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

[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/