Proton-K launch with Oko satellite - March 30, 2012

[Nicolas PILLET]

I've just found an old news about this spacecraft on Khartron-Arkos website :

24 Aпреля 2003

Выведено на орбиту изделие 71Х6 № 7126 универсальной системы наблюдения за земной поверхностью "Око-1" (Россия). Из-за возникших неполадок изделие в эксплуатацию не поступило.
Самое долгоживущее изделие 71Х6 № 7124 было выведено на орбиту 25.08.2001 г. и продолжает функционировать по сегодняшний день.
Начата модернизация СУ изделий 71Х6. Пуск изделия № 7128 с модернизированной СУ запланирован на 2010 г.

http://arkos.kharkov.ua/news.php?a=3

[anik]

According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the launch is planned on March 24th.

[William Graham]

Is it known whether this launch will use Proton-K 310-13 or 310-18?

[anik]

Is it known whether this launch will use Proton-K 310-13 or 310-18?

41018.

[William Graham]

Is it known whether this launch will use Proton-K 310-13 or 310-18?

41018.

Sorry, I meant 410, not 310. Thanks for the information.

Do you know what is happening with 410-13? Somebody said it was going to be used for the GLONASS launch in December 2007, but that used a Proton-M. Is it likely to launch another payload, or is 410-18 going to be the last Proton-K to fly?

[Danderman]

How long can these things lie around before they are used??

 

[anik]

is 410-18 going to be the last Proton-K to fly?

Yes, the last Proton-K launch.

[Stan Black]

Is it known whether this launch will use Proton-K 310-13 or 310-18?

41018.

Sorry, I meant 410, not 310. Thanks for the information.

Do you know what is happening with 410-13? Somebody said it was going to be used for the GLONASS launch in December 2007, but that used a Proton-M. Is it likely to launch another payload, or is 410-18 going to be the last Proton-K to fly?

 Along with 41013 there is a missing DM serial number. Proton-K 41014 introduced some changes, possibly that explains it's absence?
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23614.msg673277#msg673277
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4056
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17568.msg672826#msg672826
http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=19&nid=42

[Stan Black]

How long can these things lie around before they are used??

 

Proton-K guaranteed shelf life of five years.
Гарантийный срок хранения - 5 лет.
http://www.old.mil.ru/848/1045/1276/18716/index.shtml

[Danderman]

Just a reminder that the upper stage is DM-2, not Briz-M. This could be the last mission for a Blok-DM on Proton.

[Stan Black]

Just a reminder that the upper stage is DM-2, not Briz-M. This could be the last mission for a Blok-DM on Proton.

DM-03?

[Danderman]

Just a reminder that the upper stage is DM-2, not Briz-M. This could be the last mission for a Blok-DM on Proton.

DM-03?

According to this NK forum thread, its a DM-2, which will be delivered in early February:

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12297


They gave a production number for the Blok-DM:

ДМ-2 №117Л

[William Graham]

This could be the last mission for a Blok-DM on Proton.

DM-03?

According to this NK forum thread, its a DM-2, which will be delivered in early February:

I think he was referring to the fact that the DM-03 is still flying on the Proton-M, so this won't be the last Blok-DM on a Proton even if it is the last DM-2.

[Danderman]

This could be the last mission for a Blok-DM on Proton.

DM-03?

According to this NK forum thread, its a DM-2, which will be delivered in early February:

I think he was referring to the fact that the DM-03 is still flying on the Proton-M, so this won't be the last Blok-DM on a Proton even if it is the last DM-2.

DM-03 is still flying on Proton-M?

[Stan Black]

This could be the last mission for a Blok-DM on Proton.

DM-03?

According to this NK forum thread, its a DM-2, which will be delivered in early February:

I think he was referring to the fact that the DM-03 is still flying on the Proton-M, so this won't be the last Blok-DM on a Proton even if it is the last DM-2.

DM-03 is still flying on Proton-M?

Говорят, что разгонные блоки ДМ-03 №2Л, №3Л и №4Л полностью изготовлены. Поскольку они предназначены для выведения "Глонассов", то их сдали на хранение. Первым в 2012 году полетит ДМ-03 №5Л с военным спутником, блок должен быть изготовлен до конца этого года.

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4533&start=195

Ekspress-AMU1
http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=15&did=1496
http://2011.rosspending.ru/contract/0173100007011000260/
http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=15&did=1340
http://2011.rosspending.ru/contract/0173100007011000310/

[anik]

According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the launch is planned on March 26th.

[anik]

According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the launch is planned in April.

[anik]

According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the launch is planned on March 30th.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

A poster on the Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum posted the launch time in Morse Code!  (link)

− − − − −    − − − − ·    − − − · · ·    · · · · −    · · − − −

I translated the message, and it seems to indicate that the launch is at 09:42 Moscow Time = 05:42 UTC.

[anik]

I was told, Proton-K rocket will be transported to the launch pad 81/24 tomorrow.

[Satori]

I was told, Proton-K rocket will be transported to the launch pad 81/24 tomorrow.

Is it already on the launch pad?!

[anik]

Is it already on the launch pad?!

Yes.

[Satori]

Is it already on the launch pad?!

Yes.

Thank you Andrey.

[Prober]

Any major differences in the K model vs the M model?

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Any major differences in the K model vs the M model?

IIRC, new avionics and control system, lighter tank structures (still improving with different variations of the Proton-M), slightly larger thrust and performance for the first stage engines etc. The last ILS Proton-K mission was flown quite some time ago (June 2003), however the Russians continued to produce the K version for sometime for Russian commercial, government and (especially) MoD launches. This booster was in storage for several years already, as the last Proton-K launch was 32 launches ago (in February 2009).

[anik]

The launch is planned at 05:49 UTC and satellite separation - at 12:27 UTC.

[Chris Bergin]

Anyone know of any coverage? (Such as that channel which shows the Progress launches?)

[Satori]

Anyone know of any coverage? (Such as that channel which shows the Progress launches?)

Military launch, so no coverage.

[Chris Bergin]

Ah, ok - we'll have an article via William, but we won't change this to a live thread due to the lack of webcast.

[Rahkashi]

So there's no coverage at all?

[Chris Bergin]

So there's no coverage at all?

Nope.

[Prober]

Anyone know of any coverage? (Such as that channel which shows the Progress launches?)

Military launch, so no coverage.

some things never change.  Why not show the launch?  Unless they fear mistakes? 

[Rahkashi]

Sad I won't be able to see the last Proton-K launch

[Chris Bergin]

Amazing read - especially the history - via this article by William Graham:

Russian Proton-K to complete 45 years of service with US-KMO satellite launch
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/03/russian-proton-k-rocket-launch-us-kmo/

Very fitting for its final launch.

[Paul Howard]

That's an amazing feature by William. Great read!

[Chris Bergin]

This should be launching any moment. Everyone keep a look out on NK or official Russian media.

[input~2]

Launched at 0549UTC
http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20120330/609760984.html

[Chris Bergin]

Very good! прощание Proton-K, and we thank you!

[Skyrocket]

The feature article shows an US-K satellite, not an US-KMO.

US-KMO:

[Chris Bergin]

That's my fault. Is the above image yours Gunter? I'll assume so as it's on one of your links, so I'll change and accredit. Thanks!

[Skyrocket]

That's my fault. Is the above image yours Gunter? I'll assume so as it's on one of your links, so I'll change and accredit. Thanks!

It was found via Novosti Kosmonavtiki. The original source is unknown.

[input~2]

USSTRATCOM has catalogued Object 38101/2012-012A at epoch 08:36:59 UTC in:
219.3km x 35905.5km x 49.28°

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch success.

http://ria.ru/science/20120330/610102764.html

[input~2]

Roscosmos pictures

[input~2]

Serial number for the satellite is "Cosmos-2479"

[lbiderman]

Wasn´t this also the last Oko early warning satellite?

[anik]

Wasn´t this also the last Oko early warning satellite?

It is the last Oko satellite.

[input~2]

Two more objects have been catalogued:
Object B in 185.8km x 191.9km x 51.66°
Object C in 179.9km x 187.6km x 51.65°

[input~2]

and now Object D in
35727.3km x 35898.5km x 2.32°

[input~2]

Object A is now in:
35898.3km x 35932.1km x 2.27°

IMHO:
Object A = S/C
Object B = DM-2 adapter
Object C = Proton-K 3rd stage
Object D = DM-2

I would expect Object E and F (the 2 ullage motors) to show up sooner or later

[Stan Black]

Amazing read - especially the history - via this article by William Graham:

Russian Proton-K to complete 45 years of service with US-KMO satellite launch
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/03/russian-proton-k-rocket-launch-us-kmo/

Very fitting for its final launch.

The Proton rockets 8K82 flew from 81/24?

http://www.spacephotos.ru/imgs/slv/proton/025033.jpg

Photographs show the railway approching from the left of the image.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/library/reports/2004/soviet-manned-lunar-milestones.htm

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=8409.0

[input~2]

Object A is now in:
35898.3km x 35932.1km x 2.27°

IMHO:
Object A = S/C
Object B = DM-2 adapter
Object C = Proton-K 3rd stage
Object D = DM-2

I would expect Object E and F (the 2 ullage motors) to show up sooner or later

USSTRATCOM now says:
 Object B = SL-12 R/B (1) ie Proton-K 3rd stage
 Object C = SL-12 PLAT ie DM-2 adapter

and also says that Object B re-entered April 1, at 1333UTC +/- 1 minute over 47N 65W (Canada East Coast)

(Object C, the DM-2 adapter, decayed on March 30)

[Nicolas PILLET]

There was two burns of DM-2 upper stage, at 07h03 GMT and 12h23 GMT.

http://www.energia.ru/ru/news/news-2012/news_03-30.html

[Stan Black]

http://www.rosles-re.ru/files/file/120402_pusk_RN_Proton_KA_71X6.pdf

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Better late than never: the rollout and the launch.

[Danderman]

I've just found an old news about this spacecraft on Khartron-Arkos website :

24 Aпреля 2003

Выведено на орбиту изделие 71Х6 № 7126 универсальной системы наблюдения за земной поверхностью "Око-1" (Россия). Из-за возникших неполадок изделие в эксплуатацию не поступило.
Самое долгоживущее изделие 71Х6 № 7124 было выведено на орбиту 25.08.2001 г. и продолжает функционировать по сегодняшний день.
Начата модернизация СУ изделий 71Х6. Пуск изделия № 7128 с модернизированной СУ запланирован на 2010 г.

http://arkos.kharkov.ua/news.php?a=3

More from Khartron:

http://arkos.kharkov.ua/sutkm_e.php

Control system for spacecraft 71Х6

SC 71Х6 is orbital segment of the universal system "Oko-1" for Earth observation (Russia).
Rocket and space complex and spacecrafts 71Х6 of this system were developed by RPO named after S.A. Lavochkin.
Since the year 1991 seven SCs were injected into geo-stationary orbit by LV «Proton» with boosting stage.

Name    Product    Date of launch
Kosmos-2133    No.7120    14.02.1991
Kosmos-2224    No.7121    18.12.1992
Kosmos-2282    No.7123    07.07.1994
Kosmos-2350    No.7122    29.04.1998
Kosmos-2379    No.7124    25.08.2001
Kosmos-2397    No.7126    24.04.2003
Kosmos-2440    No.7127    27.06.2008

Satellite characteristics:

    mass 2600 kg,
    operation life 5-7 years.

The satellite is equipped by IR-telescope with diameter of main mirror of 1 m. Length of blend is 4,5 m. {this is probably focal length}

Control system allows to solve the following tasks:

    damping of initial angular rates and building of single-axis orientation on Sun;
    building of three-axis basic orientation on Earth;
    precision orientation in phases of implementation of target task;
    correction of orbit;
    checking and diagnosis of equipment with automatic parrying of failures.

Control system characteristics:

    accuracy of orientation no worse than 8 min of arc,
    angular rate of stabilization no more than 0,0001 deg/s.

[Danderman]

This is the only thread that mentions Oko, so I am posting this stuff here. Someone on the NK forum visited Yepatoria in the Ukraine, and found this:

http://kik-sssr.narod.ru/p785.htm

This is probably a first generation variant, those flown on the Molniya LV. According to the NK forum, it is missing a module.

[input~2]

Object A is now in:
35898.3km x 35932.1km x 2.27°

IMHO:
Object A = S/C
Object B = DM-2 adapter
Object C = Proton-K 3rd stage
Object D = DM-2

I would expect Object E and F (the 2 ullage motors) to show up sooner or later

just noted that the 2 ullage motors have been catalogued
38101     COSMOS 2479     2012-012A
38102     SL-12 R/B(1) 2012-012B (Proton-K 3rd stage, reentered in April)     
38103     SL-12 PLAT 2012-012C (DM-2 adapter, reentered in March)   
38104     SL-12 R/B(2) (DM-2)     2012-012D
38105     SL-12 R/B (AUX MOTOR)     2012-012E
38106     SL-12 R/B (AUX MOTOR)     2012-012F

BTW, the spacecraft has just been relocated to 166°E

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Apparently K-2479 has failed this April after just 2 years in orbit....

http://www.interfax.ru/russia/382498

[JimO]

Press reports say the last geosync missile tracker has now failed.

“Око-1" лишилось зрения
У России не осталось геостационарных спутников для контроля ракетных стартов
25.06.2014, 00:00
http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2498665


There are reportedly two remaining sats in molniya orbits [6 needed for full coverage] and a new design geosync bird in fabrication.