Author Topic: LIVE: Proton-M/Briz-M launch with Inmarsat 5-F2 - February 1, 2015 (1231UTC) (Read 54396 times)

Adonis1 · « **on:** 12/22/2014 04:15 pm »

Inmarsat-5 F-2 arrives at Kazakhstan launch site.

thedigitalship.com

Satori · « **Reply #1 on:** 01/06/2015 03:16 pm »

Launch time is 1231UTC.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #2 on:** 01/06/2015 03:51 pm »

Quote from: Satori on 01/06/2015 03:16 pm

Launch time is 1231UTC.

That makes it 4 launches in 36 hours, all with live coverage (and 1 of them is good old ~~GoreSat~~ DSCOVR and NASA's SMAP is another one)!

baldusi · « **Reply #3 on:** 01/10/2015 02:28 pm »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 01/06/2015 03:51 pm

Quote from: Satori on 01/06/2015 03:16 pm
Launch time is 1231UTC.

That makes it 4 launches in 36 hours, all with live coverage (and 1 of them is good old ~~GoreSat~~ DSCOVR and NASA's SMAP is another one)!

I wouldn't worry much. Best way to make sure for different launch slots is to schedule all at the same time (ISS planning team does this all the time). Of course, that at T-20days, the drifts are a much smaller possibility.

Stan Black · « **Reply #4 on:** 01/12/2015 07:01 pm »

Mission overview
http://www.ilslaunch.com/sites/default/files/I5F2MO.pdf

Satori · « **Reply #5 on:** 01/14/2015 04:00 pm »

From ILS Campaign Progress blog...

Since SC arrival the team has been meticulously hard at work pulling many long hours to ensure that our t’s are crossed and I’s are dotted as we progress through numerous testing operations of both the SC, LV, Breeze-M, PLF and PLA respectively. All energies exerted have been rewarded with positive results.

This week our respective teams have been diligently working on preparations for SC fueling in Hall 103A, electrical testing of the Breeze-M located in Hall 101; pneumatic testing of the Launch Vehicle (rocket) in Hall 111. Both the payload fairing and payload adapter are in Hall 101 ready for joint operations to begin. A true hive of activity on every front!

Artyom. · « **Reply #6 on:** 01/16/2015 07:04 am »

The launch postponed to 1^st February.

http://itar-tass.com/kosmos/1701238 (in Russian).

P.S. Roscosmos confirmed this information.

Satori · « **Reply #7 on:** 01/20/2015 02:53 pm »

Work continues at the Baikonur Cosmodrome to prepare for the launch of Inmarsat-5 F2.

The satellite was attached to the Briz-M upper stage and then translated to the horizontal position for further testing.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/21253/ (in Russian)

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #8 on:** 01/22/2015 09:30 am »

Inmarsat confirms launch date for 2nd Global Xpress satellite

Global Xpress will deliver superfast connectivity to the remotest regions in the world – providing up to 100X faster broadband speeds on land, at sea and in the air.

22 January 2015 – Inmarsat (LSE:ISAT.L), will complete another significant milestone in the delivery of its transformational Global Xpress (GX) service with the scheduled launch of Inmarsat-5 F2 (I-5 F2) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12.31pm (GMT) on Sunday 1st February.

Inmarsat is investing US$1.6bn in the delivery of Global Xpress, which will create the world’s first globally available, high-speed mobile broadband service, delivered through a single network operator.

Inmarsat’s 5th generation satellites – which form the GX network – have all been built by Boeing Satellite Systems International Inc. (“Boeing”) in California. The launch is being undertaken for Inmarsat by International Launch Services (ILS) using a Proton launch vehicle.

Global Xpress will deliver broadband speeds more than 100 times faster than the company’s fourth generation (I-4) constellation. It will offer new opportunities for end-users, in both the public and private sectors, to significantly enhance their connectivity and to access bandwidth-hungry applications, even in the remotest and most inaccessible regions of the world.

The first Global Xpress satellite – Inmarsat-5 F1 – was launched in December 2013 and entered regional commercial service in July 2014, covering Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Inmarsat-5 F2, scheduled for launch on 1st February, will provide superfast broadband Global Xpress or ‘GX’ services covering the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean.

Following the launch of the third Global Xpress satellite – Inmarsat-5 F3 – which is scheduled for early Q2 2015, Inmarsat is planning to commence global commercial GX services early in the second half of the year. The new network, which complements Inmarsat’s existing fleet of L-band communication satellites, will deliver seamless, superfast mobile broadband services across the planet.

Rupert Pearce, CEO of Inmarsat, said: “Global Xpress is a truly transformational technology and, as we complete its global roll-out, 2015 promises to be one of the most significant chapters in our company’s history.

“Through Global Xpress, the world can move forward from the ‘Internet of Everything’ to the ‘Internet of Everywhere’, in which high-speed, reliable and secure connectivity is available anywhere and at any time – even in the most inaccessible regions – for customers on the move or to fixed locations. We believe that our new global network will power innovation, support economic development and help transform social services, from education to healthcare, in regions not adequately served – or not served at all – by terrestrial networks.”

Each of the three satellites in the initial GX fleet has 89 beams and six steerable high-power spot beams for multi-regional coverage. The GX satellite weighs 6100kg at launch with a wing-span wider than a Boeing 737. All three have a design life of 15 years.

The I-5 F2 will be launched by ILS on-board a Proton Breeze M rocket.

For further information
Jonathan Sinnatt
Director of Corporate Communications
[email protected]
+44 (0)20 7728 1935 Katie Potts
Corporate Communications Manager
[email protected]
+44 (0)20 7728 1492

About Inmarsat

Inmarsat plc is the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. Since 1979, Inmarsat has been providing reliable voice and high-speed data communications to governments, enterprises and other organizations, with a range of services that can be used on land, at sea or in the air. Inmarsat employs around 1,600 staff in more than 60 locations around the world, with a presence in the major ports and centres of commerce on every continent. Inmarsat is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE:ISAT.L).

The Inmarsat press release newsfeed and corporate updates are on @InmarsatGlobal.

http://www.inmarsat.com/press-release/inmarsat-confirms-launch-date-2nd-global-xpress-satellite/

Lewis007 · « **Reply #9 on:** 01/23/2015 08:25 am »

Khrunichev has posted some pics of the mating with the Briz-M upper stage, followed by encapsulation.
http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=325

Stan Black · « **Reply #10 on:** 01/23/2015 12:07 pm »

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

Quote

РКН: КА «Инмарсат-5Ф2», 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

Quote

Launch: satellite Inmarsat-5F2, 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

Artyom. · « **Reply #11 on:** 01/27/2015 08:05 am »

Proton-M / Inmarsat 5F2: ground processing proceeding on schedule

The Inmarsat 5F2 spacecraft is scheduled for launch from Baikonur on 01 February. The spacecraft (SC) liftoff mass is approximately 6MT. This will be the first Proton launch in 2015.

Ground processing for the upcoming launch is proceeding on schedule.

ILV assembly and testing at the 92-A50 Integration/Testing Facility were completed yesterday.

This morning, the Integrated Launch Vehicle (ILV) (i.e., the Proton-M launch vehicle + the Ascent Unit comprising Breeze-M Upper Stage and the Inmarsat 5F2 SC) was transferred to the fueling area.

It will take two days for the Breeze-M Upper Stage low-pressure tanks to be fueled, marking the concluding operations prior to the rollout of the rocket from the Technical to the Launch Complex.

The Proton-M ILV launch-readiness status will be ascertained by the State Commission.

http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=1&nid=982

Satori · « **Reply #12 on:** 01/27/2015 11:11 am »

Images from Khrunichev...

Artyom. · « **Reply #13 on:** 01/28/2015 12:47 pm »

The State Commission decided to proceed with the transportation of the launcher to the launch pad.

http://www.federalspace.ru/21263/ (in Russian)

upd

And in English:

Quote

State Commission made the Decision to Roll-out LV Proton-M to the Launch Pad

Preparation for the launch of ILV Proton-M with the US Breeze-M and telecommunication satellite Inmarsat 5F2 continues on the Baikonur Cosmodrome at present.

The refueling of US tanks with propellant components was already finished.

At 03-00 p.m.(MT) the State commission made the decision about the readiness of ILV for rolling-out.
The ILV will be delivered to the launch pad (№200) at 3-30 a.m. (MT) on Jan 29 and works of the task-list of the first preparation day will be started.

The lift off ILV Proton-M is scheduled on Feb 1 at 03-31 p.m. (MT).

It will be the 402 launch of this kind of LV in it`s history.

http://en.federalspace.ru/20367/

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #14 on:** 01/29/2015 05:34 am »

Quote from: Artyom. on 01/28/2015 12:47 pm

The State Commission decided to proceed with the transportation of the launcher to the launch pad.

http://www.federalspace.ru/21263/ (in Russian)

upd

And in English:

Quote
State Commission made the Decision to Roll-out LV Proton-M to the Launch Pad

Preparation for the launch of ILV Proton-M with the US Breeze-M and telecommunication satellite Inmarsat 5F2 continues on the Baikonur Cosmodrome at present.

The refueling of US tanks with propellant components was already finished.

At 03-00 p.m.(MT) the State commission made the decision about the readiness of ILV for rolling-out.
The ILV will be delivered to the launch pad (№200) at 3-30 a.m. (MT) on Jan 29 and works of the task-list of the first preparation day will be started.

The lift off ILV Proton-M is scheduled on Feb 1 at 03-31 p.m. (MT).

It will be the 402 launch of this kind of LV in it`s history.

http://en.federalspace.ru/20367/

And the rocket has been moved to the launch pad: http://www.federalspace.ru/21265/

Artyom. · « **Reply #15 on:** 01/29/2015 10:16 am »

Photos of the roll out:

Artyom. · « **Reply #16 on:** 01/30/2015 08:02 am »

Launch information from Khrunichev:

http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=693

Artyom. · « **Reply #17 on:** 01/30/2015 08:29 am »

And video:

Stan Black · « **Reply #18 on:** 01/30/2015 08:34 am »

Quote from: Artyom. on 01/30/2015 08:29 am

And video:

Thank you.

Proton-M long serial number 5118287980.

Artyom. · « **Reply #19 on:** 01/30/2015 08:35 am »

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #20 on:** 01/31/2015 09:32 am »

Moved for live coverage.

(a little bit early because there are lots of launches these days)

Artyom. · « **Reply #21 on:** 02/01/2015 07:13 am »

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 - Roscosmos.

Artyom. · « **Reply #22 on:** 02/01/2015 09:22 am »

TsENKI webcast has started!

Satori · « **Reply #23 on:** 02/01/2015 10:32 am »

Less than one hour for launch and the service tower is being retracted for the launch position.

Satori · « **Reply #24 on:** 02/01/2015 10:39 am »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #25 on:** 02/01/2015 10:42 am »

Article for this one:
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/02/ils-proton-m-inmarsat-5-f-2-launch/

Satori · « **Reply #26 on:** 02/01/2015 10:55 am »

36 minutes for launch....

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #27 on:** 02/01/2015 11:03 am »

ILS have their upmarket supermarket music running!

Satori · « **Reply #28 on:** 02/01/2015 11:12 am »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #29 on:** 02/01/2015 11:16 am »

Here we go

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #30 on:** 02/01/2015 11:17 am »

Satori · « **Reply #31 on:** 02/01/2015 11:17 am »

14 minutes for launch...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #32 on:** 02/01/2015 11:17 am »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #33 on:** 02/01/2015 11:17 am »

Proton doesn't care about weather!

Satori · « **Reply #34 on:** 02/01/2015 11:18 am »

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #35 on:** 02/01/2015 11:22 am »

Liftoff will occur just a few minutes before sunset, so views should be spectacular!

Satori · « **Reply #36 on:** 02/01/2015 11:22 am »

Satori · « **Reply #37 on:** 02/01/2015 11:25 am »

7 minutes for launch... all looks ready for the first Proton launch of 2015!

Satori · « **Reply #38 on:** 02/01/2015 11:26 am »

5 minutes for launch...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #39 on:** 02/01/2015 11:27 am »

I like the idea of this system this satellite will be part of. Apparently it will be decent broadband, anywhere (which you can't even get via landline in the UK unless they've put fiber into the ground - which they haven't done much of in York.....I digress).

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #40 on:** 02/01/2015 11:27 am »

Satori · « **Reply #41 on:** 02/01/2015 11:27 am »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #42 on:** 02/01/2015 11:28 am »

That be London....skyline's really changed over recent years with all the new big buildings.

Satori · « **Reply #43 on:** 02/01/2015 11:28 am »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #44 on:** 02/01/2015 11:29 am »

Under three mins....

Satori · « **Reply #45 on:** 02/01/2015 11:29 am »

2 minutes for launch...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #46 on:** 02/01/2015 11:30 am »

T-60 seconds!

Satori · « **Reply #47 on:** 02/01/2015 11:30 am »

60 seconds...

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #48 on:** 02/01/2015 11:32 am »

LAUNCH!!!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #49 on:** 02/01/2015 11:32 am »

Satori · « **Reply #50 on:** 02/01/2015 11:33 am »

Launch!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #51 on:** 02/01/2015 11:33 am »

Good first stage flight.

Satori · « **Reply #52 on:** 02/01/2015 11:33 am »

Satori · « **Reply #53 on:** 02/01/2015 11:34 am »

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #54 on:** 02/01/2015 11:34 am »

Really can see the two stages during staging.

Satori · « **Reply #55 on:** 02/01/2015 11:34 am »

Staging!

Satori · « **Reply #56 on:** 02/01/2015 11:37 am »

Stage 2 / 3 sep...

Satori · « **Reply #57 on:** 02/01/2015 11:37 am »

Fairing sep!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #58 on:** 02/01/2015 11:39 am »

Satori · « **Reply #59 on:** 02/01/2015 11:41 am »

End of 3rd stage burn...

Satori · « **Reply #60 on:** 02/01/2015 11:42 am »

...and separation of the 3rd stage... now into Briz-M.

Satori · « **Reply #61 on:** 02/01/2015 11:43 am »

And first Briz-M burn started...

Mapperuo · « **Reply #62 on:** 02/01/2015 11:44 am »

Satori · « **Reply #63 on:** 02/01/2015 11:44 am »

Previous events

Satori · « **Reply #64 on:** 02/01/2015 11:45 am »

Actual location of Briz-M...

Satori · « **Reply #65 on:** 02/01/2015 11:49 am »

End of first Briz-M burn...

Satori · « **Reply #66 on:** 02/01/2015 11:51 am »

This is a 15 hour 31 minutes mission, so still a looooong way to go!

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #67 on:** 02/01/2015 11:54 am »

End of ILS webcast. So far so good!

Thanks as always to Rui!

Satori · « **Reply #68 on:** 02/01/2015 01:01 pm »

Launch images from Roscosmos

Satori · « **Reply #69 on:** 02/01/2015 01:05 pm »

Exact launch time was 1230:59.960UTC

Stan Black · « **Reply #70 on:** 02/01/2015 01:09 pm »

Quote from: Satori on 02/01/2015 11:49 am

End of first Briz-M burn...

http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/download/2015/is5f2/email/rus/is5f2_e03.htm

Artyom. · « **Reply #71 on:** 02/01/2015 01:13 pm »

Quote from: Satori on 02/01/2015 01:01 pm

Launch images from Roscosmos

This screenshots from the video

. Photos will be in a couple of hours.

Satori · « **Reply #72 on:** 02/01/2015 01:17 pm »

Quote from: Artyom. on 02/01/2015 01:13 pm

Quote from: Satori on 02/01/2015 01:01 pm
Launch images from Roscosmos
This screenshots from the video . Photos will be in a couple of hours.

Upsi! Yes, you are right!!!

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #73 on:** 02/01/2015 01:22 pm »

Briz-M 2nd burn started on time.

Artyom. · « **Reply #74 on:** 02/01/2015 01:25 pm »

Launch video:

[youtube]OOwD1O8LzKI[/youtube]

And from Khrunichev...

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #75 on:** 02/01/2015 01:43 pm »

Briz-M 2nd burn completed roughly on schedule.

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #76 on:** 02/01/2015 02:17 pm »

Hmm the data values for the Briz-M second burn were erased......

Edit: The previous values might be bogus since the burn was made over the western Pacific, probably out of stations range. Will need to wait till it reappears over Russian ground stations for new data to come in (right now it's over South America).

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #77 on:** 02/01/2015 03:13 pm »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 02/01/2015 02:17 pm

Hmm the data values for the Briz-M second burn were erased......

Edit: The previous values might be bogus since the burn was made over the western Pacific, probably out of stations range. Will need to wait till it reappears over Russian ground stations for new data to come in (right now it's over South America).

And it has just re-entered range of ground stations. The actual shut-down time for the 2nd burn is 12 seconds shorter, not 21 seconds as erroneously reported earlier, which means nominal performance.

3rd burn will start in 40 minutes from now.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #78 on:** 02/01/2015 03:19 pm »

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 02/01/2015 02:17 pm

Edit: The previous values might be bogus since the burn was made over the western Pacific, probably out of stations range. Will need to wait till it reappears over Russian ground stations for new data to come in (right now it's over South America).

Why hasn't the appropriate Russian organization invested in an overseas tracking station or stations to avoid extensive coverage gaps? Or re-invested in shipboard tracking stations? Or contracted the chore to a 3rd party? I know the Russian government was lacking funds 20 years ago, but not in recent years.

Or if not the Russian government, wouldn't it be in the interest of ILS to so invest just to support their Proton launches, given the substantial value of these Proton launches/year?

Will the Luch geostationary satellite system be used for tracking and data relay of launches in future, as TDRSS is today?

Curious,
Zubenelgenubi

Satori · « **Reply #79 on:** 02/01/2015 04:26 pm »

Into third Briz-M burn right on time.

Satori · « **Reply #80 on:** 02/01/2015 05:04 pm »

Third burn ended. Still waiting for data from ground stations.

input~2 · « **Reply #81 on:** 02/01/2015 05:09 pm »

Coverage of ground stations

patchfree · « **Reply #82 on:** 02/01/2015 05:12 pm »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/01/2015 03:19 pm

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 02/01/2015 02:17 pm
Edit: The previous values might be bogus since the burn was made over the western Pacific, probably out of stations range. Will need to wait till it reappears over Russian ground stations for new data to come in (right now it's over South America).

Why hasn't the appropriate Russian organization invested in an overseas tracking station or stations to avoid extensive coverage gaps? Or re-invested in shipboard tracking stations? Or contracted the chore to a 3rd party? I know the Russian government was lacking funds 20 years ago, but not in recent years.

Or if not the Russian government, wouldn't it be in the interest of ILS to so invest just to support their Proton launches, given the substantial value of these Proton launches/year?

Will the Luch geostationary satellite system be used for tracking and data relay of launches in future, as TDRSS is today?

Curious,
Zubenelgenubi

Whole tracking will be obtained through a network of 3 Relay (Luch) spacecrafts in the coming months. But space vehicules (launch vehicules and spacecrafts) have to be updated with new communication hardware.

Stan Black · « **Reply #83 on:** 02/01/2015 05:36 pm »

From the previous Inmarsat-5 thread:-

Quote from: input~2 on 12/08/2013 04:00 pm

We 'll now have a long loss of signal period which will end before 5th burn

Nicolas PILLET · « **Reply #84 on:** 02/01/2015 05:44 pm »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/01/2015 03:19 pm

Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 02/01/2015 02:17 pm
Edit: The previous values might be bogus since the burn was made over the western Pacific, probably out of stations range. Will need to wait till it reappears over Russian ground stations for new data to come in (right now it's over South America).

Why hasn't the appropriate Russian organization invested in an overseas tracking station or stations to avoid extensive coverage gaps? Or re-invested in shipboard tracking stations? Or contracted the chore to a 3rd party?

If you want to make a donation to Roscosmos for that, it will be greatly appreciated !

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #85 on:** 02/01/2015 08:49 pm »

Quote from: Nicolas PILLET on 02/01/2015 05:44 pm

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/01/2015 03:19 pm
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 02/01/2015 02:17 pm
Edit: The previous values might be bogus since the burn was made over the western Pacific, probably out of stations range. Will need to wait till it reappears over Russian ground stations for new data to come in (right now it's over South America).

Why hasn't the appropriate Russian organization invested in an overseas tracking station or stations to avoid extensive coverage gaps? Or re-invested in shipboard tracking stations? Or contracted the chore to a 3rd party?

If you want to make a donation to Roscosmos for that, it will be greatly appreciated !

Yes, as soon as the direct-deposit paying my "NSF consultant fee" clears. I am getting paid for all this, right?

Is Roscosmos a 501 c 3 approved charitable organization? You know, for justifying the charitable deduction on my income tax.

Stan Black · « **Reply #86 on:** 02/01/2015 09:04 pm »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/01/2015 08:49 pm

Quote from: Nicolas PILLET on 02/01/2015 05:44 pm
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/01/2015 03:19 pm
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 02/01/2015 02:17 pm
Edit: The previous values might be bogus since the burn was made over the western Pacific, probably out of stations range. Will need to wait till it reappears over Russian ground stations for new data to come in (right now it's over South America).

Why hasn't the appropriate Russian organization invested in an overseas tracking station or stations to avoid extensive coverage gaps? Or re-invested in shipboard tracking stations? Or contracted the chore to a 3rd party?

If you want to make a donation to Roscosmos for that, it will be greatly appreciated !

Yes, as soon as the direct-deposit paying my "NSF consultant fee" clears. I am getting paid for all this, right?

Is Roscosmos a 501 c 3 approved charitable organization? You know, for justifying the charitable deduction on my income tax.

It is curious that Energia covers gaps for it’s upper stage with mobile tracking stations?
http://www.energia.ru/eng/land-launch/scheme.html
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23142.msg734103#msg734103

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #87 on:** 02/01/2015 09:23 pm »

Quote from: Stan Black on 02/01/2015 09:04 pm

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/01/2015 08:49 pm
Quote from: Nicolas PILLET on 02/01/2015 05:44 pm
Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 02/01/2015 03:19 pm
Quote from: Galactic Penguin SST on 02/01/2015 02:17 pm
Edit: The previous values might be bogus since the burn was made over the western Pacific, probably out of stations range. Will need to wait till it reappears over Russian ground stations for new data to come in (right now it's over South America).

Why hasn't the appropriate Russian organization invested in an overseas tracking station or stations to avoid extensive coverage gaps? Or re-invested in shipboard tracking stations? Or contracted the chore to a 3rd party?

If you want to make a donation to Roscosmos for that, it will be greatly appreciated !

Yes, as soon as the direct-deposit paying my "NSF consultant fee" clears. I am getting paid for all this, right?

Is Roscosmos a 501 c 3 approved charitable organization? You know, for justifying the charitable deduction on my income tax.

It is curious that Energia covers gaps for it’s upper stage with mobile tracking stations?
http://www.energia.ru/eng/land-launch/scheme.html
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=23142.msg734103#msg734103

Yes, a Russian upper-stage burn over southern South America and the phrase "entrepreneurial Chilean" had stuck in my memory from somewhere, and that somewhere is the thread you referenced!
+1 Internets to you, Stan!

Quote from: Danderman on 11/03/2010 10:47 pm

Fregat doesn't have uplink command capability, so all a tracking ship could do is record telemetry if Fregat had a bad day in the southern hemisphere. That's probably not worth the cost, but if some entrepreneurial Chilean knew about this, they could set up some sort of remote station, and sell the data to the Russians.

And delayed-action +1 Internets to you, Danderman!

Zubenelgenubi

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #88 on:** 02/01/2015 10:39 pm »

Looks like the 3rd and 4th burns 6.5 hours ago went off OK...

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #89 on:** 02/02/2015 03:04 am »

Good 5th Briz-M burn and spacecraft separation!

input~2 · « **Reply #90 on:** 02/02/2015 03:09 am »

Separation occurred 19 seconds early

Artyom. · « **Reply #91 on:** 02/02/2015 05:50 am »

My congratulations!

owais.usmani · « **Reply #92 on:** 02/02/2015 06:16 am »

ILS PROTON SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES THE INMARSAT-5 F2 SATELLITE FOR INMARSAT; SECOND GLOBAL XPRESS®SATELLITE LAUNCH IN 3-CONSTELLATION SERIES

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, February 1, 2015 – An International Launch Services (ILS) Proton Breeze M successfully placed the Inmarsat-5 F2 (I-5 F2) satellite into a super-synchronous transfer orbit (SSTO) today. The spacecraft was launched for Inmarsat, the leading provider of global mobile satellite communications services. I-5 F2 is the second of three Inmarsat next-generation Global Xpress® satellites scheduled for launch on ILS Proton. This marks the first Proton launch of the year and the fourth SSTO mission for ILS, a leader in providing mission integration and launch services to the global commercial satellite industry.

The Proton launch vehicle, carrying the I-5 F2 satellite, lifted off from Pad 39 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome yesterday at 18:31 local time (12:31 GMT and 07:31 EST). The SSTO mission utilized a 5-burn Breeze M mission design 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 65,000 km-apogee super-synchronous transfer orbit. After a 15-hour, 31-minute mission, the satellite was placed into the target orbit by the Proton launcher. SSTO missions provide increased heavy-lift performance over GTO mission designs, allowing our customers the capability to maximize spacecraft operational lifetime.

The satellite was manufactured by Boeing Satellite Systems International and built on the reliable 702HP platform. Weighing over 6 metric tons at lift-off, the I-5 F2 satellite has 89 Ka-band fixed beams and 6 steerable ones. I-5 F2 is designed to generate approximately 15 kilowatts of power at the start of service and approximately 13.8 kilowatts at the end of its 15-year design life. To generate such high power, the spacecraft's two solar wings employ five panels of ultra-triple-junction solar cells.

Global Xpress will be the first globally available, high-speed broadband network, delivered through a single network operator. It will deliver broadband speeds more than 100 times faster than the company’s fourth generation (I-4) constellation while maintaining, the network reliability for which Inmarsat is renowned. Based on Ka-band technology, Global Xpress will offer new opportunities for end-users in both public and private sectors, to significantly enhance their connectivity and to access bandwidth-hungry applications, even in the most inaccessible regions of the world.

ILS President Phil Slack stated, “It is a true honor for ILS and Khrunichev to be entrusted with the launch of the Global Xpress network for industry innovator, Inmarsat. The Inmarsat-5 F2 launch will enable ground breaking satellite communications connectivity via land, sea and air, as part of the three-satellite system launched by ILS Proton. We thank the dedicated teams at Inmarsat, Boeing, Khrunichev and ILS for their successful work on the I-5 F2 mission and we are poised to support the next mission for Inmarsat with the I-5 F3 satellite.”
“Global Xpress is a truly transformational technology and, as we complete its global roll-out, 2015 promises to be one of the most significant chapters in our company’s history. Through Global Xpress, the world can move forward from the ‘Internet of Everything’ to the ‘Internet of Everywhere’, in which high-speed, reliable and secure connectivity is available anywhere and at any time – even in the most inaccessible regions – for customers on the move or to fixed locations,” said Rupert Pearce, CEO, Inmarsat. “I am grateful for the teams at Inmarsat and Boeing for their work on this program. We also thank our partners at ILS and Khrunichev for ensuring that this mission was successful. We look forward to the ILS Proton launch of I-5 F3 this year.”

The I-5 F2 launch marked the 402nd launch for Proton since its maiden flight in 1965 and the 88th ILS Proton Launch overall. This was also the 17th Boeing-built satellite launched on an ILS Proton and the 4th Inmarsat satellite launched on Proton 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-inmarsat-5-f2-satellite-inmarsat-second-glob