LIVE: Proton-M launch with Eutelsat W7 satellite - November 24, 2009

[anik]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=7794

Proton-M rocket has arrived to Baikonur cosmodrome.

[Nicolas PILLET]

Spacecraft was delivered to cosmodrome today.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=7845

It took me several seconds to understand what was "dhabl Yu 7" ! :-)

[anik]

W7 Mission Control: http://www.ilslaunch.com/w7-mission-control/

[anik]

Proton-M Assembly at Baikonur
26-10-2009

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=7940

Russian space industrial experts integrate the Proton-M rocket which is to loft W-7 spacecraft at the end of November.
The first stage of the rocket is being mated with the assembly of the second and third stages, prior to installing the rocket into the test bench.
In parallel, foreign specialists process European spacecraft W-7. The telecommunication satellite is to be injected into 36w orbital position. W-7 will provide services for Europe, Russia, Africa, Middle East and Central Asia.
Proton was successfully launched 7 times this year. 5 of them were under commercial contracts which cover launches of foreign satellites.   

[satlaunch]

Eutelsat W7 launch date announced: 23 November 2009 - 14:19 UTC

http://www.ilslaunch.com/w7-mission-control/

[anik]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=8001

Briz-M upper stage was delivered to cosmodrome on October 30th.

[satlaunch]

Eutelsat W7 launch date announced: 23 November 2009 - 14:19 UTC

http://www.ilslaunch.com/w7-mission-control/

According to Eutelsat, launch time is 14:22 UTC.

[anik]

Proton-M/Eutelsat W-7 Processing Continues at Baikonur
09-11-2009

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=8124

Proton-M/Eutelsat W-7 processing continues at Baikonur.
Foreign experts, supported by Khrunichev Space Center specialists, perform autonomous tests of the satellite.
Proton-M rocket also undergoes tests. Specialists check pyro-devices, which serve for separation of the stages during the launch phase.
Proton-M is scheduled to loft the satellite in late November.
   

[anik]

According to http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=201 the launch is planned at 14:19:39 UTC on November 23th.

[anik]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=8156

The assembly of ascent unit has begun today: satellite was installed on dispenser.

[Danderman]

From the NK forum, the link to the W7 press kit:

http://www.ilslaunch.com/assets/pdf/W7-MO-r2.pdf

[anik]

http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=1370

The fairing was installed on an ascent unit today.

[anik]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=8217

The ascent unit was docked with Proton-M rocket yesterday.

[anik]

http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=8237

Tomorrow Proton-M rocket will be transported for fueling of low pressure tanks of Briz-M upper stage, on November 20th the rocket will be rolled out to the launch pad 200/39.

[Chris Bergin]

ILS PROTON TO LAUNCH W7

 

 

Payload:                               W7 communications satellite
Spacebus 4000 C4
Separated spacecraft mass: Approx. 5,627 kg

 

Launch Vehicle:                 Proton M/Breeze M

                                                705,000 kg (1,554,000 lbs), including payload   

                                                58.2 m (191 ft)

 

Launch Date:                       November 23, 2009

 

Launch Time:                      20:19 Baikonur
14:19 GMT
09:19 EST

                                                15:19 CET     

 

Launch Site:                        Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

                                                Launch Pad 39

 

Launch Customer:             Eutelsat, France

 

Satellite Manufacturer:      Thales Alenia Space, France

 

Launch Vehicle                   Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center,

Manufacturer:                      Moscow

 

Launch Services               

Provider:                               International Launch Services, Reston, Va.

 

 

Satellite Use:                       W7 will be collocated with the W4 satellite at 36 degrees East to double resources at one of Eutelsat's fastest-growing video neighborhoods. Through a configuration of 70 transponders connected to high-performance fixed and steerable beams, the satellite will provide coverage of Russia and sub-Saharan Africa for digital broadcasting services, including pay-TV, and add flexibility for growing markets in central Asia. W7 will also assume all traffic on Eutelsat's 18-transponder SESAT 1 satellite, which is currently positioned at 36 degrees East, and which will subsequently continue in commercial service at an alternative location.

 

Satellite Statistics:             —Up to 70 Ku-Band transponders

                                                __Orbital location: 36 degrees East longitude

                                                __Anticipated service life: 15 years

 

Mission Profile:                   The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the W7 satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the Ascent Unit (payload fairing, Breeze M upper stage and the W7 satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the Orbital 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 W7 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff.

 

Target Orbit                         Apogee: 35,596 km (22,118miles)

at Separation:                      Perigee:  4,920 km (3,057miles)
Inclination: 20.9 degrees

 

Spacecraft Separation:     Approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff

 

ILS Mission Statistics:      __6th ILS Proton Launch of 2009
__55th Proton Launch for ILS
__5th Eutelsat Satellite Launched on a Proton

                                                __5th Spacebus 4000 Launched on a Proton

                                                __7th Thales Alenia Space Satellite Launched on a Proton

 

Live Broadcast:                  November 23, 2009

Test signals starting at 8:30 a.m. EDT

Live Coverage starting at 9:01 a.m. EDT

Launch is scheduled for 9:19 a.m. EDT

Broadcast concludes no later than 10:00 a.m. EDT (Firm Out)

 

In North America the broadcast may be seen on:

Satellite: Galaxy 16

Transponder: 14C

Orbital Position: 99 W

Band: C Analog NTSC

Bandwidth: 36 MHz

Downlink Frequency: 3980.0 Vertical

 

In Europe the broadcast may be seen on:

Satellite: NSS 7

Digital Channel: ENV8 / EUH8 Channel AB

Orbital Position: 338 degrees East

Band: KU Digital PAL

Bandwidth: 9 MHz

Downlink Frequency: 11684.5 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. 

[Gorizont]

Some more photos from the preparation.
docking of upper-stage with the rocket:
http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=1376









and rollout to the servicing station:
http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=1379

[Satori]

Launch vehicle transported to the launch pad...

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=8278

[Satori]

...and more images from Khrunichev!

http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=1382

[anik]

Video of Proton-M transportation to the launch pad:


Information about launch from Khrunichev:
http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=455

[Satori]

24 hours delay: Launch of Proton booster with French satellite postponed.

[anik]

It is unknown for now whether launch will be tomorrow, because Kazakhstan have not permitted it yet.

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.kt.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1138536794&chapter=1153503740

Roscosmos calls the delay with W7 satellite launch a misapprehension caused by delay on getting a launch clearance from Kazakhstan. Roscosmos officials confirm all the necessary documents had been agreed upon and hope that it's going to be dissolved as soon as possible and the launch will be commenced on the backup date November 24, 2009.

On other hand, Kazcosmos informs that W7 launch has not been provided for by this year's agreed launch schedule. According to them, Roscosmos submitted the launch permission request to Kazakh Prime Minister's Chancellary as late as on September 26, 2009. To quote Kazcosmos' message, "Russian side was duly informed that decision taking process within Government of Kazakhstan takes considerable time and is not over yet at the moment".

Kazcosmos website link with the official message:
http://www.kazcosmos.kz/?m=news&lng=rus&id_n=136&act=show_news

[cd-slam]

Priceless! I've dealt with Kazakhstan Ministry of Environment before and had similar experience. Borat is not so far from the truth as you might think...

[Satori]

Moved for live coverage!

[Satori]

Night has arrived at Baykonur and everything is ready for the W7 launch.

[Satori]

[Herb Schaltegger]

The ILS site hasn't been updated yet, still listing the status as "Delayed" and the blog hasn't been updated either.  Are things actually on track for a launch today?

[Satori]

T-1h 33m

[Satori]

The ILS site hasn't been updated yet, still listing the status as "Delayed" and the blog hasn't been updated either.  Are things actually on track for a launch today?

Or else you wouldn't have a live link from Baykonur...

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

ILS webcast

[MikeMi.]

Satori - do You use some kind of stream, or You are watching it via webcast?

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

Satori - do You use some kind of stream, or You are watching it via webcast?

You can find the ILS webcast and also two streams: one from Tsenki and another from Khrunichev.

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

T-10m

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Satori]

LAUNCH!!!!!

[Satori]

First - Second Stage Sep!

[Satori]

[Satori]

Second - Third Stage Sep!

[Satori]

Fairing sep!

[Satori]

[Ben the Space Brit]

Cloud base at the launch site was incredibly low.  The Proton-M vanished into the clouds when it was barely clear of the tower!

[Satori]

Third Stage - Breeze-M Sep!!!

[Satori]

Breeze-M First Ignition!!!

[Satori]

Note that this is a long mission! There are five Breeze-M ignitions before W7 separation!

[Herb Schaltegger]

Note that this is a long mission! There are five Breeze-M ignitions before W7 separation!

That's the downside of a GTO launch from such a high latitude launch site. But hey, ILS offers a very competitive service that's pretty reliable so the long launch mission is worth it.

[Chris Bergin]

Nice work Rui

[Cbased]

I think I heard it right - total mission time 9hr 12 min.

Confirmation of a spacecraft separation is expected just after 6pm EST.

[Satori]

Confirmation of the end of the first Breeze-M ignition.

Second Breeze-M ignition will take place at T+1h 7m 49s ending at T+1h 25m 15s.

[Satori]

End of ILS webcast.

Updates in russian can be listened at http://www.space-center.ru/audio and other info on http://www.space-center.ru/Default.aspx

[Zipi]

Here is the video:

[Satori]

From the W7 blog posted at 1816UTC:

We have confirmed that the Breeze M upper stage has successfully completed its 3rd & 4th burns, as well as jettisoning its additional propellant tank. The vehicle is now in a 5-hour coast period, during which we will have nothing to report. The 5th burn is scheduled to start around 6:11 p.m. EST, or 23:11 GMT. Separation of the W7 spacecraft is scheduled to follow the 5th burn completion by about 14 minutes.

[Satori]

Fifth burn completed.

Waiting for news about satellite separation that take's place at 2325UTC.

[Satori]

W7 separation!!!!

From the ILS / W7 blog...

"We have had a successful mission with the Proton M Breeze M rocket, carrying the W7 satellite built by Thales Alenia Space for Eutelsat. We have had confirmation that the satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 6:30 p.m. EST, or 04:34 GMT, 9 hours and 12 minutes after
liftoff."

Congratulations to ILS and to all involved!

[Herb Schaltegger]

Next up, Directv 12/RB-2A, pending FCC approval of the launch and operate application and a few other related petitions.

[robertross]

Thanks for staying on top of the coverage Rui. Appreciated.

[Skyrocket]

Next up, Directv 12/RB-2A, pending FCC approval of the launch and operate application and a few other related petitions.

What is RB-2A?

[tonthomas]

Part of Directvs communications payload. See i.e. http://licensing.fcc.gov/ibfsweb/ib.page.FetchAttachment?attachment_key=-173008.

Yours   Thomas

[Chris Bergin]

ILS PROTON SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES

THE W7 SATELLITE FOR EUTELSAT

 

 

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, November 24, 2009 – International Launch Services (ILS), a world leader in providing mission and launch services to the commercial space industry, successfully carried the W7 satellite to orbit for Eutelsat Communications of France on an ILS Proton. The Proton vehicle lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 8:19 p.m. local time (9:19 a.m. EST, 3:19 p.m. in Paris, 14:19 GMT).  After a 9 hour 12 minute mission, the Breeze M successfully released the W7 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit.

 

The launch of the W7 satellite marks the 6th ILS Proton launch of the year and the 55th commercial launch overall for ILS.  In April of this year, ILS launched the W2A satellite for Eutelsat, marking the 50th ILS Proton milestone. The Proton Breeze M vehicle is built by Khrunichev Space Center of Moscow, one of the pillars of the Russian aerospace industry and majority owner of ILS. Proton has a heritage of 349 missions since its inception in 1965.

 

The 5627 kg W7 satellite was built on the Spacebus 4000 C4 platform by Thales Alenia Space and has a 15 year life expectancy.  The most powerful satellite in Eutelsat’s fleet, W7 will be situated at 36 degrees East to replace Eutelsat’s SESAT 1 satellite, launched on Proton in early 2000. W7 will double the capacity available within a key neighborhood among the fleet of geostationary satellites and provide enhanced coverage for Central Asia and Africa.

 

Frank McKenna, president of ILS said, “ILS and Khrunichev were uniquely poised to meet Eutelsat’s stringent requirement to launch in 2009 with our ability to integrate this mission in less than five months from contract to launch. It was an honor to demonstrate this capability with the successful launch of the W7 satellite today, just seven months after the landmark 50th ILS Proton launch with Eutelsat’s W2A satellite. We thank Eutelsat for once again, counting on ILS Proton to contribute to the expansion of their business.” 

 

“We are pleased to continue our long term relationship with ILS with the launch of W7 on the powerful Proton Breeze M rocket. The flexibility and schedule adherence that ILS offers and delivers are essential to the continued success of our business. This on-time launch will allow Eutelsat to boost coverage and flexibility for addressing growing markets, notably in Russia and Africa. Our thanks and appreciation go out to the entire mission team for their diligent work and to ILS and Khrunichev for ensuring that the W7 launched on time this year,” said Michel de Rosen, CEO of Eutelsat.

 

[input~2]

What is RB-2A?

As mentionned by Thomas, it is just the name ("RB-2A" means "Reverse Band-2A") under which the DirecTV-12's 17/24 GHz portion of the payload is known at the FCC, the rest of the payload is in the conventional Ka band.
DirecTV-12 launch is planned in December, the Kazakhstan space agency has been informed on November 2...

[Satori]

Thanks for staying on top of the coverage Rui. Appreciated.

It was a pleasure!!! Oh! Satellite separation was at 2331:02.290UTC.

Launch photos in Roskosmos page, on ILS gallery for the W7 mission and for a high resolution launch photo. A launch photo from Khrunichev can be found in here as well as other informations about the launch phases in here.

[Stan Black]

Proton-M serial number 93509

http://www.today.kz/ru/news/kazakhstan/2009-11-25/proton

[Nicolas PILLET]

Any idea of the Breeze-M serial number ?