LIVE: Proton-M launch with Intelsat 23 satellite

The launch of Proton-M rocket with Briz-M upper stage and Intelsat 23 satellite from the launch pad 81/24 of Baikonur cosmodrome is planned on July 24th.

Intelsat 23 is delivered to Baikonur.

According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the launch is planned on August 12th.

The launch is planned at 09:00 UTC on August 12th.

The launch is planned on August 13th.

The launch is planned at 08:57 UTC on August 23rd.

Went to the ILS webpage today to look for the launch broadcast, but couldn't find it. So I assumed it had slipped, checked in anik's list and indeed:

Quote from: anik on 08/13/2012 09:34 am

TBD – Intelsat 23 – Proton-M/Briz-M – Baikonur 81/24

I assume this is related to the recent launch failure of the Proton-M/Briz-M?

Quote from: belegor on 08/23/2012 08:09 am

I assume this is related to the recent launch failure of the Proton-M/Briz-M?

Yes, Intelsat 23 will be launched after Luch-5B/Yamal-300K, i.e. probably in October.

intelsat 23 will be first launch after luch 5b/yamal 300k

The launch is planned on November 3rd.

The launch is planned in the middle of October.

FAILURE REVIEW OVERSIGHT BOARD (FROB) CONCLUDES INVESTIGATION ON RUSSIAN FEDERAL TELKOM-3/EXPRESS MD-2 FAILURE;

PROTON RETURN TO FLIGHT SCHEDULE ESTABLISHED

Wednesday, September 12, 2012-The Failure Review Oversight Board (FROB) concluded the review of the Russian State Commission report on September 11 concerning the root cause of the Russian Federal Telkom-3/Express MD-2 mission failure which occurred on August 7. The FROB agreed with the Russian State Commission that the root cause of the failure was due to a component of the pressurization system that was not manufactured to specifications. This caused a shutdown of the Breeze M Main engine by the Breeze M flight control system 7 seconds into the planned 18 minute and 5 second 3rd burn.

The corrective action plan for all Breeze M upper stages that was established by the Russian State Commission and Khrunichev State Research and Space Production Center (KhSC) was also approved by the FROB. This includes stringent quality oversight of all rework procedures, testing, support equipment, and personnel, both at the KhSC production facilities and in Baikonur. In addition, ILS and KhSC will develop specific initiatives to enhance the unified Quality Management System (QMS) that is installed and operating at all KhSC production facilities.

“This is an opportunity to learn, enhance and improve the overall reliability and processes of our systems,” said acting ILS Vice President and Chief Technical Officer, John Palmé. “I would like to thank the nine representatives of ILS customers, two insurance underwriting representatives and independent outside subject experts who participated in the ILS FROB process for their professionalism and diligence. We appreciate the patience and support of our customers as we plan for the return to flight of the Proton vehicle.”

The return to flight corrective actions and will be completed prior to the ILS Proton return to flight mission with the IS-23 satellite for Intelsat S.A. of Luxembourg in mid-October. A Russian Federal mission will follow.

http://www.spacenews.com/launch/proton-set-return-flight-oct-carrying-intelsat-is-23.html

"PARIS — Russia’s Proton Breeze-M rocket will return to flight Oct. 14 with Intelsat’s IS-23 satellite following a Russian inquiry board’s conclusion that an out-of-specification component in a Breeze-M fuel line caused the August launch failure, Proton commercial operator International Launch Services (ILS) said Sept. 11"

Launch time is 08:37:00 UTC per http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=10&zid=761.

Interfax reports Briz-M upper stage will be delivered to Baikonur soon.

Launcher integration is complete http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=2615 (in Russian)

8K82KM Proton-M/Briz-M (93526/99534) with the Intelsat-23 communications satellite was transported to the launch complex http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=19585 (in Russian).

Quote from: Satori on 10/10/2012 08:47 am

8K82KM Proton-M/Briz-M (93526/99534) with the Intelsat-23 communications satellite was transported to the launch complex

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=1000796#1000796

http://www.ilslaunch.com/newsroom/news-releases/media-advisory-ils-proton-launch-intelsat-23

Media Advisory | ILS Proton to Launch Intelsat 23

Reston, VA - October 09, 2012

Payload:
Intelsat 23 communications satellite
GEOStar-2 Platform
Separated spacecraft mass: ~2,700 kg

Launch Vehicle:
Proton M/Breeze M
705,000 kg (1,554,000 lbs), including payload
56.2 m (184 ft.)

Launch Date:
October 14, 2012

Launch Time:
14:37 Baikonur
04:37 EDT
01:37 PDT
08:37 GMT

Launch Site:
Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launch Pad 24

Launch Customer:
Intelsat S.A., Luxembourg

Satellite Manufacturer:
Orbital Sciences Corporation, Dulles, VA

Launch Vehicle Manufacturer:
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, Moscow

Launch Services Provider:
International Launch Services, Reston, Va

Satellite Use:
As part of Intelsat’s fleet replacement and expansion plans, the Intelsat 23 (IS-23) satellite is scheduled to start service at 307° East longitude in 2012, and will replace the Intelsat 707 satellite. As a C-band and Ku-band satellite, Intelsat 23 will provide enhanced capacity for enterprise, oil and gas, and data networking services.

Satellite Statistics:
__46 C-band transponders
__30 Ku-band transponders
__Planned orbital location: 307 degrees east longitude
__Anticipated service life: More than 18 years

Mission Profile:
The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 4-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 24 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the Intelsat 23 satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the Orbital Unit (Breeze M Upper Stage and the Intelsat 23 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 near geostationary orbit. Separation of the Intelsat 23 satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours and 30 minutes after liftoff.

Target Orbit at Separation:
Perigee: 37,180 km
Apogee: 37,180 km
Inclination: 0.0 degrees

Spacecraft Separation:
Approximately 9 hours and 30 minutes after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics:
_11th Intelsat Satellite Launched on ILS Proton
_5th Orbital Satellite Launched on ILS Proton
_6th ILS Proton Launch in 2012
_75th ILS Proton Launch Overall
_4th Geostationary Orbit Insertion Mission on an ILS Proton

Live Broadcast/Webcast:
Live Coverage starting at 04:15 EDT / 08:15 GMT.
Launch is scheduled for 04:37 EDT / 08:37 GMT.
Launch Broadcast concludes no later than 05:15 EDT / 09:15 GMT.

Webcast can be seen at: http://intelsat23.imgondemand.com

And via Satellite TODAY: http://www.satellitetoday.com

SD test for Baikonur and Europe/Eutelsat 10A will begin at 03:45 Eastern/07:45 GMT
HD test for US/AMC-9 will begin at 03:45 Eastern
Baikonur to US SD signal starts at 03:15 Eastern/07:15 GMT

In the US, the Launch Broadcast will be seen on the following:
AMC-9, transponder C10, channel C10A
83 degrees West
18 mhz.
Uplink Frequency – 6,116.000 Horizontal
Downlink Frequency – 3,891.000 Vertical
1080i QPSK
FEC: 3/4
Symbol rate: 13.333, DVB – S, MPEG2 HD 4:2:0

In Baikonur and Europe, the Launch Broadcast will be seen on the following:
Eutelsat 10A (EX W2A) 10 degrees East TXP
B3 Channel 6MHZ Slot 3F6
Uplink Frequency 14372 MHZ POL Y by D-FRA-022 UP1
Downlink Frequency: 11072 MHZ POL X
SD 625 16:9 50Hz DVBS2 8PSK 4.9373Ms/s FEC 3/4,
P RoF 0.2 (11_SD MPEG2 422 10.7514 Mbps)
Audio: 1 Sound Mono
Audio: 2 Sound Mono

More Information:
Live streaming will begin approximately 25 minutes before liftoff. General mission information and launch status updates are available at www.ilslaunch.com. You can also follow us on Twitter and “like” us on Facebook for mission updates.

Rocket transportation to launch pad http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=19585

This is interesting in that the IS-23 will be directly inserted to GEO with no need for liquid apogee motor burns. Perhaps our Orbital friends can tell us if the usual BT-4 apogee thruster is installed as usual of if the propulsion system has been changed for this mission?

not a fan of the Proton but a launch is a launch.

I like all liquid rockets.

Proton is quite ugly though.

Hoping for a successful mission from the people at ILS. They do a great job.

T-2hrs 14mins

Moved for live coverage!!!

Live from Baykonur Cosmodrome!

Foggy weather at Baykonur...

Next major event on the countdown will be the rollback of the Mobile Service Tower. This will take place at around T-1h. We are now at T-1h 22m.

Rollback has started...

Mobile Service Tower almost complete. We have a nice rocket on the pad.

According to the most recent Mission Planner’s Guide v7 (available on L2)), next major event will be at T-45 m with the LV final countdown activities commence. Propulsion system GO signal is generated by the LV GN&C GLSTE. Countdown display system remote units are synchronized to the master CD clock.

We wont see much of this launch...

This will be a long 9 hour and 30 minutes mission...

From Khrunichev...

"Immediately after the separation of the third stage booster, the Breeze-M stability engines ignite, damping the angular velocities of the third stage separation and then providing orbital unit orientation and stability during coast flight along a suborbital trajectory to await the first burn.

The upper stage follows a four-burn injection profile.

The first main engine (ME) burn occurs 94 seconds after the Breeze-M separation from the launcher, forming a support orbit.

The second ME ignition is performed in the ascending node of the support orbit, resulting in an intermediate orbit. The third ME burn occurs at the intermediate orbit perigee in the ascending node. The additional propellant tank is jettisoned after the third ME cutoff, and the OU reaches a transfer orbit with an apogee close to that of the target orbit. The fourth ME burn is performed in the descending node of the transfer orbit apogee, placing the OU into the target orbit.

Prior to each ME burn and APT separation, impulse correction engines fire to settle propellants in the tank.

During OU coast flight, i.e. the main engine is off, the Breeze-M control system turns the OU to provide proper orientation for the spacecraft, generate thrust impulses, support radio control, and separate the spacecraft.

Once in the target orbit, the orbital unit is stabilized for Intelsat-23 separation, following which the satellite is released.

Spacecraft separation occurs 14 minutes and 15 seconds after the fourth ME cutoff. Once the orbit parameters are downlinked, the upper stage is withdrawn to drift in a safe mode, dropping pressure in all the containers."

T-45m... "LV final countdown activities commence. Propulsion system GO signal is generated by the LV GN&C GLSTE. Countdown display system remote units are synchronized to the master CD clock."

Let's hope everything goes well with this launch. Remember that the previous launch on August 7th, the satellites were placed in wrong orbits.

This was due to a the failure of a component of the pressurization system that was not manufactured to specifications. This caused a shutdown of the Breeze M Main engine by the Breeze M flight control system 7 seconds into the planned 18 minute and 5 second 3rd burn.

NOTAMs for Proton 1st stage and 2nd stage/fairing

Quote

K0595/12 - ATS ROUTE SEGMENTS CLSD: 1.A113 TIROK-GISIR FROM 25 KM TO 65 KM 2.B822 LUGER-BETIK FROM 35 KM TO 75 KM SFC/UNL. DAILY 0830/0920, 14 OCT 08:30 2012 UNTIL 16 OCT 09:20 2012. CREATED: 12 OCT 05:45 2012

Quote

P3992/12 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLOSED: B928 TELRU - NIGOR P983 TELRU - NIGOR. SFC - UNL, DAILY 0830-0920, 14 OCT 08:30 2012 UNTIL 16 OCT 09:20 2012. CREATED: 10 OCT 08:20 2012

and NOTAM for 3rd stage

Quote

A4279/12 - QWMLW THE RUSSIAN FEDERAL SPACE AGENCY HAS PLANNED A MISSILE LAUNCH. DEBRIS FROM THIS LAUNCH WILL FALL WITHIN AN AREA BOUNDED BY 2515N/16000E 2600N/16045E 2330N/16335E 2245N/16248E BACK TO THE POINT OF ORIGIN. IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY ALL NON-PARTICIPATING AIR TRAFFIC ARE ADVISED TO AVOID THE NOTAMED AREA. IFR AIRCRAFT UNDER ATC JURISDICTION SHOULD ANTICIPATE CLEARANCE AROUND THE NOTAMED AREA. SFC - UNL, 0830-1000Z DLY, 14 OCT 08:30 2012 UNTIL 17 OCT 10:00 2012. CREATED: 05 OCT 16:30 2012

ILS webcast will star at 0815UTC. You can watch it at http://intelsat23.imgondemand.com/

Quote from: Satori on 10/14/2012 07:54 am

Let's hope everything goes well with this launch.

In particular with the planned unusual long burns of Briz-M: Burn#3 & 4 should last more than 18 minutes each

Next major event will be at T-35m with LV GN&C GLSTE arming the launch abort systems. Readiness green indicator light illuminates on the launch abort unit front panel. Two redundant displays on the launch abort
unit are synchronized to the CD clock and start countdown. SC launch unit abort switch is active.

Quote from: input~2 on 10/14/2012 07:58 am

Quote from: Satori on 10/14/2012 07:54 am
Let's hope everything goes well with this launch.
In particular with the planned unusual long burns of Briz-M: Burn#3 & 4 should last more than 18 minutes each

Yes, you are right... Interesting flight profile indeed!

T-35 m... LV GN&C GLSTE is arming the launch abort systems. Readiness green indicator light illuminates on the launch abort unit front panel. Two redundant displays on the launch abort unit are synchronized to the CD clock and start countdown. SC launch unit abort switch is active.

Ah! Better look at the Proton-M now...

"The Intelsat-23 mission will be the eighth Proton launch of 2012 and the 380th Proton flight overall.

This will be the sixth commercial mission of the year for ILS and the 75th ILS Proton mission since the Proton April 1996 first commercial flight.

This will also be the fifth Intelsat satellite launched with Proton. In addition, the Intelsat-23 will be the fifth Orbital satellite launched on Proton."

"Intelsat-23 is a new hybrid communications satellite built by Orbital Sciences Corporation for Intelsat, a premier global provider of video and data service via satellite.

Designed for 15 years of service, Intelsat-23 will be located in geosta-tionary orbit at 307 degrees East longitude to replace Intelsat's IS-707 satellite launched in March 1996. The spacecraft carries a C-band and a Ku-band payload and has a launch mass of 2,680 kg. The IS-23 satellite hosts 15 active Ku-band and 24 active C-band transponders to provide communications services for the Americas, Caribbean, Western Europe, Africa and selected islands of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

The satellite is based on Orbital's STAR-2 spacecraft platform and will generate approximately 4.8 kW of payload power.

Intelsat-23 is one of ten Orbital STAR geostationary communications satellites ordered by Intelsat. Others include Galaxy-14, Galaxy-15, Galaxy-12, Intelsat-11, Horizons-2, Intelsat-15, Intelsat-16, Intelsat New Dawn, and Intelsat-18. The flight-proven STAR design is able to accommodate most types of commercial communications payloads."

T-30m... Next major milestone on the countdown will take place at T-10 m when the SC Customer gives verbal readiness on countdown network.

T-25m for launch... All looks normal...

ILS webcast is about to start...

ILS webcast started...

Ready with the article that I'll put on at launch. This is a RTF mission.

Thanks again to Rui for the coverage (I can't cover).

T-10m SC Customer gives verbal readiness on countdown network.

At T-5m LV GN&C GLSTE sends a T-300 sec command signal to the Breeze M GN&C GLSTE to synchronize the lift-off time. Breeze M begins transfer to internal power.

At T-2m LV GN&C begins transfer to internal power. Breeze M completes transfer to internal power, sends “BREEZE M GO” signal to LV GN&C GLSTE.

At T-3.1s LV GN&C GLSTE performs a final GO/NO-GO check of the LV, Breeze M and SC. If all the integrated LV components are GO, the first stage ignition sequence start is sent at the estimated time.

At T+40s If the lift-off contact signal is not received, the Breeze M systems begin transfer to ground power.

Talking up going all the way to GSO.

That has me worried.

Fingers crossed for this launch

Go Proton!!!

Interesting:
Dropoff in GSO instead of GTO increases estimated propellant-lifetime from 16 to 27 years!

Wow, what a screenshot above!

Into first stage... all normal!!

Stage 1/2 sep!!!!!!!!!!!!! All nominal!!!!!!!!!!!!

Second stage up and running!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stage 2/3 sep. Stage 3 ignition!!!!!!!!!

Payload fairing sep!!!!!!!!

We have people already at the launch pad...

Now for the Breeze-M to behave.

End of Stage 3 ignition. Orbital Unit sep...

First Briz-M ignition confirmed at T+676s.

Rui, where are you watching the webcast? I'm looking at http://intelsat23.imgondemand.com where they're only giving lots of background stories, but not many flight updates.

The background stories are nice, but I wanted to see the telemetry.

End of Briz-M first burn at T+901s.

Quote from: Spiff on 10/14/2012 08:52 am

Rui, where are you watching the webcast? I'm looking at http://intelsat23.imgondemand.com where they're only giving lots of background stories, but not many flight updates.

The background stories are nice, but I wanted to see the telemetry.

http://www.space-center.ru/LiveEvents.aspx

Next Briz-M burn (the 2nd) will take place at T+1h 8m 21s.

Remember this is a 9h 30m mission... so still a long way to go!

And ILS webcast is over...

Going for breakfast!... I'll try to look at the second Briz-M burn...

Orbital Unit is on the support orbit. At this time still no info on second Briz-M burn.

Quote from: Satori on 10/14/2012 09:44 am

Orbital Unit is on the support orbit. At this time still no info on second Briz-M burn.

Eh... preparing now for the second Briz-M. Burn duration should be 18m 49s ending at 1004UTC.

Waiting information about the end of the second burn of the Briz-M.

End of second Briz-M burn confirmed (-25 s from nominal timetag)

Quote from: input~2 on 10/14/2012 10:14 am

End of second Briz-M burn confirmed (-25 s from nominal timetag)

Confirmed at T+5205s. The second burn started has planned at T+4101s.

Some screenshots (last one is Briz 2nd burn start)

Next Briz-M burn (the third burn) should take place at T+3h 26m 56s. This is going to be a 18 minute 16 second burn, ending at T+3h 45m 12s or at 1222:12UTC.

Exact launch time at 0836:59.997UTC

Briz-M 3rd burn completed and APT jettissonned

Orbital Unit is now on a transfer orbit and there is one more burn to go of the Briz-M upper stage. This should start at T+9h 3m 59s and have a duration of 11 minutes and 46 seconds, ending at 1751UTC.

Spacecraft separation should occur at 1807UTC.

USSTRATCOM has catalogued a first object (tentatively Briz-M's APT)
38867/ 2012-057A in 494.4 x 37127.6 km x 46.19°

Representation of APT soon after separation

Quote from: Satori on 10/14/2012 12:45 pm

Orbital Unit is now on a transfer orbit and there is one more burn to go of the Briz-M upper stage. This should start at T+9h 3m 59s and have a duration of 11 minutes and 46 seconds, ending at 1751UTC.

Spacecraft separation should occur at 1807UTC.

So we should know about this in a few minutes...

Well done on the coverage.

Still no confirmation of successful separation?

Just confirmed.... (which was delayed by me watching the jump from 39+ km

)

http://www.ilslaunch.com/newsroom/news-releases/ils-proton-launch-success-intelsat-23-provide-enhanced-capacity-americas-euro

Quote

ILS PROTON LAUNCH SUCCESS OF INTELSAT 23 TO PROVIDE ENHANCED CAPACITY FOR THE AMERICAS, EUROPE AND AFRICA
Reston, Va., and Luxembourg, 14 October 2012 - Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of satellite services, announced today that an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton vehicle successfully launched the Intelsat 23 satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Liftoff occurred at 4:37 a.m. EDT (2:37 p.m. local time). The Intelsat 23 satellite separated from the rocket’s upper stage 9 hours and 30 minutes after launch, at 2:07 p.m. EDT.
With an anticipated service life of more than 18 years, Intelsat 23 will provide enhanced capacity for enterprise, oil and gas, and data networking applications. Replacing Intelsat 707 at 307° East, the satellite will provide C-band services to customers in the Americas, Europe and Africa, and Ku-band coverage for Latin America.
“Intelsat 23 will refresh satellite capacity across four continents, offering critical services to the world’s leading communications providers,” said Intelsat CEO David McGlade. “This launch continues our current fleet replacement and expansion campaign, which is scheduled for completion in early 2013.”
ILS President Frank McKenna said, “It is an honor to celebrate our landmark 75th commercial launch with Intelsat with the successful launch of the Intelsat 23 satellite. The performance of the ILS Proton vehicle for this near geostationary orbit mission will provide expanded lifetime for the Intelsat 23 satellite. We are pleased to enable the expansion of Intelsat’s fleet and support its plans for continued growth.”
The Proton Breeze M vehicle is built by Khrunichev State Research and Space Production Center of Moscow, one of the pillars of the aerospace industry and majority owner of ILS. Proton has a heritage of 380 missions since its maiden flight in 1965. This was the 6th ILS Proton launch this year.
Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, Intelsat 23 is the final scheduled launch for Intelsat in 2012. Intelsat 27 is scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2013. The launch will mark the completion of Intelsat’s global broadband mobility platform.

Separation took place at T+34,191s.

Congrats to all involved!

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 10/14/2012 06:20 pm

Just confirmed.... (which was delayed by me watching the jump from 39+ km )

Same here

4th burn stopped at T0+33337s. (-7s. from nominal)
S/C sep occurred at T0+34191s. (-3s. from nominal)

Intelsat 23 Launch Success to Provide Enhanced Capacity for the Americas, Europe and Africa

Reston, Va., and Luxembourg, 14 October 2012

Intelsat S.A., the world’s leading provider of satellite services, announced today that an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton vehicle successfully launched the Intelsat 23 satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Liftoff occurred at 4:37 a.m. EDT. The Intelsat 23 satellite separated from the rocket’s upper stage 9 hours and 30 minutes after launch, at 2:07 p.m. EDT, and signal acquisition has been confirmed.

With an anticipated service life of more than 18 years, Intelsat 23 will provide enhanced capacity for enterprise, oil and gas, and data networking applications. Replacing Intelsat 707 at 307° East, the satellite will provide C-band services to customers in the Americas, Europe and Africa, and Ku-band coverage for Latin America.

“Intelsat 23 will refresh satellite capacity across four continents, offering critical services to the world’s leading communications providers,” said Intelsat CEO David McGlade. “This launch continues our current fleet replacement and expansion campaign, which is scheduled for completion in early 2013.”

ILS President Frank McKenna said, “It is an honor to celebrate our landmark 75th commercial launch with Intelsat with the successful launch of the Intelsat 23 satellite. The performance of the ILS Proton vehicle for this near geostationary orbit mission will provide expanded lifetime for the Intelsat 23 satellite. We are pleased to enable the expansion of Intelsat’s fleet and support its plans for continued growth.”

The Proton Breeze M vehicle is built by Khrunichev State Research and Space Production Center of Moscow, one of the pillars of the aerospace industry and majority owner of ILS. Proton has a heritage of 380 missions since its maiden flight in 1965. This was the 6th ILS Proton launch this year.

Built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, Intelsat 23 is the final scheduled launch for Intelsat in 2012. Intelsat 27 is scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2013. The launch will mark the completion of Intelsat’s global broadband mobility platform.

Quote from: Satori on 10/14/2012 06:24 pm

Separation took place at T+34,191s.

Congrats to all involved!

Fantastic.

Great coverage Rui, thanks!

Quote from: robertross on 10/14/2012 09:15 pm

Quote from: Satori on 10/14/2012 06:24 pm
Separation took place at T+34,191s.

Congrats to all involved!

Fantastic.

Great coverage Rui, thanks!

Thanks! You're welcome!

According to Khrunichev, spacecraft separation took place at 1806:51.240UTC.

Roskosmos video of the launch

Good to see the Proton back in business again, especially on what was a launch that really tested its abilities.

For this launch the RD-276 engines appear to have operated at full thrust. On the two previous solo launches of Star-2 based satellites, the 1st stage timings were closer to the lower thrust RD-275 powered Proton.

http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/download/2012/is23/email/rus/is23_e11.htm
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17568.msg776061#msg776061

Interesting tracking footage from Russian optical tracking stations of the final Briz-M burn, spacecraft separation and the later disposal burn:

Quote from: Stan Black on 10/26/2012 07:29 pm

For this launch the RD-276 engines appear to have operated at full thrust. On the two previous solo launches of Star-2 based satellites, the 1st stage timings were closer to the lower thrust RD-275 powered Proton.

http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/download/2012/is23/email/rus/is23_e11.htm
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17568.msg776061#msg776061

Possible explanation is that this rocket was manufactured to launch Ekspress-AM6.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=17568.msg1088974#msg1088974

Author Topic: LIVE: Proton-M launch with Intelsat 23 satellite - October 14, 2012 (Read 45189 times)