Author Topic: Soyuz-2.1a launch with Meridian n°17L - 30th October 2014 (Read 13679 times)

Nicolas PILLET · « **on:** 09/22/2014 03:14 pm »

According to my informations, the launch of Meridian n°17L from Plesetsk is scheduled for 24th October 2014. It will be Fregat's Return To Flight.

owais.usmani · « **Reply #1 on:** 09/22/2014 05:37 pm »

But has the root cause for fregat failure on Gallileo mission identified?

gwiz · « **Reply #2 on:** 09/22/2014 06:39 pm »

Frozen fuel line

Satori · « **Reply #3 on:** 09/23/2014 12:03 am »

This delay is not related with the problems with Fregat.

Satori · « **Reply #4 on:** 09/26/2014 07:35 pm »

Launch will be on October 22.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #5 on:** 10/10/2014 07:22 am »

Google translation isn't working very well here, but it seems that at http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum12/topic13493/?PAGEN_1=4 people are talking about rumors of some serious accident during the processing of this launch? $:-\$

owais.usmani · « **Reply #6 on:** 10/10/2014 01:37 pm »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 10/10/2014 07:22 am

Google translation isn't working very well here, but it seems that at http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum12/topic13493/?PAGEN_1=4 people are talking about rumors of some serious accident during the processing of this launch? $:-\$

Anatoly Zak has some details now:

http://www.russianspaceweb.com/meridian.html#7

Quote

The launch of the Russia's new-generation communications satellite had to be delayed by at least three weeks by a derailment during its transportation at the beginning of October, industry sources said. The seventh Meridian spacecraft designed for military communications was transported inside its container to a fueling station at its launch site in Plesetsk, when one of the axles of its railway platform broke causing its derailment. The container with the Meridian satellite had to be transported back to the assembly and checkout building for new tests to ensure that the shock of the accident did not damage its sensitive electronics and propellant tanks. The derailment took place at the curve of the railway, which had been a place of an accident before.

As of August 2014, the launch of the seventh Meridian satellite was expected on September 27, 2014, however by September, the mission was postponed until October 22.

It is unclear whether the satellite involved into the accident would be launched or its replacement would have to be prepared instead.

Danderman · « **Reply #7 on:** 10/10/2014 03:29 pm »

I would imagine that the infrastructure at Plesetsk and Baikonur, including railroad cars, is quite elderly.

Targeteer · « **Reply #8 on:** 10/16/2014 04:41 am »

https://www.facebook.com/Roscosmos/photos/a.125348644159716.17077.125342950826952/933131476714758/?type=1&theater

The Fregat booster received no damage as a result of an incident during its transportation at the Plesetsk space site, Air And Space Force spokesman, Colonel Aleksey Zolotukhin, said on Wednesday, adding that the booster was in order and preparations for the launch of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket were proceeding on time.

“The reports of an alleged fall of the container with the Fregat booster from a railway carriage at the Plesetsk space site have nothing to do with the reality,” Zolotukhin said.

Specialists have already checked Fregat for its integrity and the existence of latent defects.

“The Fregat booster is in full working order,” he said, adding that the booster was ready for fuelling and assembly with other parts of the Soyuz rocket.

MOSCOW, October 15. /TASS

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/27/2014 10:49 am »

We got official confirmation that liftoff is indeed scheduled on October 30, and the the rocket's now at the pad already: http://ria.ru/space/20141027/1030337406.html

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #10 on:** 10/29/2014 07:18 am »

G2140 / 14 (Issued for ULKK UUYY) - FLT PROHIBITED WI AREA BOUNDED BY COORD: 625500N 0470000E-624500N 0484500E-622500N 0484500E-623000N 0470000E-625500N 0470000E. SFC - 1500M AGL, DAILY 0120-0240, 30 OCT 01:20 2014 UNTIL 03 NOV 02:40 2014. CREATED: 26 OCT 19:51 2014

HYDROPAC 3180/2014 (76) WESTERN SOUTH PACIFIC. TASMAN SEA. SPACE DEBRIS. DNC 05, DNC 06. 1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 0120Z TO 0240Z DAILY 30 OCT THRU 03 NOV IN AREA BOUND BY 46-30S 155-00E, 57-00S 176-00E, 60-00S 172-34E, 49-15S 151-00E. 2. CANCEL THIS MSG 030340Z NOV 14. (270750Z OCT 2014)

Looks like the launch time is around 01:30 UTC on October 30.

Salo · « **Reply #11 on:** 10/29/2014 05:33 pm »

http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum12/topic13493/message1303967/#message1303967

Launch 01:42:52 UTC
Spacecraft separation 03:58:12 UTC

Nicolas PILLET · « **Reply #12 on:** 10/29/2014 06:51 pm »

Just a little bump to remind that, some weeks ago, I've published the first-ever known picture of a Meridian satellite !

http://www.kosmonavtika.com/satellites/meridian/meridian.html

jcm · « **Reply #13 on:** 10/30/2014 12:55 am »

A Zak is reporting launch has occurred - http://russianspaceweb.com/meridian7.html

jcm · « **Reply #14 on:** 10/30/2014 01:03 am »

And also Gazeta.ru

http://www.gazeta.ru/science/news/2014/10/30/n_6606537.shtml

At 0443 MSK from pad 43-4 ..

jcm · « **Reply #15 on:** 10/30/2014 03:42 am »

No TLEs yet, but Russian media reporting mission success

Novosti:

http://ria.ru/science/20141030/1030871080.html

Fregat separated 0451 MSK, 0701 MSK Meridian under control of GIKTs Titov center
Systems functioning normally, says Col Zolotukhin

northenarc · « **Reply #16 on:** 10/30/2014 07:38 am »

Video of the launch

www.youtube.com/embed/zwEXTCifj1I

www.youtube.com/embed/-RB4iV-FTUU

Satori · « **Reply #17 on:** 10/30/2014 12:52 pm »

Launch images from the Russian Ministry of Defence (more at http://xn--80ahclcogc6ci4h.xn--90anlfbebar6i.xn--p1ai/multimedia/photo/gallery.htm?id=18970@cmsPhotoGallery)

input~2 · « **Reply #18 on:** 10/30/2014 03:01 pm »

2 objects have been catalogued by USSTRATCOM
2014-069A/40296 in 968 x 39749 km x 62.81° (presumably ther S/C)
2014-069B/40297 in 799 x 39614 km x 62.78°

Targeteer · « **Reply #19 on:** 10/30/2014 03:42 pm »

https://www.facebook.com/Roscosmos/photos/a.125348644159716.17077.125342950826952/941490039212235/?type=1&theater

A Russian Soyuz 2-1A launch vehicle blasted off from Site 43/4 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 1:42 UTC on Thursday carrying the seventh Meridian next-generation Military Communications Satellite into orbit. Russian news agencies reported that the launch was successful and Soyuz and its Fregat Upper Stage delivered the satellite to its planned elliptical Molniya orbit two hours and 16 minutes after liftoff.

The Meridian satellite constellation is dedicated to providing secure communications to the Russian government and military users including mobile terminals. The satellites are orbiting Earth in an elliptical orbit with a fixed apogee location over the northern hemisphere. This orbital setup ensures coverage over the northernmost regions of the Russian territory and the Arctic Ocean which is a problem when relying on Geostationary Satellites alone. With enough satellites that are part of the constellation, several spacecraft are constantly visible from any point within the Russian territory to ensure uninterrupted service.

Each Meridian satellite weighs about two metric tons with two deployable solar arrays, a pressurized satellite bus and a number of communication antennas. Details on the payload of the spacecraft are not disclosed to the public, but Meridian satellites are known to operate in the VHF, UHF and S-Band frequency bands.

This seventh Meridian launch was the first satellite to be orbited as part of the program since November 2012. The very first Meridian satellite launched in 2006, but failed after less than two and a half years in orbit. The second Meridian satellite did not achieve a fully usable orbit due to problems with the Fregat upper stage that launched it in 2009. Meridian 3 and 4 are maintaining a nominal orbit following their launches in 2010 and 2011. The fifth Meridian never made it into orbit due to a failure of the third stage engine of its Soyuz launch vehicle. Meridian 6 is operational and will be joined by Meridian 7 soon following Thursday's successful launch.

*File Image* - Credit: Roscosmos/ Source SpaceFligth101/Space.com/Tass

Lewis007 · « **Reply #20 on:** 12/25/2014 06:53 am »

More launch pics can be found here:
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/foto/1151/2207/

Phillip Clark · « **Reply #21 on:** 02/21/2015 12:05 pm »

If this was indeed the final launch in the Meridian programme, do we know what programme(s) will take over the role of this series, please? Some of the comms work could be handled by Raduga-1M or even some Ekspress satellites in geosynchronous orbit, for example.