LIVE: Proton-M/Briz-M launch with Astra-2G - December 27, 2014 (ETD 2137UTC)

[Satori]

Briz-M to be used for the launch of Astra-2G arrived at the Baykonur Cosmodrome on October 23, 2014.

http://www.tsenki.com/news/news_tsenki/index.php?ELEMENT_ID=115055 (in Russian)

[Adonis1]

Currently Astra 2G is scheduled for November 27th and the satellite is expected to be flown from France to Kazakhstan this week for pre-launch testing and fuelling.

http://advanced-television.com/2014/10/27/ils-readies-astra-2g-for-proton-launch/

[Artyom.]

Airplane with European satellite aboard makes emergency landing in Ulyanovsk - source


 A transport airplane carrying Europe's Astra-2G satellite to the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which Russia leases from Kazakhstan, made an emergency landing in the city of Ulyanovsk, a Russian space sector source told Interfax-AVN on Tuesday.

"Specialists are working to fix the problem. If they prove unable to do so, the airplane will have to be replaced," he said.

The launch of the European satellite on board a Proton-M rocket has been set for November 28, he said.

"Hopefully, the delay with delivering the Astra-2G satellite will not require a change of the launch date for the European satellite," the source said.

http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=546945

[Jester]

Bad landing, Astra-2G still needs to undergo inspection.... the image below is not looking so good...

http://advanced-television.com/2014/10/28/anxieties-for-astra-2g-after-aircraft-emergency/


EDIT: never mind the image, its from an earlier crash in 1998 in Canada

[Galactic Penguin SST]

FYI, the aircraft involved is RA-82046: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=170707 - the same aircraft involved in the accident that was accidentally shown as this emergency landing (in Gander, Newfoundland in December 1998).

The problematic engine has been replaced and it will fly out to Baikonur early tomorrow: http://itar-tass.com/proisshestviya/1537047

[xm11]

tomorrow morning will be flight

http://itar-tass.com/proisshestviya/1537047

[Adonis1]

The Russians are not able to take to the Baikonur satellite Astra-2G.
(google translation)

by24.org

[eeergo]

The Russians are not able to take to the Baikonur satellite Astra-2G.
(google translation)

by24.org

Not today's event:



The source doesn't look very reliable for anything either.

[edkyle99]

Any signs of delay on this given the apparent low insertion orbit during the Express AM6 mission?

 - Ed Kyle

[xm11]

Plane with European satellite, internally stranded in Ulyanovsk, flew to Baikonur

http://itar-tass.com/proisshestviya/1538760

[Adonis1]

Astra 2G arrives in Baikonur.

khrunichev.ru

[owais.usmani]

From Roscosmos facebook page:

[xm11]

http://www.roscosmos.ru/21066/

Baikonur is actively working on the program space launches

At the Baikonur Cosmodrome specialists of aerospace industry are working intensively to complete the program launches in 2014.

 Yesterday at the airport complex "Jubilee" landed the plane An-124-100 ("Ruslan"), which delivered to Baikonur European telecommunications spacecraft "Astra-2G." After the customs check the container with the spacecraft and support equipment was loaded on a railway platform and of transported to the site 92A-50, where the finishing chamber 101 hall assembly and testing will be carried out his further training.

 In the near future, experts FSUE "Khrunichev. Khrunichev 'representatives and the customer will begin to run standalone test the spacecraft, which include a series of functional and electrical inspections and refueling machine propellants.

 It is planned that the six-ton ​​geostationary satellite "Astra-2Y" will be launched into orbit by a rocket "Proton-M" and the upper stage "Breeze-M" 28th of November. This will be the 400th launch, implemented using a carrier rocket "Proton".

 At the same time in the 111-meter hall assembly and test facility 92A-50 calculations FSUE "Khrunichev. Khrunichev "began work on the preparation of telecommunications spacecraft" Yamal-401 ", which is also the day before was delivered to Baikonur. The spacecraft is set to slipway and computing begun inspections and tests.

 Launching a spacecraft "Yamal-401" is scheduled to perform from the Baikonur cosmodrome December 12, 2014 using a carrier rocket "Proton-M" and the upper stage "Breeze-M".

Spacecraft "Yamal-401" is designed and manufactured JSC "Information Satellite Systems Academician MF Reshetnev "and is designed to provide relaying communications and broadcasting in Europe and Asia in a continuous mode.

"Yamal-401" - this is the third spacecraft, created on the basis of a unified platform heavy class "Express-2000." The mass of the satellite - 2976 kg; power allocated to the payload - 11 kW; active lifetime is 15 years.

The satellite transponder 53 and six antennas operating in the C- and Ku-band frequencies.

Customer is launching Russian satellite communications operator "GSS".

JSC "Information Satellite Systems" Academician MF Reshetnev " - one of the leading enterprises in the Russian space industry.

JSC "ISS" owns technologies complete cycle of space systems from design to control the spacecraft orbits at all - from low circular to geostationary.

During its operation, the company has been involved in the implementation of more than 30 space programs in the areas of communication, relaying television, navigation, geodesy and research. It has been designed, manufactured and launched about 50 different types of space vehicles, are highly reliable and are intended for use in low-circular, circular, HEO and geosynchronous orbits.

 

Booster heavy class "Proton" is developed and produced by FSUE "State Research and Production Space Center of MV Khrunichev. "

State Space Center Khrunichev is one of the leaders in the development and implementation of new space technologies, both in Russia and in the international space market. Modernization of the carrier rocket "Proton" launch vehicle "Roar", a family of launch vehicles "Angara", boosters Briz-M Briz-KM, 12 BEF, cooperation and the implementation of international projects International Launch Services, Eurockot, International Space station "Baiterek", "Kazsat" cooperation with India, South Korea and other allowed the company to enter the world market of launch services.

Press Service of the Russian Space Agency

[Nicolas PILLET]

These pictures show Yamal-401, not Astra-2G.

[gobabygo]

SC container says Eurostar 3000 which I believe is an Airbus satellite, so therefore it must be Astra 2G. Yamal-401 is manufactured by ISS-Reshetnev.

[russianhalo117]

These pictures show Yamal-401, not Astra-2G.

SC container says Eurostar 3000 which I believe is an Airbus satellite, so therefore it must be Astra 2G. Yamal-401 is manufactured by ISS-Reshetnev.

Evidence is on the shipping container where it says Eurostar 3000 and the container marking are all in English. Eurostar 3000 does not equal Express-2000 Nicolas. hopefully your eyes threw you for a loop as they are very similar in character length:
Eurostar-3000
Express-2000

Yamal-401 satellite completed
Yamal-401 is the third satellite developed and manufactured by the Reshetnev Company on the base of its heavy-class Express-2000 platform. The satellite weighs 2976 kilograms and is capable of providing 11 kW of power to the payload. Its mission in the geostationary orbit is expected to last at least 15 years.

http://www.iss-reshetnev.com/?cid=news&nid=331

[MarekCyzio]

Looks like there is a problem with the insurers:
http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/42480astra-2g-launch-preparations-halted-amid-proton-concerns

The fueling has been postponed, officials said, as insurance underwriters involved in the Astra 2G launch policy continue to raise issues about what happened during the Oct. 22 launch of a Russian telecommunications satellite.

[Nicolas PILLET]

SC container says Eurostar 3000 which I believe is an Airbus satellite, so therefore it must be Astra 2G. Yamal-401 is manufactured by ISS-Reshetnev.

My post was related to pictures that are now deleted, it was not related to the pictures of the delivery

[Satori]

Khrunichev denies rumors of launch postponement (in Russian)

http://www.interfax.ru/russia/406028

[Adonis1]

Astra 2G, launch poster.

[McDew]

Astra 2G started spacecraft fueling today as scheduled.  Looks like SpaceNews opted for sensationalism over accuracy.

[Adonis1]

Media Advisory: ILS Proton to Launch Astra 2G

Payload: ASTRA 2G communications satellite
Eurostar E3000 Platform
Separated spacecraft mass: ~6,020 kg

Launch Vehicle: Proton M/Breeze M
705,000 kg (1,554,000 lb), including payload
58.2 m (191ft)

Launch Date: November 28, 2014

Launch Time:
03:24:33 Baikonur
00:24:33 Moscow
22:24:33 Luxembourg and CET (27 Nov)
21:24:33 GMT (27 Nov)
16:24:33 EDT (27 Nov)

Launch Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Launch Pad 39

Launch Customer: SES, Luxembourg

Satellite Manufacturer: Airbus Defence and Space

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

Launch Services
Provider: International Launch Services, USA

Satellite Use: ASTRA 2G is the third spacecraft of a three satellite investment program (ASTRA 2E, 2F, and 2G) that SES contracted with Airbus Defence and Space in order to provide replacement as well as incremental satellite capacity in the orbital arc of 28.2/28.5 degrees East. ASTRA 2G carries 62 Ku-band transponders as well as 4 Ka-band transponders. The different beams provide wide coverage over the UK and Ireland, Europe and West Africa.

The ASTRA 2G satellite will also support SATMED, an e-health platform conceived by SES and supported by the Luxembourg Government and the Ministry for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action is a satellite based communication solution aimed to improve public health in emerging and developing countries.

Satellite Statistics: __62 Ku-band transponders
__4 Ka-band transponders, including 1 interconnect
__Planned orbital location: 28.2/28.5 degrees East longitude
__Anticipated service life: 15 years

Mission Profile: The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the ASTRA 2G 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 ASTRA 2G 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 geosynchronous  transfer orbit. Separation of the ASTRA 2G satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff.

Target Orbit  Perigee: 4,163 km
at Separation:  Apogee: 35,736 km
Inclination: 23.0 degrees

Spacecraft Separation: Approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff

ILS Mission Statistics: _7th Proton launch in 2014
_2nd ILS Proton launch in 2014
_86th ILS Proton Launch Overall
_24th SES Satellite Launched on ILS Proton
_18th Airbus Defence and Space Satellite Launched on ILS Proton

Live Broadcast: The live launch broadcast will begin approximately 20 minutes before lift-off.

Webcast stream seen can be seen at:
http://astra2g.imgondemand.com/

Live streaming will begin approximately 10 minutes before liftoff.

ilslaunch.com

[Nicolas PILLET]

Launch fairing.

http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=3168

[Stan Black]

Mission overview
http://www.ilslaunch.com/sites/default/files/pdf/A2G_MO.pdf

[Satori]

Proton-M/Briz-M with Astra-2G is now at the launch pad http://www.roscosmos.ru/21144/ (in Russian)

[tehwkd]

[Satori]

Long serial number of the 8K82KM Proton-M is 6304287970

[Galactic Penguin SST]

http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=2152811 reports that problems surfaced that the launch will be delayed and the Proton rocket will need a roll-back. Not confirmed by ILS or Khrunichev yet though so...... 

[tehwkd]

Launch delayed: http://www.federalspace.ru/21150/

To postpone the launch of the spacecraft "Astra-2G"

 26/11/2014 10:04

 During tests conducted rocket "Proton-M" spacecraft "Astra-2G" at the launch complex (SC) Baikonur Cosmodrome was found in the observation complex command devices booster "Breeze-M".

 State Commission decided to terminate prelaunch launch vehicle directly at the launch complex and transfer tests and inspections in the assembly building site 92A-50 to eliminate the identified faults.

 The decision on the new date of launch rocket "Proton-M" spacecraft "Astra-2G" will be taken as a result of elimination of the comments in the complex command devices booster "Breeze-M".

[Satori]

Astra-2G launch is now schedule for December 24 (or 28).

[Stan Black]

Other occasions where Proton have been removed from the launch site for repairs:-
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=27515.msg1112425#msg1112425

[Danderman]

This is making the decision to replace Blok-DM with Briz-M for most launches look foolish.

[Star One]

This is making the decision to replace Blok-DM with Briz-M for most launches look foolish.

No wonder Exomars is using Blok-DM.

[baldusi]

This is making the decision to replace Blok-DM with Briz-M for most launches look foolish.

No wonder Exomars is using Blok-DM.

Blok-DM's statistics aren't really that good, either. Proton's problems have been incredibly varied, even through the stages. While Briz-M does has the worst individual performance, it's also the moe difficult part of the mission (navigation, multiple firings, etc.). Problems seem much more systematic than a design or quality issue on a single stage. Blok-DM does has the advantage of being an RSC Energia product.

[Stan Black]

This is making the decision to replace Blok-DM with Briz-M for most launches look foolish.

No wonder Exomars is using Blok-DM.

Blok-DM's statistics aren't really that good, either. Proton's problems have been incredibly varied, even through the stages. While Briz-M does has the worst individual performance, it's also the moe difficult part of the mission (navigation, multiple firings, etc.). Problems seem much more systematic than a design or quality issue on a single stage. Blok-DM does has the advantage of being an RSC Energia product.

Briz-M for Exomars?
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/contracts/info/common_info/show?contractInfoId=12757130

«Анализ точностных характеристик выведения РБ «Бриз-М» на отлетную траекто-рию при выведении КА «ЭкзоМарс-2016»»

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?noticeId=1537868

[owais.usmani]

With Falcon heavy coming online shortly, I'd be surprised if SES ever orders a Proton again.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Long serial number of the 8K82KM Proton-M is 6304287970

The last digit is an 8, not 0. That is, the number should be 6304287978.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Peter B. de Selding @pbdes
Industry official: Proton on-pad problem today is electronic gyro that will be replaced, no more than 2-wk delay in launch of SES Astra 2G.

Hmm? Does that mean that this will launch before Christmas instead of Yamal-401? Note also that ILS hasn't replaced their mission status page with Yamal-401 either... 

[russianhalo117]

Peter B. de Selding @pbdes
Industry official: Proton on-pad problem today is electronic gyro that will be replaced, no more than 2-wk delay in launch of SES Astra 2G.

Hmm? Does that mean that this will launch before Christmas instead of Yamal-401? Note also that ILS hasn't replaced their mission status page with Yamal-401 either... 

Lets hope it is replaced in correct orientation.

[input~2]

Astra-2G new launch date: December 28
Yamal-401 new launch date: December 16
("according to a source in Baikonur" - RIA Novosti)
http://ria.ru/space/20141128/1035689675.html
http://lenta.ru/news/2014/11/28/delaying/

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch time is 00:37 UTC on December 28 according to http://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=360870.

[input~2]

Launch time could be on December 27 around 2130UTC according to NOTAM

P8806/14 -  FLW ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD: A814 ARNUL - ADOBA, B206 ARNUL - AKTAS, G489 TELRU - AKTAS. SFC - UNL, DAILY 2125-2210, 27 DEC 21:25 2014 UNTIL 28 DEC 22:10 2014. CREATED: 20 DEC 10:45 2014

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch time could be on December 27 around 2130UTC according to NOTAM

P8806/14 -  FLW ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD: A814 ARNUL - ADOBA, B206 ARNUL - AKTAS, G489 TELRU - AKTAS. SFC - UNL, DAILY 2125-2210, 27 DEC 21:25 2014 UNTIL 28 DEC 22:10 2014. CREATED: 20 DEC 10:45 2014

Yup.

December 28 – Astra 2G – Proton-M/Briz-M – Baikonur 200/39 00:37

"Launch is now December 27 at 16:37:49 EST; 21:37:49 GMT/UTC;
Broadcast will begin at 16:15 EST; 21:15 GMT/UTC"
according to : http://astra2g.imgondemand.com/

[Satori]

Launch information from Khrunichev, http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=681

[Chris Bergin]

 

MEDIA ADVISORY:  ILS PROTON TO LAUNCH ASTRA 2G

 

Payload:                               

ASTRA 2G communications satellite

Eurostar E3000 Platform

Separated spacecraft mass: ~6,020 kg

 

Launch Vehicle:                   
Proton M/Breeze M

705,000 kg (1,554,000 lb), including payload
58.2 m (191ft)

 

Launch Date:                       
December 28, 2014

 

Launch Time:                       

03:37:49 Baikonur

00:37:49 Moscow

22:37:49 Luxembourg and CET (27 Dec)
21:37:49 GMT (27 Dec)
16:37:49 EST (27 Dec)

 

Launch Site:                         

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Launch Pad 39

 

Launch Customer:               

SES, Luxembourg

 

Satellite Manufacturer:       

Airbus Defence and Space

 

Launch Vehicle Manufacturer:       

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center,

Russia

 

Launch Services                 

Provider:                               

International Launch Services, USA

 

Satellite Use:                       
ASTRA 2G is the third spacecraft of a three satellite investment program (ASTRA 2E, 2F, and 2G) that SES contracted with Airbus Defence and Space in order to provide replacement as well as incremental satellite capacity in the orbital arc of 28.2/28.5 degrees East. ASTRA 2G carries 62 Ku-band transponders as well as 4 Ka-band transponders. The different beams provide wide coverage over the UK and Ireland, Europe and West Africa.

The ASTRA 2G satellite will also support SATMED, an e-health platform conceived by SES and supported by the Luxembourg Government and the Ministry for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action is a satellite based communication solution aimed to improve public health in emerging and developing countries.

 

Satellite Statistics:

__62 Ku-band transponders

__4 Ka-band transponders, including 1 interconnect

__Planned orbital location: 28.2/28.5 degrees East longitude
__Anticipated service life: 15 years

Mission Profile:

The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from

Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the ASTRA 2G 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 ASTRA 2G 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 geosynchronous  transfer orbit. Separation

of the ASTRA 2G satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after

liftoff.

Target Orbit at Separation:

Perigee: 4,163 km

Apogee: 35,736 km

Inclination: 23.0 degrees

 

Spacecraft Separation:       

Approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff

 

ILS Mission Statistics:       

_8th Proton launch in 2014

_3rd ILS Proton launch in 2014

_87th ILS Proton Launch Overall

_24th SES Satellite Launched on ILS Proton

_18th Airbus Defence and Space Satellite Launched on ILS Proton

 

Live Broadcast:                   

The live launch broadcast will begin approximately 20 minutes before lift-off.

 

LAUNCH – December 27th, 2014

Baikonur to Washington Eutelsat 10A will begin at 15:45 EST/20:45 GMT

Live test for Europe will begin at 15:45 EST/20:45 GMT

Live Broadcast starting at 16:15 EST/21:15 GMT

Launch is scheduled for 16:37/21:37 GMT

Launch Broadcast concludes at 17:00 EST/22:00 GMT 15 December (approx. out 15 minutes)

 

BAIKONUR TO WASHINGTON KHRUNICHEV U/L (HD) 14/079001/01

EUTELSAT 10A  10 deg East TXP B3 CHANNEL 12MHZ SLOT 3E12

            UPLINK FREQ.: 14369 MHZ POL Y

            DOWNLINK FR.: 11069 MHZ POL X

            HD 1080i 50Hz DVBS2 8PSK 9.875Ms/s FEC 3/4,

            P RoF 0.2 (MPEG4/H.264 420 21.503 Mbps)

AUDIO:1     SOUND MONO

AUDIO:2     SOUND MONO

 

IN Baikonur and Europe, THE LAUNCH BROADCAST WILL BE SEEN ON THE FOLLOWING (HD) (conf. 14/005851/01)

EBU REF 14/079002/03

EUTELSAT 7B  7 deg East TXP B1 CHANNEL 12MHZ SLOT 1E12

            UPLINK FREQ.: 14285.5 MHZ POL Y BY FFTM DEARD UP1

            DOWNLINK FR.: 10985.5 MHZ POL X

            HD 1080i 50Hz DVB-S2 8PSK 9.875 Ms/s FEC 3/4,

             Pilot:on Roll-off 0.20 (MPEG4/H.264 4:2:0 21.503 Mbps)

AUDIO:1     SOUND MONO

AUDIO:2     SOUND MONO

 

Webcast stream seen can be seen at:   

http://astra2g.imgondemand.com/

More Information:   

Live streaming will begin approximately 10 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.         

[input~2]

NOTAM for 1st stage debris
K1738/14 -  ATS ROUTE SEGMENTS CLSD: 1.A113 TIROK-GISIR FM 25 TO 65 KM 2.B822 BETIK-LUGER FM 100 TO 135 KM SFC/UNL. 27 DEC 21:25 2014 UNTIL 27 DEC 22:10 2014. CREATED: 23 DEC 17:43 2014

[Artyom.]

The launcher was transported to the launch pad (again  ).

http://www.federalspace.ru/21213/ (in Russian)

[Artyom.]

[Chris Bergin]

Moved for live coverage.

[Artyom.]

GO for fuelling!

http://www.federalspace.ru/21221/

[Mapperuo]

Sneaky live shot from satellite.

[Mapperuo]

The gantry is rolling away now.

[Phillip Clark]

Is there a web link for the video you are seeing please?

[Mapperuo]

Afraid not Phillip, Watching it via Astra 4A which Roscosmos use all the time.


Gantry is now fully out of shot.

[Phillip Clark]

OK, no problem.   I am making do with ILS glorifying themselves.

[Chris Bergin]

Webcast will be here:
http://astra2g.imgondemand.com/

Currently playing elevator music.

[Mapperuo]

Several busses and vans are currently leaving the launch pad.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Good evening/morning everyone!. Some funky Jazz from ILS.

ILS coverage has begun.

[Chris Bergin]

And we're live!

[Chris Bergin]

[Steven Pietrobon]

Tom Carroll new presenter. Also known as "TC".

-3 to -5 C.
Winds from east.

[Chris Bergin]

Interesting overview: Harsh upper level winds are the only thing that can stop a Proton launching.

[Satori]

15 minutes for launch...

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-15 minutes.

Talking about Angara,

[belegor]

8th ILS Proton of 2014? Is my count (way) off, or theirs?

[Steven Pietrobon]

Five burn Briz-M profile.

Parking orbit of 55.15 degrees.

[Satori]

10 minutes for launch...

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-10 minutes.

Liftoff is at 2137:49 UTC.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-9 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-8 minutes.

[Prober]

-8min
another long day for this one...

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-7 minutes. Talking about Satmed.

[Satori]

5 minutes for launch...

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-6 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-5 minutes. Showing satellite construction.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-4 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-3 minutes.

[Satori]

60 seconds...

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-2 minutes.

[Chris Bergin]

T-60 seconds!

[Steven Pietrobon]

L-1 minute.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Liftoff!

[Chris Bergin]

LAUNCH!!

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+1 minute.

[Chris Bergin]

Wow. That was a bit sporty!

[Chris Bergin]

[Prober]

Launch.....

[Chris Bergin]

Staging.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Second stage ignition!

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+3 minutes.

[Prober]

my heart skipped a beat...looked like the 2nd stage hung on a sec
 

nice short piece...

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+4 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+5 minutes. Talking about Baikonur.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

http://www.space-center.ru/LiveEvents.aspx reports nominal 2-3 stage separation and payload fairing jettison.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+6 minutes. Recorded earlier. Talking about Astra 2G.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+7 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Payload fairing separation and third stage ignition confirmed.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+9 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+10 minutes.

Protons rolled out at 6:30 am.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Good 3rd stage shutdown and separation.

[Satori]

Briz-M / Astra-2G separated from the 3rd stage...

[Steven Pietrobon]

Briz-M separation.

[Satori]

First Briz-M ignition...

[Steven Pietrobon]

Animation of Briz-M ignition.

[Steven Pietrobon]

"For me, the last international launch campaign."

[Steven Pietrobon]

Briz-M ignition confirmed.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Missed his name. Has a French accent. From SES I believe.

[Satori]

End of first Briz-M ignition.

[Steven Pietrobon]

L+17 minutes.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Briz-M first burn has completed.

[Chris Bergin]

So far so good! Thanks for the coverage guys!

[Steven Pietrobon]

Broadcast is ending.

[Satori]

Remember this is a 9 hour 12 minutes long mission.

Next Briz-M ignition will take place from 2245:22UTC to 2303:04UTC.

Third Briz-M ignition will take place from 0106:01UTC to 0117:30UTC (December 28).

APT sep will take place at 0118:20UTC.

Fourth Briz-M ignition will take place from 0119:47UTC to 0125:40UTC.

Fifth Briz-M ignition will take place from 0630:57UTC to 0637:12UTC.

Astra-2G sep is schedule for 0649:49UTC.

[Steven Pietrobon]

End of Broadcast.

Congratulations to ILS, Airbus and SES for a successful LEO insertion! Best of luck for the remaining burns.

[Mapperuo]

[Satori]

Exact launch time was 2137:48.941UTC

[Lee Jay]

The first stage was intermittently visible for a very long time after 1-2 sep.  What was illuminating it to make it visible?

[Satori]

The first stage was intermittently visible for a very long time after 1-2 sep.  What was illuminating it to make it visible?

Residual combustion from the hipergolic propellants (?)

[Satori]

Second Briz-M ignition confirmed.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Briz-M 3rd & 4th burns seems to have occurred as planned.

[input~2]

Event                             Nominal    TM    Deviation, s.
Separation of Upper Unit    582          582       0
1st Briz-M firing starts        676         676       0
1st Briz-M firing stops        947         940      -7
2nd Briz-M firing starts      4053      4053       0
2nd Briz-M firing stops      5117       5099    -18
3rd Briz-M firing starts    12492      12492     0
3rd Briz-M firing stops    13181       13177    -4
Separation APT              13231       13227    -4
4th Briz-M firing starts    13318       13318    0
4th Briz-M firing stops    13671       13666    -5

[input~2]

The Briz-M auxiliary propellant tank (APT) has already been catalogued by USSTRATCOM
2014-089C/40366 in 332 x 15152 km x 49.55° Arg. perigee: 352.67°

The planned orbit was: 333 x 15211 km x 49.6° Arg. perigee: 353°

[input~2]

- First stage drop zone
- Second stage and fairing sections drop zones
- Illustration of APT after separation

(source: Khrunichev)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Briz-M 5th burn started on time.

[input~2]

5th Briz-M performed OK
(started on time, finished 1s early)

S/C separation expected at 0649:49UTC

[input~2]

S/C separation achieved ontime!

[owais.usmani]

MISSION SUCCESS!

http://www.ilslaunch.com/mission-control/mission-blog/astra-2g-mission-success

December 28, 2014 1:54 am (GMT)
ILS Communications Team
We have had a successful mission with the Proton M Breeze M rocket, carrying the Astra 2G satellite built by Airbus. We have confirmation that the satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 1:49 a.m. EST, or 06:49 GMT, approximately 9 hours and 12 minutes after liftoff.
Everything occurred as planned with ignition, shutdown and separation of the Proton’s first three stages. Then the Breeze M upper stage with the satellite continued the mission, igniting five times, and then releasing the satellite into transfer orbit.

[Artyom.]

My congratulations!

[owais.usmani]

ILS PROTON SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES THE ASTRA 2G SATELLITE FOR SES

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, December 28, 2014 – International Launch Services (ILS), a leader in providing mission integration and launch services to the global commercial satellite industry, successfully placed the Astra 2G satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) today for SES of Luxembourg. SES is a world-leading satellite operator, providing satellite communications solutions to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers worldwide. This was the 8th Proton launch of the year and the 3rd ILS mission for 2014.

The ASTRA 2G satellite launched onboard an ILS Proton at 3:37 a.m. today local time, from Baikonur Cosmodrome (4:37 p.m. on December 27 EST, 21:37 GMT and 22:37 CET).  The Proton M launch vehicle, utilized a 5-burn Breeze M mission design. The first three stages of the ILS Proton vehicle used a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the ASTRA 2G satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory.  The Breeze M then performed planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then into an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to GTO. Successful separation of the ASTRA 2G satellite occurred approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff.

The satellite was built by Airbus Defence and Space on the highly reliable Eurostar E3000 platform.  This was the 24th SES satellite and the 18th Airbus satellite launched onboard an ILS Proton. Weighing nearly 6 metric tons at liftoff, ASTRA 2G is the third spacecraft of a three satellite investment program (ASTRA 2E, ASTRA 2F, ASTRA 2G) that provides replacement as well as incremental satellite capacity in the orbital arc of 28.2/28.5 degrees East. ASTRA 2G carries 62 Ku-band transponders as well as 4 Ka-band transponders. The different beams will provide coverage over the UK and Ireland, Europe and West Africa. The satellite will also support SATMED, a satellite based e-health platform, conceived by SES and supported by the Luxembourg Government and the Ministry for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action to improve public health in emerging and developing countries.

ILS President Phil Slack said, “It is an honor to launch our 24th mission for our longstanding customer SES. From our very first ILS Proton mission with SES’s Astra 2F in 1996 to today’s launch, we are pleased to enable the growth of industry innovator, SES for eighteen years. The teams at SES, Airbus Defence and Space, Khrunichev and ILS are to be commended for their tireless efforts and dedication to the success of the mission.”

“ILS Proton has now launched nearly half of our operational fleet,” said Martin Halliwell, Chief Technology Officer of SES. “ASTRA 2G will enhance and secure existing offerings to major direct-to-home (DTH) markets in the UK and Ireland, while meeting the requirements of some of the largest DTH broadcasters in Europe. Its Ka-band capabilities will be a critical communication link between West Africa and Europe. We thank all of the teams for their work on this important mission.”

The ASTRA 2G launch also marked the 401st launch for Proton since its maiden flight in 1965 and the 87th ILS Proton Launch overall. The Proton M Breeze M vehicle is developed and built by Khrunichev Research and Production Space Center of Moscow, Russia’s premier space industry manufacturer and majority shareholder in ILS.

http://www.ilslaunch.com/newsroom/news-releases/ils-proton-successfully-launches-astra-2g-satellite-ses

[Artyom.]

Roscosmos photos of the launch:

[baldusi]

Congratulations to ILS, Krunishev, range, processing, Airbus and all the people who made this possible.

[Satori]

Excat time of spacecraft separation was 0649:49.229UTC

[input~2]

Astra-2G's observed injection orbit by USSTRATCOM:
4139 x 35748 km @ 22.95° Arg perigee: 359.97°  (2014-089A/40364)

Planned injection orbit was:
4163 x 35736 km @23°  Arg. perigee: 0°

Briz-M, after final 2 orbital maneuvers, observed in:
3488 x 33807 [email protected]° (2014-089B/40365)

[Artyom.]

Roscosmos video of the launch

[youtube]gzPSof9tVho[/youtube]

[Artyom.]

Just a few high-res photos  .

Happy New Year!

[Lewis007]

Airbus Defence and Space has successfully completed the initial in-orbit testing of ASTRA 2G and has handed over the control of the satellite to SES who will now validate the performance of its communications payload.

The ASTRA 2G telecommunications satellite was launched by an ILS Proton Breeze M launcher from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on 27 December 2014 at 21:24 GMT. Launch and Early Orbit Phase operations have been conducted from the Airbus Defence and Space spacecraft control centre in Toulouse. A series of manoeuvres enabled the satellite to reach geostationary orbit on 2 January, the solar arrays and antenna reflectors have been successfully deployed and the satellite has acquired final Earth pointing. All spacecraft functions are performing as expected.

See: http://airbusdefenceandspace.com/astra-2g-satellite-to-provide-next-generation-services-ready-in-orbit/