Author Topic: Rokot/Briz-KM launch with three Swarm satellites - November 22, 2013 (Read 57914 times)

bolun · « **Reply #20 on:** 10/17/2013 01:26 pm »

Magnetic field mission fuelled for launch

16 October 2013

With launch just a month away, ESA’s Swarm constellation has been fuelled. Engineers will soon be focusing on the careful task of attaching the three identical satellites to the upper stage of the rocket for simultaneous release into orbit around Earth.

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/The_Living_Planet_Programme/Earth_Explorers/Swarm/Magnetic_field_mission_fuelled_for_launch

Image credit: ESA–B. Bergaglio

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #21 on:** 10/17/2013 04:11 pm »

10/16/2013
Daily 30 (L-26)
Today the launch vehicle preparations for ESA Swarm mission continue with the transfer of the Transport & Launch Container Extension from the integration facility "MIK" to the Rockot launch pad using the internal rail network of the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. At the launch pad preparations are underway to conduct electrical checkouts with the launch vehicle. In the integration facility the operations continue with the second day of preparation of the payload fairing and spacecraft functional and end-to-end tests.

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #22 on:** 10/17/2013 04:12 pm »

10/17/2013
Daily 31 (L-25)
At the Rockot integration facility MIK the dispenser system is unpacked and assembled after having been transported to the cosmodrome from Khrunichev's facilities in the Moscow Fili district. The dispenser system is a vital part of the launch vehicle hardware, because once in orbit it is responsible to release the three Swarm satellites with an accurately defined direction and speed away from the Breeze-KM upper stage. At the same time the preparation of ESA's Swarm satellites continues with checkouts of the thermal control systems and battery charging operations.

jacqmans · « **Reply #23 on:** 10/21/2013 08:55 am »

10/18/2013
Daily 32 (L-24)

The Swarm launch campaign continues at Eurockot's launch site in Northern Russia with preparations to transport the booster unit to the launch pad. In the integration facility MIK the dispenser system has been successfully installed and its transit lines checked out. This activity was concluded by a visual inspection of the dispenser system including interface brackets jointly by teams from ESA, Astrium, Khrunichev and Eurockot in preparation of the mating operations, which are planned to start in the coming week.

jacqmans · « **Reply #24 on:** 10/21/2013 08:55 am »

10/19/2013
Daily 33 (L-23)

During this weekend electrical checkouts of the launch vehicle are conducted to prepare the launch of the three Swarm satellites. The electrical checks are an important milestone of the launch vehicle preparations before the beginning of the joint operations with the spacecraft teams.

jacqmans · « **Reply #25 on:** 10/22/2013 08:51 am »

Daily 34 (L-22)

At Eurockot's launch site in the Plesetsk Cosmodrome the Swarm launch campaign today continues with the dry-run of the launch set-up procedure for Swarm No. 2, the closure of last open works on Swarm No. 1 and 3 and the further preparation to transfer the booster unit from the integration facility MIK over to the launch pad. Tomorrow, the payload fairing will be integrated with the empty Breeze-KM upper stage for the transportation dry-run and upper composite fit-check with the launch pad.

jacqmans · « **Reply #26 on:** 10/23/2013 08:59 am »

10/22/2013
Daily 35 (L-21)

Today very important milestones for the Rockot launch vehicle preparation have been accomplished. This includes the transfer of the booster unit to the launch pad and assembly of Upper Stage and Payload Fairing for fit-check purposes. Also, the nominal flight software was uploaded to the Breeze-KM command unit. Functional tests on the spacecraft continued.

jacqmans · « **Reply #27 on:** 10/23/2013 09:41 am »

jacqmans · « **Reply #28 on:** 10/24/2013 08:34 am »

10/23/2013
Daily 36 (L-20)

After the successful installation of the Rockot booster unit to the launch pad the operations continue in the integration facility MIK with electrical checkouts of the upper stage which is assembled with the payload fairing for the upper composite transportation dryrun. These operations in the General Hall are concluded with the attachment of the mobile air thermal control system which provides thermal conditioning of the upper stage during the transportation to the pad which is planned for tomorrow. Meanwhile, the spacecraft team is busy with closing open work on the satellites.

bolun · « **Reply #29 on:** 10/24/2013 04:13 pm »

http://www.eurockot.com/press-media/downloads/

Datasheet

jacqmans · « **Reply #30 on:** 10/25/2013 02:42 pm »

Daily 37 (L-19)

The Swarm launch campaign now approaches the phase of joint operations during which the three Swarm satellites are integrated on the launch vehicle adapter and dispenser system. This phase of spacecraft to adapter mating is currently being prepared in the Rockot integration facility MIK. Meanwhile, the preparations of the launch vehicle continue at the launch pad with the electrical checkouts of the stack in the frame of the upper composite to booster unit fitcheck.

jacqmans · « **Reply #31 on:** 10/25/2013 02:42 pm »

10/25/2013
Daily 38 (L-18)

While further electrical checks are conducted at the launch pad, the joint operations expected to start next week are further prepared in the Rockot immigration facility MIK. The launch vehicle dispenser system is further processed as planned while further checkouts of the Swarm satellites are conducted by the spacecraft team.

jacqmans · « **Reply #32 on:** 10/28/2013 04:55 pm »

10/26/2013
Daily 39 (L-17)

While the joint operations of the spacecraft team and the launch vehicle team is coming closer, the satellites are powered (see red light on photo) and purged (sensible instruments are constantly cleaned with nitrogen). The crane for the hoisting operations necessary for the integration of the adapter system beneath the spacecraft is waiting in the back. The joint operations schedule was discussed today in more detail. The works will continue on Monday.

jacqmans · « **Reply #33 on:** 10/28/2013 04:56 pm »

10/27/2013
Daily 40 (Day Off)

Today was a day off. Some members of the team took the chance to make a trip to the town of Plesetsk. First the market and several stores were visited, then some pictures were taken in front of the Russian Orthodox Church. Other team members took a walk through the town of Mirny, visited a sauna or simply relaxed by reading a book or watching TV. This day was probably the last day off until launch.

jacqmans · « **Reply #34 on:** 10/29/2013 05:29 pm »

10/28/2013
Daily 41 (L-16)

Today the three spacecraft were moved into vertical position. This was done in preparation of their installation onto the adapter system. Furthermore, ground support equipment for mating such as the service stand for the adapter system was moved into Hall 101A. In parallel coordination meetings took place in order to harmonize and to schedule the upcoming joint activities more precisely.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #35 on:** 10/30/2013 01:49 am »

Reports from the Russian NK forums are saying that the launch may slip by roughly 10 days due to problems with the Briz-KM upper stage.

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #36 on:** 10/30/2013 03:18 pm »

http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Swarm/Swarm_launch_postponed

30 October 2013
The launch of ESA’s magnetic field mission from Plesetsk, Russia, has been postponed by about a week.

The announcement from the mission’s launch service provider, Eurockot, follows the decision to replace a unit in the Breeze upper stage of the Rockot launcher.

Originally scheduled for 14 November, the launch is expected to be delayed by about one week. More details will be given as they become available.

The three-satellite Swarm mission aims to unravel one of the most mysterious aspects of our planet: the magnetic field.

The field protects our planet from cosmic radiation and charged particles that bombard Earth in ‘solar winds’. Without this protective shield, the atmosphere as we know it would not exist, rendering life on Earth virtually impossible.

By analysing the different characteristics of the field, the mission will provide new insight into many natural processes, from those occurring deep inside the planet to weather in space caused by solar activity. In turn, this information will yield a better understanding of why the magnetic field is weakening.

Swarm is ESA’s fourth Earth Explorer mission, following GOCE, SMOS and CryoSat.

jacqmans · « **Reply #37 on:** 10/31/2013 07:50 pm »

10/29/2013
Daily 42

The launch preparation activities continue. The picture shows the three spacecraft in vertical position ready for installation onto the adapter system.

jacqmans · « **Reply #38 on:** 10/31/2013 07:51 pm »

10/30/2013
Daily 43

Today the day has started with the formal readiness review for mating of the first satellite on the launcher adapter system. Every party had stated its readiness for the first important step in the joint operations.

After this review has been successfully taken place, Khrunichev has completed the preparations of the adapter system with the installation of the pyro actuators which at separation in space will move the mechanical locks to free the three spacecraft from the launcher. Astrium on its side has prepared its satellite (FM1). So everything is prepared to hoist the first satellite in its location on the adapter tomorrow morning.

jacqmans · « **Reply #39 on:** 10/31/2013 07:52 pm »

10/31/2013
Daily 44

The day started with the mounting of the interface brackets on the first SWARM satellite (FM1). After a visual inspection of the bottom of the satellite, a final installation of Multi- Layer Insulation (MLI) and some additional rest work, the FM1 was moved onto the SWARM launch vehicle adapter and successfully mounted in its position.