LIVE: Proton-M/Briz-M – Ekspress-AM7 – March 18, 2015 (22:05 UTC)

[Stan Black]

Payload: Ekspress-AM7
Rocket: Proton-M 8К82КМ with improved energy-mass characteristics (phase 3) № 93552
Upper stage: Briz-M 14С43 with improved energy-mass characteristics (phase 3) № 99553
Payload adapter system: 1194VX
Fairing: 14С75.15 with improved energy-mass characteristics (phase 3)
Launch site: Baikonur 8П882К-4Ф (ПУ № 39)

State Centre for Space Research and Production, in the name of M.V. Khrunichev
Государственный космический научно-производственный центр имени М.В. Хруничева

Proton-M

Изготовление и поставка трех ракет-носителей «Протон-М» для запуска космических аппаратов «Экспресс-АМУ1», «Экспресс-АМ7» и «Луч-4».

4 044 202 000 Russian ruble
 - price breakdown not available
[source] [source] [source]

Изготовление и поставка РН «Протон-М» для запуска КА «Экспресс-АМ7» (8К82КМ-0000-0ТУ-У)

Order placed: 2nd June 2011
Contractual period: May 2011 to December 2013
Delivery: July 2013
[source] [source] [source]

Briz-M

Разгонный блок «Бриз-М» (14С43-0000-0ТУ)

427 369 600 Russian ruble
Order placed: 16th May 2012
Contractual period: April 2012 to 25th November 2013
[source]

Fairing 14С75 and payload adapter

Головной обтекатель (ГО) 14С75.15 с переходной системой (ПС) для запуска КА «Экспресс-АМ7» (14С75.15ХХ-0000-0СБ)

155 270 000 Russian ruble
Order placed: 20th February 2013
Contractual period: January 2013 to 25th November 2013
Delivery: November 2013
[source]

Launch vehicle support

206 000 000 Russian ruble
Delivery: from the 2nd quarter of 2013 to the 4th quarter of 2014, to support a launch in the 3rd quarter of 2014
[source] [source]

Proton-M and 14С75 delivery to launch site

Подготовка к транспортировке, транспортировка РН «Протон-М» с ГО 14С75.15 для запуска КА «Экспресс-АМ7» и возврат порожнего транспорта

27 122 100 Russian ruble
Order placed: 26th February 2014
Contractual period: up to 25th December 2014
[source] [source]

Briz-M delivery to launch site

Авиаперевозка РБ «Бриз-М» и транспортно-экспедиторские работы по отправке разгонного блока «Бриз-М» для запуска КА «Экспресс-АМ7»

17 102 000 Russian ruble
Order placed: 17th February 2014
Contractual period: up to 25th December 2014
[source] [source]

RUAG Space AB (Sweden)

1194VX

Centre for Operation of Land-Based Space Infrastructure (TsENKI)
Центр эксплуатации объектов наземной космической инфраструктуры (ЦЭНКИ)

Launch campaign

Подготовка и запуски РН «Протон-М» и РБ «Бриз-М» с КА «Экспресс-АМ7» и с КА «Экспресс-АМ4R». Проведение послепусковых работ.

737 000 000 Russian ruble
Order placed: 22nd November 2013
Contractual period: November 2014
[source]

European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) Astrium

Ekspress-AM7

Mass: 5,712 kilogrammes
Platform: Eurostar E3000
Service life: 15 years
Transponders: 24 C-band, 36 Ku-band, 2 L-band
[source]

[Stan Black]

Briz-M delivery to launch site

Транспортировка РБ «Бриз-М» для запуска КА «Экспресс-АМ7»

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=8209019

Proton-M and 14С75 delivery to launch site

Транспортировка РН «Протон-М» с ГО для запуска КА «Экспресс-АМ7»

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=8209752

1st post updated.

[Stan Black]

“Nominal Mission Lifetime” means, with respect to the Express AM7 Satellite, (based upon a Proton phase 4 performance) a period of 15 (fifteen) years after completion of the Final or Provisional Acceptance of the Satellite in orbit (whichever occurs first).

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?purchaseId=445821&&purchaseMethodType=is

[Stan Black]

Launch campaign

Подготовка и запуски РН «Протон-М» и РБ «Бриз-М» с КА «Экспресс-АМ7» и с КА «Экспресс-АМ4R». Проведение послепусковых работ.

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/contracts/info/common_info/show?contractInfoId=12211437

1st post updated.

[Stan Black]

Can someone help me understand this? Looks like they are paying International Launch Services (ILS) to support this launch?

$931,200

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/documents.html?purchaseId=931019&&purchaseMethodType=ep

There are four documents; these two appear relevant:-
Приказ_Закупка у ЕП
Exhibit 2_Express AM7_рус

[Stan Black]

Tender from the Centre for Operation of Land-Based Space Infrastructure (TsENKI) for insurance to cover various launches, including «Ekspress-AM», «Soyuz-TMA», «Progress-M», «GLONASS-M»:-
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?noticeId=1752593

Direct link to document, dated 21st November 2014:-
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/download/download.html?id=9745038

Запуск космического аппарата: КА «Экспресс-АМ7»
Объект страхования: РН «Протон-М», РБ «Бриз-М» для запуска КА «Экспресс-АМ7»
Страховая сумма (лимит ответственности) млн.руб.: 1 949,550
Страховая премия (максимальный тариф) млн.руб.: 175,460
Ориентировочная дата запуска: I кв. 2015г.

Launch of satellite: satellite Ekspress-AM7
Insured items: rocket Proton-M, upper stage Briz-M for launch of satellite Ekspress-AM7
The sum insured (limit of liability), million. ruble: 1 949,550
Insurance premium (maximum tariff), million. ruble: 175,460
The estimated launch date: 1st quarter of 2015

[Stan Black]

Latest "official" news report about Russian launches, this time for February - March 2015: http://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=363303

The new dates are:

March 3 - 3x Gonets-M [block 14]
March 17 -  Ekspress-AM7

[Stan Black]

Tender from the Centre for Operation of Land-Based Space Infrastructure (TsENKI) for insurance to cover various launch sites; for preparation and launch of rockets «Proton», «Soyuz», «Zenit»:-
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?noticeId=1922237

Direct link to document, dated 29th December 2014:-
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/download/download.html?id=10741151

РКН: КА «Экспресс АМ7», РН «Протон-М»
Дата запуска: 1 кв. 2015
Страховая сумма (лимит ответственности) млн.руб.: 2 558,10
Страховая премия (максимальный тариф) млн.руб.: 17,9

Launch: satellite Ekspress-AM7, rocket Proton-M
Launch date: 1st quarter of 2015
The sum insured (limit of liability), million ruble: 2 558,10
Insurance premium (maximum tariff), million ruble: 17,9

[Satori]

Launch will take place at 2206UTC on March 16.

[Satori]

Launch is now schedule for March 19.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch is now schedule for March 19.

Local time, apparently. Here the launch time is specified as March 18 @ 22:05 UTC.

[Artyom.]

Ekspress-AM7 was delivered to Baikonur today.

http://www.tsenki.com/news/news_tsenki/?ELEMENT_ID=118897

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Interesting....T-5 days and Roscosmos don't even made one peep about what's going on about launch preparations? Are they scared about the RSCC/Airbus D&S curse? 

[Satori]

Interesting....T-5 days and Roscosmos don't even made one peep about what's going on about launch preparations? Are they scared about the RSCC/Airbus D&S curse? 

Transported to the fuelling station... http://www.roscosmos.ru/21359/ (in Russian)

[jacqmans]

http://www.federalspace.ru/21363/

[input~2]

NOTAMS
K0288/15 -  ATS ROUTE SEGMENTS CLSD: 1.A113 TIROK-GISIR FM 25 TO 68 KM 2.B822 LUGER-BETIK FM 35 TO 85 KM SFC/UNL. 18 MAR 21:50 2015 UNTIL 18 MAR 22:50 2015. CREATED: 14 MAR 01:35 2015

P1388/15 -  RESTRICTED AREA UNR1238 ACT. SFC - UNL, DAILY 2150-2250, 18 MAR 21:50 2015 UNTIL 19 MAR 22:50 2015. CREATED: 11 MAR 10:02 2015

P1382/15 -  ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD A814 ARNUL - ADOBA, B206 ARNUL - AKTAS, G489 TELRU - AKTAS. SFC - UNL, DAILY 2150-2250, 18 MAR 21:50 2015 UNTIL 19 MAR 22:50 2015. CREATED: 11 MAR 08:07 2015

[Galactic Penguin SST]

[Satori]

Long serial number: 6308287981

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch time line!

http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=711

[Artyom.]

In English - http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=699.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Moved for live coverage!

[Artyom.]

The State Commission confirmed the scheduled lift-off time of the Proton-M LV and gave the go-ahead to loading the LV with propellants.
 
http://www.federalspace.ru/21376/

[zubenelgenubi]

Will there be a live web-cast?  I know this is not an ILS launch.  (I suspect the answer to my question is NO, but would love to be pleasantly surprised.)

Zubenelgenubi

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Will there be a live web-cast?  I know this is not an ILS launch.  (I suspect the answer to my question is NO, but would love to be pleasantly surprised.)

Zubenelgenubi

Try http://tsenki.com/broadcast/broadcast/.

[Mark McCombs]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

There were strange rumors that the Russians don't want this to go live so it's good to see the service tower being prepared for retract!

Also live telemetry available at http://www.space-center.ru/. 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Service tower retracting.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

[Galactic Penguin SST]

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-25 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-20 minutes.

[Chris Bergin]

T-15 mins!

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-15 minutes.

[Chris Bergin]

T-10 mins!

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-10 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-9 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-8 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-7 minutes.

[Chris Bergin]

There's your five minute warning!

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-6 minutes.

[input~2]

Planned Briz-M firings representation

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-5 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-4 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-3 minutes.

[input~2]

Planned mission sequence of events

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-2 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-1 minute.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Liftoff!

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+1 minute.

[Chris Bergin]

LAUNCH!!

[Chris Bergin]

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+2 minutes.

[Chris Bergin]

Staging!

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+3 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+4 minutes.

[Chris Bergin]

Heard the Russian for "normal"

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+5 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+6 minutes.

[Prober]

poor feed, launch

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+7 minutes.

[IanO]

Beautiful jellyfish at 3rd stage ignition!  Anyone catch a screen grab of that?

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+8 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+9 minutes. Showing the launch pad.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+10 minutes. I think the third stage should have finished burning now.

[DatUser14]

The commentator is repeating a word that sounds like "deutsche-ver" any idea what this means?

[Chris Bergin]

And here come the pad crews already!

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+13 minutes. About halfway through Briz-M burn I think.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+16 minutes. The Briz-M should have finished its first burn by now. The next burn should be in about 51 minutes times.

[input~2]

First Briz-M firing completed OK

[northenarc]

Beautiful jellyfish at 3rd stage ignition!  Anyone catch a screen grab of that?

  Indeed, don't see many like that, here's what I got.

[Satori]

9 hour 13 minute mission, so long way to go... as usual...

[northenarc]

End of broadcast (with a rather loud tone) about 45 mins to the next Briz-M burn.

[Als]

Beautiful jellyfish at 3rd stage ignition!  Anyone catch a screen grab of that?

[Chris Bergin]

Great work again Steven. Thanks very much! Now for the long road!

[Mark McCombs]

[Mark McCombs]

[Mark McCombs]

[jcm]

Did this actually have the suborbital parameters?

[zubenelgenubi]

Glad there was a live web-cast!  (I missed it--still commuting home at launch time.)

So, after the first attempt to launch Angara-1.2PP was aborted, several following Russian launches that we would have otherwise expected to be able to watch live had no live coverage.
("civilian" payload launches, other than ISS support launches and ILS Proton launches)

Meteor-M2
Angara-1.2PP
Foton-M4 (web-cast blocked in USA/UK?)
Luch/Olimp-K1
Ekpress-AM6
Angara 5 first flight

I missed that the Resurs-P2 launch was live web-cast.  And, now this launch had live coverage, too.  Yay!

I'm glad the apparent censorship has ended.

Zubenelgenubi

[Steven Pietrobon]

Thanks Chris. Launch replay. Apparently this was shown live on YouTube.

[Steven Pietrobon]

From http://www.space-center.ru/LiveGroundTrack.aspx it looks like the mission is nearly finished with all the Briz-M burns completed except GEO insertion.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

From http://www.space-center.ru/LiveGroundTrack.aspx it looks like the mission is nearly finished with all the Briz-M burns completed except GEO insertion.

Last burn will start in 40 minutes.

[input~2]

2nd, 3rd, 4th Briz-M burns and APT separation performed OK
5th burn to start now

edit 5th burn started ontime

[input~2]

5th Briz-M burn performed OK
S/C separation expected in 13 minutes

[input~2]

S/C separation confirmed!

[Galactic Penguin SST]

http://www.roscosmos.ru/21374/

[Galactic Penguin SST]

[xm11]

any know what tle on express am 7 ?

[Chris Bergin]

Khrunichev News Release

 

PROTON SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES THE EXPRESS AM-7 SATELLITE FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

 

March 19, 2015-Lifting off from Baikonur at 01:05 am Moscow Time on Thursday, March 19, the Proton-M integrated launch vehicle (ILV) successfully orbited the Airbus DS–built Express AM-7 telecommunications satellite for Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC), under the Russian Federal Program, “Development of TV and Radio Broadcasting in the Russian Federation for 2009–2015”. This second launch of 2015 is the 403rd in Proton’s history.

 

In the course of a nominal launch, the orbital unit (the spacecraft and Breeze-M upper stage) separated from the launch vehicle at the designated time, and continued its mission. Subsequently, the spacecraft injection to the target orbit was performed based on burns of the Breeze-M upper stage main engine.

 

As per the mission plan, the spacecraft/upper stage separation took place 9 hours and 13 minutes after liftoff – at 10:18 am (MSK) on March 19. The separated spacecraft mass was approximately 5700 kg.

 

As of now, the control of Express AM-7 has been passed over to the customer. Express-АМ7 is intended to provide TV and radio broadcast, broadband access and multimedia, data, telephony, and mobile communications throughout Russia, Europe and India.

 

Proton was designed and is mass manufactured by the Khrunichev Space Center. The heavy-lift Proton is the mainstay of Russia’s space transport, used for inserting government and commercial payloads to low-earth and escape orbits. Proton is marked for its design, and excellent energy and performance characteristics. Proton is reputed to be one of the world’s most proven heavy-lift launchers. A modernized Proton-M using Breeze-M as the upper stage is capable of delivering 6MT+ payloads to geo-stationary orbits.

 

About Khrunichev Space Center

Khrunichev State Research & Production Space Center (the “Khrunichev Space Center”, or “Khrunichev”), a key enterprise of Russia’s space industry, belongs to the group of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of rocket and space hardware. Under the Federal Space Program guidelines, Khrunichev designs, and manufactures, and operates such space transport systems as Proton, Rockot, and Angara.

 

Over the past nearly 20 years, Khrunichev has been a player in the international market of launch services, successfully orbiting spacecraft intended for a variety of purposes. The Khrunichev Space Center makes a significant contribution to the buildup and operation of the International Space Station, and participates in national space programs of a number of countries. Amongst Khrunichev’s customers and partners are national space agencies, organizations and industrial enterprises from all over the world. Read more at http://www.khrunichev.ru/.

[input~2]

any know what tle on express am 7 ?

3 objects have been catalogued by USSTRATCOM

S/C: 2015-012A/40505 in 5406 x 35752 km x 19.91°
Briz-M: 2015-012B/40506 in 4415 x 34179 km x 20.02°
APT: 2015-012C/40507 in 333 x 16740 km x 49.48°

[Stan Black]

Did this actually have the suborbital parameters?

http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/download/2015/eam7/email/rus/eam7_e11.htm

[Satori]

Exact launch time was 2204:59.971UTC

Spacecraft separation exact time was: 0717:50.719UTC

[Nicolas PILLET]

VKO press release about Briz-M transfer to cemetary orbit.

http://structure.mil.ru/structure/forces/cosmic/news/more.htm?id=12010893@egNews

[Chris Bergin]

VKO press release about Briz-M transfer to cemetary orbit.

http://structure.mil.ru/structure/forces/cosmic/news/more.htm?id=12010893@egNews

Farewell Briz-M and we thank you

Great launch photos above.

[input~2]

VKO press release about Briz-M transfer to cemetary orbit.

http://structure.mil.ru/structure/forces/cosmic/news/more.htm?id=12010893@egNews

Well, according to latest USSTRATCOM tle, Briz-M was still in the same orbit (not a graveyard orbit) at epoch March 20  1150UTC 4424 x 34149 km x 20.05°

[gwiz]

Seems to be a cut-and-paste from the Intelsat 5F2 release, which is itself wrong.  Forgot to change the disposal orbit numbers for the last several missions?
http://function.mil.ru/news_page/country/more.htm?id=12006874@egNews