LIVE: Proton-M/Briz-M – Ekspress-AT1/Ekspress-AT2 – 15th March 2014

[Stan Black]

Payload: Ekspress-AT1 and Ekspress-AT2
Rocket: Proton-M 8К82КМ
Upper stage: Briz-M 14С43
Fairing: 14С75.15
Launch site: Baikonur 8П882К (ПУ № 24)

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

Briz-M

Изготовление и поставка РБ «Бриз-М» для запуска КА «Экспресс-АТ1» и «Экспресс-АТ2» (14С43-0000-0ТУ)

419 199 000 Russian ruble
Order placed: 18th May 2011
Contractual period: May 2011 to December 2012
Delivery: September 2012
[source] [source]

Fairing 14С75

Головные обтекатели 14С75.15 для запуска космических аппаратов «Луч-5Б», «Экспресс-АМ5», «Экспресс-АМ6» и «Экспресс-АТ1, -АТ2»

514 688 000 Russian ruble
 - price breakdown not available
[source] [source]

Изготовление и поставка головного обтекателя 14С75.15 для запуска КА «Экспресс-АТ1, -АТ2» (14С75-0000-0ТУ)

Order placed: 25th March 2011
Contractual period: March 2011 to December 2011
Delivery: November 2011
[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-АТ1, -АТ2» и возврат порожнего транспорта

27 122 100 Russian ruble
Order placed: 30th January 2014
Contractual period: up to 25th December 2014
[source] [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-АТ1, -АТ2»

17 102 000 Russian ruble
Order placed: 30th January 2014
Contractual period: up to 25th December 2014
Delivered: 6th February 2014
[source] [source] [source] [source] [source]

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

Launch campaign

Подготовка и запуск ракеты-носителя «Протон-М» и разгонного блока «Бриз-М» с космическими аппаратами «Экспресс-АТ1», «Экспресс-АТ2». Проведение послепусковых работ.

737 000 000 Russian ruble
Order placed: 29th October 2013
Contractual period: November 2014
[source]

Joint Stock Company «Information Satellite Systems» in the name of Academician M.F. Reshetnev
Открытое акционерное общество «Информационные спутниковые системы» имени академика М.Ф. Решетнёва

Ekspress-AT1

Mass: 1,672 kilogrammes
Platform: Express-1000HTB
Service life: 15 years
Transponders: 32 plus 8 spare Ku-band
Propellants: xenon 110 kilogrammes, hydrazine 30 kilogrammes
[source] [source] [source] [source]

Ekspress-AT2

Mass: 1,326 kilogrammes
Platform: Express-1000K
Service life: 15 years
Transponders: 16 plus 4 spare Ku-band
Propellants: xenon 110 kilogrammes, hydrazine 30 kilogrammes
[source] [source] [source] [source]

[Stan Black]

Briz-M delivery to launch site

Транспортировка трех РБ «Бриз-М» для запуска КА «Экспресс-АТ1, -АТ2», «Экспресс-АМ4R» и «Экспресс-АМ6»

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=8208119

Proton-M and 14С75 delivery to launch site

Транспортировка четырех РН «Протон-М» с ГО для запуска КА «Экспресс-АТ1, -АТ2», «Экспресс-АМ4R», «Экспресс-АМ6» и «Луч-5В»

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=8208871

1st post updated.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Both satellites have been flown to Baikonur today.

http://www.federalspace.ru/20183/
http://www.iss-reshetnev.ru/?cid=news&nid=1738

[Artyom.]

Express-AT1 and Express-AT2 fly to Baikonur.

[Artyom.]

The Proton-M launcher and Briz-M upper stage were delivered to Baikonur Cosmodrome.
http://www.federalspace.ru/20200/ (In Russian)

[Artyom.]

The work continues on launch preparation.

Today in the assembly and test building Ekspress-AT1 and Ekspress-AT2 satellites were joined together with the Briz-M upper stage.

Work is passed in accordance with the graph.

http://www.federalspace.ru/20279/ (In Russian)

[Nicolas PILLET]

Note that the preparation of the satellites is not performed, as usual, in room 101 of MIK-92A-50, but in room 111 !

http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/proton/partie3/1.html

[Artyom.]

Assembly of the ascent unit of Proton-M rocket was completed.

http://www.federalspace.ru/20282/ (In Russian)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Any launch timeline available? I assume there will be 4 Briz-M burns for direct-to-GEO injection? ?_?

[Satori]

Low pressure tanks of the Briz-M were fuelled on March 10 and 11. The launcher will be transported to the launch pad at 0030UTC on March 12.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/20314/ (in Russian).

[Galactic Penguin SST]

I know that this launch will get little limelight with the Dragon going up just 10 hours later........

..... but the Proton rocket is now at the launch pad.

http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=3006

[Satori]

...and http://www.roscosmos.ru/20319/

[Artyom.]

And video 

[Stan Black]

Launch campaign

Подготовка и запуск ракеты-носителя «Протон-М» и разгонного блока «Бриз-М» с космическими аппаратами «Экспресс-АТ1», «Экспресс-АТ2». Проведение послепусковых работ.

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/contracts/info/common_info/show?contractInfoId=11896039

1st post updated.

[Stan Black]

«Экспресс-АТ1» – 1672 кг.
«Экспресс-АТ2» – 1326 кг.

http://www.iss-reshetnev.ru/images/File/newspaper/2014/356.pdf

[russianhalo117]

Launch campaign

Подготовка и запуск ракеты-носителя «Протон-М» и разгонного блока «Бриз-М» с космическими аппаратами «Экспресс-АТ1», «Экспресс-АТ2». Проведение послепусковых работ.

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/contracts/info/common_info/show?contractInfoId=11896039

1st post updated.

Anatoly Zak says this is last PIII that is known to exist at this time.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Any launch timeline available? I assume there will be 4 Briz-M burns for direct-to-GEO injection? ?_?

Request bump...

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Any launch timeline available? I assume there will be 4 Briz-M burns for direct-to-GEO injection? ?_?

Request bump...

Not exactly what I want, but........

Launch - 23:08 UTC
Third stage separation - 23:18 UTC
Four burns for Briz-M (direct-to-GEO?)
Express-AT1 sep. - 08:11 UTC
Express-AT2 sep. - 08:29 UTC

[anik]

Not exactly what I want, but...

You want too much.

[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/20346/ (In Russian)

[Artyom.]

Live coverage of Ekspress-AT1/Ekspress-AT2 of Baikonur:

Start: 21:08:00 March 15, 2014 (UTC)
End: 00:08:00 March 16, 2014 (UTC)
Launch time: 23:08:00 March 15, 2014 (UTC)

http://www.tsenki.com/en/broadcast/broadcast/
http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live.php

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Not exactly what I want, but...

You want too much.

Indeed - well I want a Tesla-brand all electric powered pony for my commute to college too. Doesn't mean it will happen... 

Anyway....here's the Proton!

[kch]

Live coverage of Ekspress-AT1/Ekspress-AT2 of Baikonur:

Start: 21:08:00 March 15, 2014 (UTC)
End: 00:08:00 March 16, 2014 (UTC)
Launch time: 23:08:00 March 15, 2014 (UTC)

http://www.tsenki.com/en/broadcast/broadcast/
http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live.php

And that is exactly what I was looking for -- thank you! 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Service tower moving away....

[patchfree]

Any other link because these ones work badly?

[Gorizont]

Hi, I use this one:

http://www.tsenki.com/broadcast/broadcast/live2.php

But: also this one stops after several secounds. 

greetings...
Soeren

[kch]

Hi, I use this one:

http://www.tsenki.com/broadcast/broadcast/live2.php

But: also this one stops after several secounds. 

greetings...
Soeren

Tried that one and had the same result ... this one is working better for me:

http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live.php

(select Source 1 for wide screen or Source 2 for narrow(er)-screen)
(it does pause to buffer from time to time, but picks up again by itself)

[TJL]

Try this one:  http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live6.php

[Gorizont]

Thanks!

"http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live6.php" works fine!

But we will see. 

Soeren

[Gorizont]

Using www.rscc.ru... we have about 23 mins 30 secs from now.

[Satori]

[Satori]

[Gorizont]

16 minutes...

[Satori]

[Gorizont]

about 9 minutes...

[Satori]

10 minutes for launch...

[Chris Bergin]

The pure white Proton looks very pretty.

[Gorizont]

"The pure white Proton looks very pretty."

I agree. ;-)

About 3 to 4 minutes left...

[Satori]

T-5m...

[Gorizont]

exactly to the secound... 2 minutes left!

good luck Proton! 

[Chris Bergin]

T-60 seconds.

Good luck Proton!

Lots of chatter on the loop.

[Gorizont]

hmm... using rscc.ru for time-comparing... the rocket is still on pad ;-)

[Chris Bergin]

LAUNCH!!

[Gorizont]

Lift off!

[Chris Bergin]

Was lost in the clouds for a while. Russian for normal noted.

[Chris Bergin]

[Chris Bergin]

Out of range of the camera now.

[Chris Bergin]

Engineers already back at the pad!

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Good 2nd stage sep. and 3rd stage ignition.
And payload fairing sep. too...

[Satori]

Nominal flight so far.

[Satori]

Briz-M separation...

[Mapperuo]

[Gorizont]

Nice to read this!

I´m also out of range. 

Good night and thanks to all for these information of the launch-campaign!
Soeren

[Satori]

We have a 9 hour long mission before spacecraft separation at 0811UTC (Express-AT1) and 0829UTC (Express-AT2). So, still a long way to go!!

[Chris Bergin]

Short article for the launch:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/03/proton-m-lofts-express-satellite-duo/

Sorry to reference the failure again, but the article was too short without it and it notes everything's been fine since

[Galactic Penguin SST]

http://www.federalspace.ru/20348/

[Targeteer]

Assembly of the ascent unit of Proton-M rocket was completed.

http://www.federalspace.ru/20282/ (In Russian)

Is it unusual to have the larger, presumably heavier satellite mounted on top of the smaller one as indicated in two of the pictures"

[pippin]

No, Ariane 5, for example, does the same thing due to the limited space inside Sylda.

[Targeteer]

No, Ariane 5, for example, does the same thing due to the limited space inside Sylda.

True but on the Ariane5/Sylda the upper satellite is mounted on the Sylda, not the lower satellite

[pippin]

Sure, but it makes sense to have the heavier payload at the front, gives you a better weight distribution although I doubt it makes a big difference here.

[Stan Black]

Assembly of the ascent unit of Proton-M rocket was completed.

http://www.federalspace.ru/20282/ (In Russian)

Is it unusual to have the larger, presumably heavier satellite mounted on top of the smaller one as indicated in two of the pictures"

I do not know why they did not consider two similar sized satellites; as had been planned for the original dual launch partners of Telkom-3 with Yamal-300K. Early references indicate Ekspress-AT1 and -AT2 were to have had identical payloads.

The lower Ekspress-AT2 is based on a new layout/platform/bus Express-1000K. This appears to be a replacement for Khrunichev’s Yakhta. The smaller Yakhta was designed to carry a regular satellite on top. It was offered by I.L.S. as a possible shared launch partner; and is used by the Ekspress-MD1 and -MD2, Kazsat and Kazsat-2. Kazsat was to have flown with Ekspress-AM3 on the first enhanced Proton-M Briz-M (now referred to as phase II); Ekspress-MD2 with Ekspress-AM44 (on the first phase III); and I think I saw reference to Ekspress-MD2 with Ekspress-AM8. Kazsat-2 flew with the I.L.S. arranged launch for SES-3.
I.L.S. is now offering a new dual launch capability but with a Reshtnev satellite partner.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=34213.0

Another example of top heavy include Luch-5B with Yamal-300K. The Express-1000A based Luch-5A sat on top of the larger Express-1000H based Amos-5. However what appeared to be a similar pair of Luch-5B with Yamal-300K; posed a problem because Yamal-300K has antennas on top. Luch-5B had to be modified to carry Yamal-300K.

Aonesat-1 is another possible dual launch partner.

[anik]

Ekspress-AT1 has been separated as per http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum12/topic13359/message1224186/#message1224186

[Stan Black]

Short article for the launch:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/03/proton-m-lofts-express-satellite-duo/

Sorry to reference the failure again, but the article was too short without it and it notes everything's been fine since

There a couple of things that could be mentioned:-

All indications are that this is the last use of a phase III Proton-M Briz-M.

Reference to the new dual launch offering.

Also the fuss revolving around Ekspress-AMU2 being offered to EADS Astrium.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/roscosmos-wants-only-domestic-civilian-satellite-makers/489671.html

[anik]

Ekspress-AT2 has been separated too: http://www.interfax.ru/russia/364940

[Chris Bergin]

Short article for the launch:

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/03/proton-m-lofts-express-satellite-duo/

Sorry to reference the failure again, but the article was too short without it and it notes everything's been fine since

There a couple of things that could be mentioned:-

All indications are that this is the last use of a phase III Proton-M Briz-M.

Reference to the new dual launch offering.

Also the fuss revolving around Ekspress-AMU2 being offered to EADS Astrium.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/roscosmos-wants-only-domestic-civilian-satellite-makers/489671.html

Thanks Stan. I'll do that now, as I update the article for post-mission.

[input~2]

"Express-AT1" and "Express-AT2" put on the target orbit
16.03.2014 13:07
March 16, 2014 at 12:10 Moscow time the spacecraft "Express-AT1" cleanly separated from the upper stage (RB) "Breeze-M" on the target orbit. After 18 minutes the second satellite  "Express-AT2" nominally separated from the upper stage.
For the carrier rocket "Proton" this was the second launch of this year and 395th in its history.

Spacecraft "Express-AT1" and "Express-AT2" have been produced by JSC "Information Satellite Systems" Academician MF Reshetnev ". "Express-AT1" is based on a platform  "Express-1000H». SC mass is about 1800 kg. Installed on the spacecraft 32 transponders operating in the Ku-band. It is planned that the spacecraft  will last at least 15 years in orbit, providing a geostationary orbit TV for western and central Russia, as well as western and central Siberia, and almost all of Kazakhstan.
Telecommunications satellite "Express-AT2" is based on a platform "Express-1000K." Its mass is about 1250 kg. On the spacecraft there are 16 transponders operating in the Ku-band. The SC will provide TV services from geostationary orbit to Eastern part of Russia. Lifetime of the spacecraft should be at least 15 years.

http://www.federalspace.ru/20351/

[jcm]

«Экспресс-АТ1» – 1672 кг.
«Экспресс-АТ2» – 1326 кг.

http://www.iss-reshetnev.ru/images/File/newspaper/2014/356.pdf

Although http://eng.rscc.ru/space/future/30/  and http://eng.rscc.ru/space/future/276/
give 1726 kg and 1427 kg respectively. Not entirely sure which source to prefer.

[anik]

Not entirely sure which source to prefer

I think that producer of satellites knows better about their weights than customer.

[Stan Black]

«Экспресс-АТ1» – 1672 кг.
«Экспресс-АТ2» – 1326 кг.

http://www.iss-reshetnev.ru/images/File/newspaper/2014/356.pdf

Although http://eng.rscc.ru/space/future/30/  and http://eng.rscc.ru/space/future/276/
give 1726 kg and 1427 kg respectively. Not entirely sure which source to prefer.

I looked in the archive, and that information appears recent. So payload adapter?

[gwiz]

I think that producer of satellites knows better about their weights than customer.

Perhaps they are fuelled and empty weights?

[input~2]

First object catalogued by USSTRATCOM; could be Briz-M APT
2014-010A/39612 in 393 x 35703 km x 48.62°

[Stan Black]

Launch campaign

Подготовка и запуск ракеты-носителя «Протон-М» и разгонного блока «Бриз-М» с космическими аппаратами «Экспресс-АТ1», «Экспресс-АТ2». Проведение послепусковых работ.

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/contracts/info/common_info/show?contractInfoId=11896039

1st post updated.

Anatoly Zak says this is last PIII that is known to exist at this time.

I hear a rumour to the contrary…

[russianhalo117]

Launch campaign

Подготовка и запуск ракеты-носителя «Протон-М» и разгонного блока «Бриз-М» с космическими аппаратами «Экспресс-АТ1», «Экспресс-АТ2». Проведение послепусковых работ.

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/contracts/info/common_info/show?contractInfoId=11896039

1st post updated.

Anatoly Zak says this is last PIII that is known to exist at this time.

I hear a rumour to the contrary…

oh .... please enlighten me I was going by what he understands.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Less-lagging version:

[youtube]OFvFDkBtIko[/youtube]

[input~2]

First object catalogued by USSTRATCOM; could be Briz-M APT
2014-010A/39612 in 393 x 35703 km x 48.62°

Still only one object publicly tracked, but 2014-010A/39612 now seems to be Express-AT1
 in 35462 x 35862 km x 0.16° (epoch: March 22 0153UTC)

[input~2]

OK, here we are:
2014-010A/39612 Express-AT1 in 35523 x 35864 km x 0.16°
2014-010B/39613 Express-AT2 in 35405 x 35780 km x0.15°
2014-010C/39614 Briz-M          in 35639 x 41851 km x 0.17°
2014-010D/39615 APT             in     395 x 35701 km x 48.64°

[Lewis007]

The Express AT-2 satellite has started operations following an on-orbit check-out.

Source (in Russian): http://www.roscosmos.ru/20640/