Author Topic: Soyuz-STB/Fregat-M (VS21) - OneWeb (x6) - (21:37 UTC) February 27, 2019 (Read 42473 times)

zubenelgenubi · « **on:** 01/10/2019 06:58 am »

This is the launch thread for the "OneWeb Pilot" launch of the first satellites of the OneWeb constellation.

A great thread about the news of and discussion about the OneWeb constellation is here:
OneWeb constellation (+900 sats) to be built by Airbus

SFN Launch Schedule, updated January 9, lists the launch time on February 19 as:
Approximately 21:30 UTC = 6:30 p.m. GFT (local time)
***

Quote from: Olaf on 01/10/2019 09:56 am

https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/1082926446945988608
<snip>

Which is the correct number of OneWeb satellites on this launch: 1, 4, 6, or 10? I've read of all these possibilities, in separate sources, in recent months.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #1 on:** 01/16/2019 04:15 pm »

OneWeb Pilot launch on February 19, at 21:37 UTC.
https://www.urdupoint.com/en/technology/russia-to-carry-out-countrys-1st-space-launc-529112.html

(I checked the Sputnik International web site and found no corresponding article.)

Thanks, Salo!

PM3 · « **Reply #2 on:** 01/17/2019 12:05 am »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 01/10/2019 06:58 am

Which is the correct number of OneWeb satellites on this launch: 1, 4, 6, or 10? I've read of all these possibilities, in separate sources, in recent months.

The number 1 may originate from an Anatoly Zak typo: "... launch a OneWeb Pilot Internet communications satellite ...", but then only plural "satellites" in the following sentences, and no indication that the number shrunk when relocating to CSG. There is not much sense in launching just one Satellite as the pilot of a constellation.

The number 10 is rather old, e.g. Spaceflight Now published it in August 2018.

Sputnik news wrote "from four to six" just three weeks ago. It's also more likely that there is a delay in satellite production than a speedup. So my bet is on 4-6.

anik · « **Reply #3 on:** 01/17/2019 11:49 am »

Six satellites and four mockups.

PM3 · « **Reply #4 on:** 01/17/2019 12:10 pm »

Quote from: anik on 01/17/2019 11:49 am

Six satellites and four mockups.

Your guess, or is there a source?

anik · « **Reply #5 on:** 01/17/2019 01:21 pm »

Quote from: PM3 on 01/17/2019 12:10 pm

Your guess, or is there a source?

https://ria.ru/20190116/1549426711.html

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #6 on:** 01/17/2019 04:21 pm »

Will the four mock-ups remained attached to the payload dispenser, or will they be released like the "real" satellites?

Sam Ho · « **Reply #7 on:** 01/18/2019 01:48 am »

Quote from: zubenelgenubi on 01/17/2019 04:21 pm

Will the four mock-ups remained attached to the payload dispenser, or will they be released like the "real" satellites?

Good orbital debris mitigation practice says you don't deploy them.

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #8 on:** 01/18/2019 10:52 pm »

Provide they are on the lower dispenser and spread equally then they can function as ballast.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #9 on:** 01/19/2019 01:28 am »

Quote from: anik on 01/17/2019 01:21 pm

Quote from: PM3 on 01/17/2019 12:10 pm
Your guess, or is there a source?
https://ria.ru/20190116/1549426711.html

The relevant paragraph (Bing translation). The first Russian launch is 4th quarter 2919.

"The first six OneWeb communication satellites will be delivered to the Kourou Cosmodrome on January 22 to launch the Soyuz-STB missile with the "Fregat-M" booster, which is planned for February 20 ", the interlocutor of the agency said. According to him, it was originally planned to launch 10 OneWeb satellites on the rocket Soyuz, but later the British company decided to reduce this number to six. The source noted that the missing four devices will replace the layouts. "In principle, it is enough to run only four satellites to check the correctness of technical solutions," he explained. Earlier, the company Arianespace reported that launches of the British communications satellites OneWeb "Soyuz" from the Cosmodrome Baikonur will begin in the fourth quarter of the 2019 year."

GWR64 · « **Reply #10 on:** 01/22/2019 08:17 pm »

https://twitter.com/greg_wyler/status/1087766477275627520

Quote

Greg Wyler
‏ @greg_wyler

The first batch of satellites left the factory last night, and arrived this morning in French Guiana. Soon to be integrated on the dispenser.

and these are the six chosen, four stay at home, as a reserve

https://twitter.com/greg_wyler/status/1087474937315635201

https://twitter.com/greg_wyler/status/1086284451087351809

GWR64 · « **Reply #11 on:** 01/22/2019 08:26 pm »

Quote from: Steven Pietrobon on 01/19/2019 01:28 am

Quote from: anik on 01/17/2019 01:21 pm
Quote from: PM3 on 01/17/2019 12:10 pm
Your guess, or is there a source?
https://ria.ru/20190116/1549426711.html

The relevant paragraph (Bing translation). The first Russian launch is 4th quarter 2919.

"The first six OneWeb communication satellites will be delivered to the Kourou Cosmodrome on January 22 to launch the Soyuz-STB missile with the "Fregat-M" booster, which is planned for February 20 ", the interlocutor of the agency said. ...

Fregat-M, that was to suspect, for LEO makes the Fregat-MT probably little sense

Lewis007 · « **Reply #12 on:** 01/26/2019 05:56 am »

Stephane Israël tweet about sat arrival in French Gyuana

https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/1088824405982134273

Salo · « **Reply #13 on:** 01/29/2019 09:07 pm »

https://ria.ru/20190130/1550103248.html
Google translate:

Quote

The seam rupture of the helium supply pipeline to the fuel tanks of the Fregat upper stage, which is to put the first test satellites of the British OneWeb system into orbit, was detected during the pre-launch preparation at the Kourou space center (French Guiana), several sources in the rocket and space industry told RIA Novosti.

Steven Pietrobon · « **Reply #14 on:** 01/30/2019 05:01 am »

Looks like that dispenser can carry up to 32 satellites. There are four rows, with each row having eight satellites. Looks like two dummy satellites or mass simulators are attached on the bottom row.

Salo · « **Reply #15 on:** 01/30/2019 07:36 am »

Quote from: Salo on 01/29/2019 09:07 pm

https://ria.ru/20190130/1550103248.html
Google translate:
Quote
The seam rupture of the helium supply pipeline to the fuel tanks of the Fregat upper stage, which is to put the first test satellites of the British OneWeb system into orbit, was detected during the pre-launch preparation at the Kourou space center (French Guiana), several sources in the rocket and space industry told RIA Novosti.

https://ria.ru/20190130/1550117048.html
Google translate:

Quote

MOSCOW, Jan. 30 - RIA News. Preparations for the launch of OneWeb satellites from the Kourou cosmodrome are proceeding normally, and the detected deviations are eliminated before the launch, the press service of Roscosmos told RIA Novosti.

SciNews · « **Reply #16 on:** 01/30/2019 01:54 pm »

TASS: Russia continues work to launch rocket with OneWeb satellites from Kourou

Quote

The preparations for the launch of a Soyuz carrier rocket from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana to deliver OneWeb satellites into orbit are proceeding in a normal regime, Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos told TASS on Wednesday.
"Nothing has happened and the preparations are proceeding in a normal regime in accordance with the stipulated procedure," the Roscosmos press office said, responding to a question about a fault found in the Fregat booster.
As Roscosmos explained, "checks always reveal something and this is why multi-stage inspections are needed."

http://tass.com/science/1042407

Satori · « **Reply #17 on:** 01/31/2019 12:52 am »

Do we have the launcher serial numbers?

Salo · « **Reply #18 on:** 01/31/2019 06:10 am »

https://twitter.com/OneWeb/status/1090739699499655169

Salo · « **Reply #19 on:** 01/31/2019 06:13 am »

https://twitter.com/greg_wyler/status/1090777549548998658