LIVE: Dnepr launch - Prisma (Mango+Tango) and Picard - June 15, 2010

[eeergo]

There's a new interesting article about one of Prisma's technology demonstration objectives (a safer-to-handle RCS thruster with non-hydrazine monopropellants) in ESA's website:

http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMPJQ9KF6G_index_0.html

so I thought I would start a thread about this launch with still TBD launch date (probably waiting on Cryosat 2's launch?)

Some background on Picard:

http://smsc.cnes.fr/PICARD/

and more about Prisma:

http://www.ssc.se/?id=7611

[anik]

probably waiting on Cryosat 2's launch?

No, Russia is waiting permission from Kazakhstan for using its territory for a falling of the first stage of Dnepr rocket.

[arkaska]

Prisma is also waiting for permission before it can be transported to Russia. It was supposed to leave Sweden on the 17th but its still in Sweden since it hasn't obtained permission get.

Is it a done deal that it won't launch in April? A few weeks ago they talked about pushing it from the 6th to 13th of April. I guess they can't make April 13th since the satellite hasn't arrived at the launch site yet.

[osiossim]

Prisma is also waiting for permission before it can be transported to Russia. It was supposed to leave Sweden on the 17th but its still in Sweden since it hasn't obtained permission get.

Is it a done deal that it won't launch in April? A few weeks ago they talked about pushing it from the 6th to 13th of April. I guess they can't make April 13th since the satellite hasn't arrived at the launch site yet.

Accoding to this link; http://www.ssc.se/?id=5104&cid=16050&DivId=&Year=2010 new launch date will be set in April. So, it cannot be in April due to logistics reasons.

You mentioned about permission. Is it a permission from Swedish Government or are you talking about drop zone permission from Kazakhstan?

[arkaska]

You mentioned about permission. Is it a permission from Swedish Government or are you talking about drop zone permission from Kazakhstan?

It's a permission on the Russian side. I don't now if it's customs permission or if it's launch permission. But it causes delays for shipping of the satellite to Russia.

[arkaska]

The Prisma satellite is still in Sweden and there is still no decision on when a launch can take place.

Here are a photo of Prisma Mango the larger of the two satellites ready for shipping to Rusia and also a photo of the new Prisma MCC that's being set up.

[anik]

http://www.kosmotras.ru/news/84/

The permission from Kazakhstan for this launch was gotten on April 7. Prisma and Picard satellites will arrive to Dombarovskiy cosmodrome on May 19 and May 21 respectively. The launch is planned on June 15.

[arkaska]

That really but good news. On the official Prisma blog they wrote just a few days ago that they are still waiting for a decision when to ship the satellite

[Danderman]

Since there are problems with both the Yasny and Baikonur Cosmodromes, I wonder if there is some other place to launch Dneprs from that wouldn't cause so many problems, but be reasonably cheap.

[arkaska]

Prisma has left Sweden and are on it's way to the launch site.

http://www.rymdbolaget.se/?id=5104&cid=16463

[osiossim]

Prisma's last journey on ground

http://www.rymdbolaget.se/?id=5104&cid=16618&DivId=&Year=2010

[arkaska]

Both the Prisma and Picard satellites have arrived in the white room in Yasny.

First photo shows the Prisma satellites in the canisters outside the white room. Second photo shows the Prisma satellites as they are being as they are being unpacked. Last one shows the Swedish (Prisma) and French (Picard) team in Yasny.

[arkaska]

Prisma has gone trough leak-checks and radio tests. Will start tanking next week before the last tests are preformed.

First photo shows the crew preparing for tanking.
Second photo is a close-up of Tango
Third photo is the Prisma satellites to the right (Tango top, Mango bottom) and Picard to the left.
Forth photo shows Tango hanging in the air.

[arkaska]

Prisma is now stacked underneath Picard in the Dnepr faring and the team is now finished with the satellites before launch.

[Cbased]

Apparently, there will be another experiment launched as part of this mission. BPA-1. (which roughly translates as "Block of Perspective Avionics-1")
It is permanently attached to the 3rd stage. This block is built by the Ukrainian company "Hartron-Arkos". Purpose: testing of navigation equipment for civil planes and spacecrafts.

[Chris Bergin]

If someone can find a webcast link for this, we'll move it for live coverage.

[scotty125]

If someone can find a webcast link for this, we'll move it for live coverage.

This link http://www.prismasatellites.se/prismaenglish goes to SSC's Prisma page.  There are links to the upcoming webcast (in Swedish) along with an events page and Twitter feed.

Too much to hope the Bikini Team will be doing the commentary...

[Chris Bergin]

Thanks Scotty. Moved for live coverage.

[Silmfeanor]

"Dnepr is ready for launch today at 14:42:16 UTC"
from
http://twitter.com/Swedish_Space

[Nicolas PILLET]

Launch should be retransmitted on this adress :

http://www.mativi-toulouse.fr/

(click on the upper right corner after 13h20 GMT).