSl15cZY/s1600-h/Imagen+11.png

Source (in Spanish, with a very detailed summary about the Dnepr/R-36M): http://danielmarin.blogspot.com/2009/07/lanzamiento-de-un-dnepr-deimos-1nanosat.html

jcm · « **Reply #53 on:** 08/02/2009 10:11 pm »

Quote from: Danderman on 07/30/2009 11:12 pm

Quote from: jcm on 07/30/2009 05:30 am
Why perigee is in fact
only 668 vs 680 is another question - not too hard to have happen if the thing is not burning quite horizontally.

That kind of was my question. Why would "not burning quite horizontally" generate a perigee that low?

If at the moment of engine cutoff, your velocity is locally horizontal (perpendicular to the line joining you to the Earth's center), then you are at perigee (assuming v > vcirc). For 680 km, that is a velocity of 7.515 km/s if you want to stay in a 680 x 680 km orbit, or a velocity of 7.672 km/s if you want to arc up to 1302 km at apogee. The key point is that whenever you are at perigee or apogee, just from the geometry of the ellipse it's easy to see that your velocity is horizontal. Thus, if your velocity isn't currently horizontal, you must currently be higher than your perigee.

The Dnepr was actually heading down at an angle of 0.6 deg, with
a horizontal velocity of 7.673 km/s and a vertical downward velocity of
0.083 km/s. But it would actually make no difference to the apogee/perigee if the vertical velocity was upwards - that would just have meant it wouldn't get to the perigee until most of an orbit later.

Maybe think of it this way: nature has to put you somewhere on an ellipse such
that the semi major axis and eccentricity come out to give you the correct orbital period (via Kepler 3) and the correct angle to the horizontal at your current height. That's two constrains on two free parameters.

Lewis007 · « **Reply #54 on:** 08/03/2009 06:24 am »

Additional pictures of the processing of UK DMC-2 and Deimos-1 can be found on the SSTL page: http://www.sstl.co.uk/News_and_events/UK-DMC2_launch_gallery

Lewis007 · « **Reply #55 on:** 08/03/2009 06:29 am »

More information on Nanosat-1B is available on INTA's website (in Spanish): http://www.inta.es/NoticiaActualidad.aspx?Id=2021.
It includes some documents (English + Spanish) and photos.

ostangen · « **Reply #56 on:** 08/03/2009 12:13 pm »

As Roscosmos puts it in English: The Satan on Peaceful Service.

http://tvroscosmos.ru/frm/vestidata/2009/vesti01_08_9_2.php

JimO · « **Reply #57 on:** 08/03/2009 02:32 pm »

The military-civilian benefits flow both ways, and Dnepr launches are good training and verification exercises for their military sisters still on active duty. Extending the service lifetime of the 'Satan' has grown more critical with the latest debacle over the 'Bulava', pushing off the availability of Satan's successor farther into the indefinite future.

When I watched the Dnepr launch at Yasniy/Dombarovskiy two years ago, we never saw the military launch team members. They didn't even come to the post-launch party.

sammie · « **Reply #58 on:** 08/03/2009 03:14 pm »

Not quite sure whether there is a direct link between the service life of the R-36 and the Bulava. There may have been talk about a new liquid fueled ICBM, but I don't think they ever got further then proposals from the manufacturers. Instead the Topol M (and it's MIRV'ed) brother will remain the mainstay of the Russian strategic forces, replacing the dwindling numbers of older liquid fueled ICBMs, such as the R-36.

Bulava is on a separate track, with little in the way of further Topol or land forces development. Besides the number of subs that can actually carry the Bulava are not much more then 1 or 2. R-29SM service life extension is more critical at this point of time.