Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 10, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 10, 2015 Galileo 9 and 10, launch tonight.... The current Galileo satellites are built by Bremen-based OHB System as prime contractor, with their navigation payloads provided by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. UK, a 99%-owned subsidiary of Airbus Defence and Space. The two spacecraft to be orbited by Arianespace on Flight VS12 will be the fifth and sixth OHB-built satellites. Known specifications of Galileo FOC-M3 No. 9 and No. 10: Customer ESA (European Space Agency) Contractors OHB-System (satellite bus and a prime contractor) SSTL (payload) Total mass at lift-off 716 kilograms and 715 kilograms Dimensions 2.5 by 1.2 by 1.1 meters and 14,67 meters solar panels span when deployed in orbit Life span More than 12 years On-board power 1,420 Watts Navigation signal 3 bands (E5, E6 and E1) Additional payload COSPAS-SARSAT search and rescue transponder Launch profile Initial launch profile of the Soyuz-ST rocket (mission VS 12) with Galileo FOC-M3 satellites in September 2015. Credit: Arianespace Mission profile of the Soyuz-ST rocket (mission VS12) with Galileo FOC M3 satellites in September 2015. Credit: Arianespace Seventh Galileo mission (VS 12) in September 2015 The liftoff of the Soyuz-ST-B rocket from the ELS pad near Kourou, French Guiana, is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2015, at 11:08:10 p.m. local time in French Guiana (10:08 p.m. EST). (It will be September 11, 02:08 GMT and 06:08 Moscow Time.) The 12th Soyuz launch from Guiana (under designation VS12) will carry a total of 1,601 kilograms of payload, including a pair of 716-/715-kilogram Galileo FOC M3 satellites and a dispencer built by RUAG Space. Flight profile According to Arianespace, which manages this mission for the European Space Agency, the powered phase of the first, secondand third stages on Soyuz was to last about nine minutes. The third stage of the launcher will then be separated from the upper composite, comprising the Fregat upper stage and the two satellites. The three lower stages and the fairing will fall back into the sea. After a first burn, the upper composite is spinned during a ballistic phase lasting about three hours and 15 minutes. Then, Fregat will ignite its own engine to bring the upper composite to an orbit over the Earth. At a pre-determined point of this orbit, Fregat will ignite a second burn lasting four minutes to reach the circular orbit of separation. At the end of the mission, the Fregat upper stage will be deactivated. The entire orbital insertion process is expected to conclude three hours, 47 minutes after the liftoff with the release of the satellites into a 23,522-kilometer orbit with an inclination 57.394 degrees toward the Equator. The satellites will later use their own propulsion system to lower their altitude in order to enter their operational orbit in the orbital plane A of the Galileo constellation. Galileo FOC-M3 launch sequence on Sept. 10, 2015: PRE-LAUNCH EVENTS Time (h:min:sec) Beginning of the State Commission meeting for launcher fueling authorization -05:00:00 Beginning of Launch Vehicle fueling with propellant components -04:30:00 Launch Vehicle is fueled with all propellant components -01:35:00 Mobile gantry withdrawal -01:10:00 Key on start (beginning of Soyuz synchronized sequence) -00:05:10 Fregat transfer to onboard power supply -00:05:00 Upper Composite umbilical drop off command -00:02:25 Ground-board power transfer -00:00:40 Lower stage mast retraction -00:00:28 Ignition -00:00:17 Preliminary thrust level -00:00:15 Full thrust level -00:00:03 LAUNCH EVENTS - Lift-off 00:00:00 Jettisoning of boosters 00:01:58 Jettisoning of fairing 00:03:29 Separation of main stage 00:04:48 Separation of 3rd stage 00:09:24 Fregat 1st burn starts 00:10:24 Fregat 1st burn ends 00:23:32 Fregat 2nd burn starts 03:38:35 Fregat 2nd burn ends 03:42:57 Separation of FOC-M3 No. 9 and No. 10 into an orbital plane A of the Galileo constellation 03:47:57 http://www.russianspaceweb.com/soyuz-lv-vs12-galileo-foc-m3.html Get your popcorn and seating ready....This launch, tonight at 10:08 pm EDT....and an ISS Soyuz departure at 5:30 pm EDT Friday Later..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 10, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 10, 2015 ABS All-electric Satellite Arrives Early at Operating Orbit ABS-3A is the world’s first all-electric commercial telecommunications spacecraft. Credit: Boeing artist's concept PARIS — Satellite fleet operator ABS on Sept. 10 said its ABS-3A satellite, the world’s first all-electric commercial telecommunications spacecraft, has reached final geostationary position and begun operations six months after its launch. Bermuda-based ABS said the satellite’s entry into service occurred about one month ahead of schedule. The advantage of all-electric satellites is their low launch mass, allowing the purchase of less-expensive launch services or, in the case of ABS, enabling satellite operators to launch two satellites at a time depending on the rocket selected. The disadvantage is that they take months to reach geostationary position, rather than a couple of weeks for satellites with chemical propellant. ABS-3A was launched in March aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX of Hawthorne, California. The 1,950-kilogram satellite was paired with the slightly heavier Eutelsat 115 West B, which weighed 2,200 kilograms, for a launch that became a showcase for how even smaller fleet operators can trim capital expenditures with smart buying practices. ABS and Satmex secured favorable contract terms from Boeing both as inaugural customers for the all-new Boeing 702SP design, and because of the commitment to a minimum four-satellite order. Paris-based Eutelsat said Eutelsat 115 West B is scheduled to arrive at its operating station, 115 degrees west longitude, by late September and to commence service in October, with the heavier mass accounting for the one-month difference in arrival times between the two satellites. ABS-3A carries 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders and is expected to provide telecommunications to the Americas, Africa, Europe and the Middle East for at least 15 years. ABS and fleet operator Satmex of Mexico — since purchased by Eutelsat — in March 2012 were the talk of the satellite telecommunications industry following their contract with Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems of El Segundo, California, and with SpaceX. The contract included four firm satellite orders and options, with the first four satellites — two for ABS, two for Satmex — paired on Falcon 9 launches. The second pair of satellites, ABS-2A and Eutelsat 117 West B, had been awaiting a launch in late 2015 aboard a Falcon 9 before that vehicle’s June failure put the Falcon 9 schedule on hold. ABS said it is now hoping for a launch in early 2016. Industry officials at the time said ABS and Satmex paid about $90 million for each satellite, with the two evenly dividing the cost of a $60 million Falcon 9 launch. Building and launching satellites carrying 40-plus transponders for around $120 million apiece was unheard of at the time of the contract signing. Since then, other satellite builders, especially Airbus Defence and Space of Europe, have plowed resources into their own all-electric designs and have won commercial orders. Boeing has struggled to repeat its ABS/Satmex success, in part because the value proposition of its all-electric design depends on committing two satellites to a single Falcon 9 launch. That means finding customers whose schedules are sufficiently aligned to permit them to undertake satellite construction and launch in tandem. As Boeing has discovered since 2012, this is no easy task. Boeing had booked an order with PSN of Indonesia, but the contract was conditioned on Boeing finding another customer to share a Falcon 9 launch. No such customer was found, and the contract was canceled. More recently, ABS ordered another all-electric 702SP satellite from Boeing and said it was not dependent on finding a co-passenger. But the contract, for the ABS-8 satellite, was suspended following the July closure of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, whose operating authorization by Congress was not renewed. Without export-credit agency financing, ABS is now reviewing its options, Chief Executive Thomas Choi has said. Most members of Congress have expressed support for Ex-Im and there is likely to be an attempt to reauthorize it this autumn. http://spacenews.com/abs-all-electric-satellite-arrives-early-at-operating-orbit/ Later....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 10, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 10, 2015 Live coverage: Soyuz launch to expand Europe’s navigation system Mission Status Center Live coverage of the countdown and launch of a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana with two Galileo navigation satellites. Text updates will appear automatically below; there is no need to reload the page. Follow us on Twitter. Audio/Video link....... http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/10/live-coverage-soyuz-launch-to-expand-europes-navigation-system/ Later....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 11, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 11, 2015 The launch of the Soyuz FG for Arianespace went like clockwork. We are into a four hour wait for the Fregat booster to fire again. 0232 GMT (10:32 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T+plus 24 minutes. The Fregat engine has shut down on time. This first of two burns was supposed to place the Galileo satellites into a parking orbit with a low point just above the atmosphere and a high point of about 23,500 kilometers (14,600 miles).The second Fregat burn will begin at about T+plus 3 hours, 39 minutes to place the Galileo satellites into a circular orbit at an altitude of 23,522 kilometers (14,619 miles) at an inclination of 57.39 degrees. 0224 GMT (10:24 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)No problems reported so far in this burn of the Fregat-MT main engine. 0219 GMT (10:19 p.m. EDT)The hydrazine-fueled Fregat upper stage is now firing to propel itself into a transfer orbit. This burn should last about 13 minutes. 0217 GMT (10:17 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T+plus 9 minutes, 40 seconds. The Soyuz third stage and Fregat upper stage have now separated. The first burn of the Fregat upper stage begins at T+plus 10 minutes, 24 seconds to boost the Galileo satellites into an elliptical transfer orbit. 0217 GMT (10:17 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T+plus 9 minutes. The Soyuz is now flying in range of a ground station in the Atlantic Ocean as the third stage engine prepares for shutdown. 0215 GMT (10:15 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T+plus 7 minutes, 30 seconds. The third stage RD-0124 engine is firing as planned. Altitude is 182 kilometers and downrange distance is 1,185 kilometers. 0213 GMT (10:13 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T+plus 5 minutes, 15 seconds. The Soyuz rocket's second stage has shut down and separated. Third stage ignition is also confirmed. 0212 GMT (10:12 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T+plus 4 minutes. The rocket's 13.4-foot ST-type nose fairing has jettisoned now that the launcher is out of the lower atmosphere. 0210 GMT (10:10 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T+plus 2 minutes. The four strap-on boosters of the Soyuz rocket have separated at an altitude of approximately 30 miles. The core stage continues firing. 0208:10 GMT (10:08:10 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)LIFTOFF of a Soyuz rocket, carrying two Galileo navigation satellites to grow Europe's positioning network into double digits. 0207 GMT (10:07 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T-minus 15 seconds. Ignition of the Soyuz rocket's engines. 0207 GMT (10:07 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T-minus 1 minute. The Soyuz will transition to internal power 40 seconds before liftoff. 0206 GMT (10:06 p.m. EDT on Thurs.) T-minus 2 minutes. The upper umbilical mast servicing the Soyuz rocket's two satellite payloads is being disconnected from the launcher. 0204 GMT (10:04 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T-minus 4 minutes. The exact liftoff time is 0208:10 GMT (10:08:10 p.m. EDT; 11:08:10 p.m. local time). 0202 GMT (10:02 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T-minus 6 minutes. The launch key has been installed inside the launch control center, beginning the Soyuz rocket's synchronized countdown sequence. 0200 GMT (10:00 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T-minus 8 minutes. The Soyuz rocket family has flown 1,846 times since the 1950s, and this is the 12th time the venerable launcher will fly from outside the territory of the former Soviet Union. 0158 GMT (9:58 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T-minus 10 minutes. All systems are reporting a "go" status for an on-time launch this afternoon.It is currently 10:58 p.m. in French Guiana. http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/10/live-coverage-soyuz-launch-to-expand-europes-navigation-system/ Soyuz/Galileo launch timeline This site has the process explained by actual photo's of a prior launch.... http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/10/soyuzgalileo-launch-timeline/ Simulation video (2:24 min) of the process..... I am still waiting for video replay of the launch...when available, I will post it......launch went great.......Later..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 11, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 11, 2015 Here is the video of Arianespace's Soyuz FG with Galileo 9 and 10 satellites. Video is 1:03 minutes....we still have 1.5 hours for proper insertion. Later...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 11, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 11, 2015 The Fregat stage has deployed the 2 Galileo sat's......still waiting for proper orbit insertion and sat health report.... 0557 GMT (1:57 a.m. EDT)Spacecraft separation! Both Galileo satellites have been released from the Fregat upper stage.Arianespace chairman and CEO Stephane Israel says it will take another 30 minutes or so to verify the satellites are in the correct orbit and confirm the success of tonight's mission. Ground controllers will analyze signals from the satellites to determine their location in space. The long wait to confirm the outcome of the launch stems from an embarrassing premature announcement of a successful flight in August 2014, when a closer look at data revealed the Fregat stage placed two Galileo satellites in an off-target orbit. 0552 GMT (1:52 a.m. EDT)T+plus 3 hours, 47 minutes. Arianespace confirms the successful ignition and cutoff of the second Fregat burn. This firing was designed to circularize its orbit at about 14,600 miles altitude. 0540 GMT (1:40 a.m. EDT)Deployment of the two Galileo satellites is expected at 0556 GMT (1:56 a.m. EDT). 0537 GMT (1:37 a.m. EDT)T+plus 3 hours, 29 minutes. The second ignition of the Fregat upper stage is less than 10 minutes away. 0232 GMT (10:32 p.m. EDT on Thurs.)T+plus 24 minutes. The Fregat engine has shut down on time. This first of two burns was supposed to place the Galileo satellites into a parking orbit with a low point just above the atmosphere and a high point of about 23,500 kilometers (14,600 miles). http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/10/live-coverage-soyuz-launch-to-expand-europes-navigation-system/ European GPS Constellation Above: A schematic illustrating the fully assembled Galileo constellation. http://www.russianspaceweb.com/galileo.html Soyuz lifted off at its exact departure time on September 10 from the Spaceport’s ELS launch complex, carrying two European Galileo navigation spacecraft. http://www.arianespace.com/news-mission-update/2015/1341-vs12-success.asp Launch program activity Next and previous missions Next: Soyuz Flight VS12 Previous: Ariane Flight VA225 Launch date: September 10, 2015 Launch date: August 20, 2015 Launcher version: Soyuz Launcher version: Ariane 5 ECA Payload(s): Two Galileo Full Operational Capability (FOC) satellites Payload(s): EUTELSAT 8 West B and Intelsat 34 Customer(s): The European Space Agency (ESA) on behalf of the European Commission Customer(s): Eutelsat Communications for EUTELSAT 8 West B; Intelsat for Intelsat 34 Mission: Providing highly-accurate satellite positioning as part Europe’s Galileo program Mission: Satellite broadcasting for EUTELSAT 8 West B; telecommunications services for Intelsat 34 Payload prime contractor(s): OHB System of Germany and Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd. of the United Kingdom Payload prime contractor(s): Thales Alenia Space for EUTELSAT 8 West B; SSL (Space Systems/Loral) for Intelsat 34 Launch site: Spaceport, French Guiana (The Guiana Space Center) Launch site: Spaceport, French Guiana (The Guiana Space Center) Success Launch window for Soyuz Flight VS12 UTC French Guiana Paris, France Washington, D.C. Moscow, Russia At 2:08:10 a.m. on September 11, 2015 At 11:08:10 p.m. on September 10, 2015 At 4:08:10 a.m. on September 11, 2015 At 10:08:10 p.m. on September 10, 2015 At 5:08:10 a.m. on September 11, 2015 http://www.arianespace.com/news/mission-status.asp Artist rendering depicting the Fregat upper stage firing its engine during the delivery of Galileo FOC satellites. Click to enlarge. Credit: Arianespace Artist rendering of Galileo FOC satellites separating from the Fregat upper stage. Click to enlarge. Credit: Arianespace http://www.russianspaceweb.com/soyuz-lv-vs12-galileo-foc-m3.html Nap time............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 11, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 11, 2015 Launch brings Galileo navigation system into double digits A Soyuz rocket lifted off from French Guiana at 0208:10 GMT Friday (10:08:10 p.m. EDT) with Europe’s next two Galileo navigation satellites. Credit: ESA–Manuel Pedoussaut, 2015 A Russian rocket released two Galileo navigation satellites nearly 15,000 miles above Earth early Friday, adding to a growing fleet giving Europe an independent space-based positioning system tracking automobiles, airplanes and cell phone-carrying people around the world. The identical satellites, nicknamed Alba and Oriana, deployed from their hydrazine-fueled space tug at about 0556 GMT (1:56 a.m. EDT) Friday. European officials confirmed the rocket injected the phone booth-sized satellites into an on-target orbit about 23,500 kilometers (14,600 miles) up, and declared the mission a total success. Artist’s concept of the fully deployed Galileo network. Credit: ESA-J. Huart The next pair of Galileo satellites are set for launch Dec. 17 on another Soyuz flight. They will be shipped from ESA’s test facility in the Netherlands to French Guiana this autumn. More data at the linkhttp://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/11/launch-brings-galileo-navigation-system-into-double-digits/ Later..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 13, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 13, 2015 Launch Schedule Sept. 14Proton • Express AM8 Launch time: 1900 GMT (3:00 p.m. EDT)Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Proton rocket with a Block DM upper stage will deploy the Express AM8 satellite for the Russian Satellite Communications Co. Express AM8 will provide television broadcasting and other communications services across Russia and neighboring countries. Delayed from April 6, May, June 18 and August. [Aug. 17] SeptemberLong March 6 • Multi-payload Launch time: TBDLaunch site: Taiyuan, China A Chinese Long March 6 rocket will launch with a cluster of small Chinese amateur and university research satellites. The flight will mark the first launch of the Long March 6, a new rocket fueled by kerosene and liquid oxygen to replace China’s previous generation of launch vehicles. Delayed from July 20. [July 6] Sept. 28PSLV • Astrosat Launch time: TBDLaunch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), flying on the PSLV-C30 mission in the PSLV-XL configuration, will launch the Astrosat observatory. Astrosat is India’s first dedicated astronomical satellite mission, and it carries instruments to observe the universe in visible, ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths, studying black holes, neutron stars, pulsars, quasars, white dwarfs, and active galactic nuclei. [Aug. 27] Sept. 30Ariane 5 • NBN Co 1A & Arsat 2 Launch window: 2019-2146 GMT (4:19-5:46 p.m. EDT)Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA226, to launch the NBN Co 1A and Arsat 2 satellites. The NBN Co 1A satellite will provide high-speed Internet services for Australia’s National Broadband Network. Arsat 2 will provide data transmission, Internet and television services over the Americas for the Arsat operator based in Argentina. [Aug. 20] Oct. 1Soyuz • Progress 61P Launch window: 1649 GMT (12:49 p.m. EDT)Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 61st Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Moved forward from Oct. 22. Delayed from Sept. 21. [Aug. 17] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Long March 3B conducts another secretive launch...12 September, 2015 A super-secretive satellite was launched by China from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center on Saturday. Launch of the unknown spacecraft – unofficially claimed to be the Communications Engineering Test Satellite -1 (TXJSSY-1) – took place at 15:40 UTC using a Long March-3B (Chang Zheng-3B) rocket, as the Chinese continue their build up in space. Chinese Launch: There is very little information regarding the satellite, with no announcement provided in the Chinese media, despite the media heavily controlled by the Chinese government. However, rumors circling on specialized Chinese space forums point to this launch involving the first Great Wall (Changcheng) satellite – a new series of Chinese satellites dedicated to early warning similar to the American Space Based Infra-Red Sensor satellites. One unofficial source claimed the spacecraft is the Communications Engineering Test Satellite -1 (TXJSSY-1) Recently, Japan’s Kyodo News reported that China was building a missile defense system to detect a ballistic missile attack. The report was based on Chinese military documents that referred the development of an experimental early warning satellite program. Additionally the report pointed out that China had started the development of an X-band radar system as part of a ground-based interceptor system. Launch vehicle and launch site: Developed from the Chang Zheng-3A, the Chang Zheng-3B is the most powerful launch vehicle on the Chinese space launch fleet. The CZ-3B features enlarged launch propellant tanks, improved computer systems, a larger 4.2 meter diameter payload fairing and the addition of four strap-on boosters in the core stage that provide additional help during the first phase of the launch. The rocket is capable of launching an 11,200 kg satellite to a low Earth orbit or a 5,100 kg cargo to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The CZ-3B/G2 (Enhanced Version) launch vehicle was developed from the CZ-3B, increasing the GTO capacity up to 5,500kg. On May 14, 2007, the first flight of CZ-3B/G2 was performed successfully, accurately sending the NigcomSat-1 into pre-determined orbit. With the GTO launch capability of 5,500kg, CZ-3B/G2 is dedicated for launching heavy GEO communications satellite. The rocket structure also combines all sub-systems together and is composed of four strap-on boosters, a first stage, a second stage, a third stage and payload fairing. The first two stages – as well as the four strap-on boosters – use hypergolic (N2O4/UDMH) fuel while the third stage uses cryogenic (LOX/LH2) fuel. The total length of the CZ-3B is 54.838 meters, with a diameter of 3.35 meters on the core stage and 3.00 meters on the third stage. On the first stage, the CZ-3B uses a YF-21C engine with a 2,961.6 kN thrust and a specific impulse of 2,556.5 Ns/kg. The first stage diameter is 3.35 m and the stage length is 23.272 m. Each strap-on booster is equipped with a YF-25 engine with a 740.4 kN thrust and a specific impulse of 2,556.2 Ns/kg. The strap-on booster diameter is 2.25 m and the strap-on booster length is 15.326 m. The second stage is equipped with a YF-24E (main engine – 742 kN / 2,922.57 Ns/kg; four vernier engines – 47.1 kN / 2,910.5 Ns/kg each). The second stage diameter is 3.35 m and the stage length is 12.920 m. The third stage is equipped with a YF-75 engine developing 167.17 kN and with a specific impulse of 4,295 Ns/kg. The fairing diameter of the CZ-3B is 4.00 meters and has a length of 9.56 meters. The CZ-3B can also use the new Yuanzheng-1 (“Expedition-1″) upper stage that uses a small thrust 6.5 kN engine burning UDMH/N2O4 with a specific impulse at 3,092 m/s. The upper stage is able to conduct two burns, having a 6.5 hour lifetime and is capable of achieving a variety of orbits. This upper stage was not used on this launch. The Xichang Satellite Launch Centre is situated in the Sichuan Province, south-western China and is the country’s launch site for geosynchronous orbital launches. Equipped with two launch pads (LC2 and LC3), the centre has a dedicated railway and highway lead directly to the launch site. The Command and Control Centre is located seven kilometers south-west of the launch pad, providing flight and safety control during launch rehearsal and launch. The CZ-3B launch pad is located at 28.25 deg. N – 102.02 deg. E and at an elevation of 1,825 meters.Other facilities on the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre are the Launch Control Centre, propellant fuelling systems, communications systems for launch command, telephone and data communications for users, and support equipment for meteorological monitoring and forecasting. The first launch from Xichang took place at 12:25UTC on January 29, 1984 when the Chang Zheng-3 (CZ3-1) was launched the Shiyan Weixing (14670 1984-008A) communications satellite into orbit. http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/09/long-march-3b-conducts-another-secretive-launch/ Here is a video of a Long March 3B from July 2015...video is 1:07 min This is a China Space Disaster video....2:55 min, covers the worst disaster in space flight history.....sad.... Later........It is disgusting, how the Chinese treat their people....lack of empathy.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 13, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 13, 2015 New Russian telecom satellite awaits launch Monday The Proton rocket with Express AM8 rolled out Friday to the Complex 81 launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Credit: TsENKI A new multipurpose Russian communications satellite to be parked over the Atlantic Ocean is awaiting launch Monday aboard a Proton rocket. Owned by the Russian Satellite Communications Co., Russia’s state-owned civilian telecom satellite operator, the Express AM8 spacecraft is heading for a perch 22,300 miles over the equator. The satellite’s Proton launcher rolled out to its launch facility at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Friday and rotated vertical for Monday’s liftoff, which is set for 1900 GMT (3 p.m. EDT). After flying east from Baikonur, the three-stage core of the Proton rocket will give way to a Block DM upper stage for a series of delicate maneuvers to propel Express AM8 into its intended orbit thousands of miles above Earth. Monday’s launch will be the fifth flight of a Proton booster this year, and the 406th mission by the workhorse rocket since its debut in 1965. It will be the second Proton launch since it returned to flight Aug. 28 after a launch mishap in May grounded the rocket more than three months. The Proton rocket rode a specially-designed rail car to its launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Credit: Roscosmos With a launch mass of 2.1 metric tons — about 4,269 pounds — Express AM8 is beginning a 15-year mission to broadcast communications services across a coverage zone stretching from the Americas to Russia. The satellite will be positioned in geostationary orbit at 14 degrees west longitude, replacing RSCC’s Express A4 satellite launched in June 2002. Made by ISS Reshetnev, a Russian satellite manufacturer, Express AM8 carries 42 communications transponders in C-band, Ku-band and L-band. The satellite was built in partnership with France’s Thales Alenia Space, which provided a repeater system and antennas for the spacecraft. The Express AM8 satellite, seen here being lifted atop its Block DM upper stage, will provide communications services across an area stretching from the Americas to Russia. Credit: TsENKI Express AM8 joins RSCC’s satellite fleet providing commercial telecom services and communications links for Russian government ministries and the Russian president. The new satellite is designed for fixed and mobile communications services, digital television, radio broadcasting, Internet access and other data transmissions, according to ISS Reshetnev. The launch of Express AM8 was intended to go up in April, but officials delayed the mission after discovering contamination in fuel lines on the Proton rocket. The Proton launch failure in May pushed back the mission again to September. Monday’s launch will be conducted under the auspices of the Russian government’s federal space program. Commercial Proton missions are managed by U.S.-based International Launch Services. http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/12/new-russian-telecom-satellite-awaits-launch-monday/ Above: A satellite view of Proton launch facilities in Baikonur circa 2010. Above: An aerial view of a Proton launch pad at Site 81 Two original launch pads for the Proton rocket -- No. 23 and No. 24 -- are located at Site 81, which is also known as Facility No. 333 ("Ob'jekt 333" in Russian). Two pads are separated by a distance of about 600 meters, calculated to be safe enough for one of the pads to survive an explosion at the other. At the same time, both pads share much of the support infrastructure located between them. The dual launch complex is situated around 2.5 kilometers from Proton's assembly and processing facilities at Site 92. Pad No. 24 is the oldest launch facility for Proton, which hosted the first launch of the rocket in 1965. The pad had been under renovation since 1979 for almost two decades, and no launches took place here until 1999. Yet, in the first decade of the 21st century it became the most extensively used launch pad for the Proton rocket. Along with Pad No. 39, Pad No. 24 was converted for the launches of the Proton-M rocket, however payloads developed at ISS Reshetnev, such as GLONASS-M navigation satellites and Globus-1M military communications satellite, could only be launched from Pad No. 24 until at least 2014. During the refurbishment of Pad No. 39 in 2012, industry sources reported a backlog of Proton-M missions competing for the use of Pad 24. Pad No. 23 was completed in 1966 and it was used for the first time in 1967. The pad was taken out of service for renovations at the end of the 1970s and it remained officially under repair for almost a decade. Proton-K rockets were launched from Pad No. 23 until December 2004, however funding needed to convert the facility for the Proton-M rocket had not been provided. When most space launch complexes in Baikonur were transferred under civilian control at the end of the 1990s, Site 81 remained under jurisdiction of the Strategic Missile Forces. It was finally transferred under control of KBOM design bureau at the beginning of 2006. The organization initiated a number of upgrades at the site, including the installation of the new test and monitoring equipment. On Feb. 1, 2011, around 07:00 in the morning, one of the cables on a launch pad at Site 81 apparently caught fire, which required around 30 minutes to suppress, fortunately causing no injuries. http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_proton_81.html http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_proton.html Later......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 13, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 13, 2015 Next Ariane 5 mission readied for fast-paced 2015 launch cadence Arianespace remains on track for a record number of launches at the Spaceport in 2015, as underscored by the busy week of preparations for Ariane 5's next heavy-lift mission - which were performed in parallel to yesterday's successful flight of its medium-lift Soyuz from French Guiana. The upcoming Ariane 5 launch is scheduled for September 30 to orbit a pair of telecommunications satellites: Sky Muster for Australian operator nbn and ARSAT-2 for Argentina's ARSAT. During activity of the past several days, Flight VA226's Ariane 5 was transferred from the Spaceport's Launcher Integration Building (where it was integrated by prime contractor Airbus Safran Launchers) to the Final Assembly Building for installation of Sky Muster and ARSAT-2 under Arianespace responsibility. File image Pre-launch checkout continues with ARSAT-2 and Sky MusterSeparately, ARSAT-2 was fueled in the Spaceport's S5 payload preparation center, while pre-launch checkout of Sky Muster continued in a separate area of the same multi-hall facility. Sky Muster is a high-performance broadband satellite, and will be riding in the upper passenger position of Ariane 5's dual-payload arrangement. This SSL-built (Space Systems Loral) relay platform will weigh in at nearly 6,400 kg., and is the first of two satellites for nbn that will help deliver high-speed broadband service to more than 200,000 homes and businesses around Australia - including many in rural and remote areas that do not have access to quality broadband connections. ARSAT-2 is the second of three geostationary satellites that will increase Argentina's telecommunications capacity and guarantee the same level of connectivity quality across the country's regions. Arianespace successfully orbited the first of these relay platforms, ARSAT-1, on Ariane 5 Flight VA220 in October 2014. The ARSAT series of spacecraft is produced by Argentina's INVAP, with Airbus Defence and Space and Thales Alenia Space serving as leading equipment suppliers. The satellites' operation is under the responsibility of ARSAT, which has a strategic role in implementing governmental policies in Argentinian telecommunications, broadcasting and Internet - as well as to increase broadcasting, telecommunications and satellite-based services for commercial, public, private and government-run applications. Arianespace's 2015 target: 12 missions with its launcher familyFlight VA226 with Sky Muster and ARSAT-2 will be the ninth of 12 Arianespace missions targeted during 2015. Such a sustained cadence is possible because of a robust launcher family - composed of Ariane 5, Soyuz and the lightweight Vega - along with the Spaceport's capability to have multiple missions being prepared in parallel. The flights performed so far in 2015 have utilized four Ariane 5s, two Soyuz vehicles (including last night's mission), and two Vega launchers. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Another_Ariane_5_mission_is_readied_for_Arianespaces_fast_paced_2015_launch_cadence_999.html Later...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 14, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) Proton rocket takes off with Express AM8 communications bird A Proton rocket lifted off at 1900 GMT (3 p.m. EDT) with the Express AM8 communications satellite. Credit: TsENKI/Roscosmos A Proton rocket fired away from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, kicking off a nearly seven-hour flight set to conclude with a high-altitude delivery of a new Russian communications satellite into orbit. The Proton booster blasted off at 1900 GMT (3 p.m. EDT) from Complex 81 at Baikonur, powering into the sky on the thrust of six RD-276 main engines. The three-stage rocket completed its role in the mission less than 10 minutes later, then a Block DM upper stage took control of the flight for a series of three burns to inject the Express AM8 satellite into a near-circular geostationary orbit. Deployment of Express AM8 is scheduled for 0137 GMT (9:37 p.m. EDT) to complete the launch sequence. Weighing 2.1 metric tons (4,629 pounds) at launch, the spacecraft is light enough for the Proton/Block DM to place it near its final perch 22,300 miles above Earth. Heavier satellites often go to an elliptical transfer orbit, requiring them to consume their own fuel for final orbit-raising. Express AM8 is beginning a 15-year mission at 14 degrees west longitude, covering a region stretching from the Americas to Europe, North Africa and Russia with 42 transponders transmitting in Ku-band, C-band and L-band, according to the Russian Satellite Communications Co., the satellite’s owner. RSCC is a state-owned Russian operator providing civilian communications services, and Express AM8’s launch is considered part of Russia’s federal space program, and not a commercial flight under the auspices of International Launch Services. Artist’s concept of the Express AM8 communications satellite. Credit: ISS Reshetnev Thales Alenia Space of France supplied the satellite’s antennas and repeater system. Express AM8’s bus was built by ISS Reshetnev, a Russian satellite manufacturer. Express AM8 will replace the aging Express A4 communications satellite launched in June 2002. Monday’s launch is the fifth flight of a Proton booster this year, and the 406th mission by the workhorse rocket since its debut in 1965. It is the second Proton launch since it returned to flight Aug. 28 after a launch mishap in May grounded the rocket more than three months. Express AM8 joins RSCC’s satellite fleet providing commercial telecom services and communications links for Russian government ministries and the Russian president. The new satellite is designed for fixed and mobile communications services, digital television, radio broadcasting, Internet access and other data transmissions, according to ISS Reshetnev. The next launch of a Proton rocket is set for Oct. 9 with Turkey’s Turksat 4B communications satellite. That mission is under the management of ILS. http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/14/proton-rocket-takes-off-with-express-am8-communications-bird/ Launch video is 7:11 min..... -------------------------------------------- Developed at ISS Reshetnev in the city of Zheleznogorsk, the Ekspress-AM8 satellite was based on the company's standardEkspress-1000NTV platform. The transponder payload for the satellite was developed by the French division of the Thales Alenia Space company. The payload included 42 transponders operating in C-, Ku and L-band of radio frequencies. The satellite was developed for the Federal State Enterprise Kosmicheskaya Svyaz, previously known as the Russian Satellite Communications Company, RSCC. According to the company, the spacecraft will be used for television broadcasts, data transmissions, including high-speed Internet access, multimedia services, telephone and mobile communications during its 15-year life span. From its orbital position over the Atlantic Ocean, Ekspress-AM8 will be able to provide communications over much of Europe, Middle East, Africa, South America and Eastern part of North America. Known specifications of the Ekspress-AM8 satellite: Spacecraft mass 2,100 kilograms Total number of transponders (C-, Ku- and L-band) 42 Life span 15 years Orbital position 14 degrees West Launch vehicle Proton-M/Block-DM03 No. 5L Ekspress-AM8 launch profile Timeline of the Proton mission to deliver Ekspress-AM8 satellite on Sept. 14, 2015: Proton rocket with Ekspress-AM8 satellite right after its installation onto the launch pad on Sept. 11, 2015. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos A payload section with Ekspress-AM8 is being integrated with the Proton rocket on Sept. 8, 2015. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos Ekspress-AM8 during final assembly. Credit: ISS Reshetnev http://www.russianspaceweb.com/ekspress-am8.html We have orbital insertion tonight at 9:30 pm, approx.......... Edited September 14, 2015 by Draggendrop forgot link......my bad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 14, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 14, 2015 This is really neat.....and about time.........programmable sats, in flight. Changing Requirements? No Problem, The A2100 Satellite Is Now Reprogrammable In-Flight Hellas-Sat-4/SaudiGeoSat-1 for Arabsat and KACST Will Carry Flexible Payload PARIS, Sept. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Saudi Arabia's newest communications satellite, the Lockheed Martin-built Hellas-Sat-4/SaudiGeoSat-1, will not only be one of the most powerful ever built, it will be among the most agile thanks to new flexible payload technology. The payload brings unprecedented capability to the A2100 spacecraft. Aboard Hellas-Sat-4/SaudiGeoSat-1, the technology will allow flexible bandwidth and frequency management for secure communications. That same technology can be used to dynamically reprogram satellites in-orbit and rapidly adjust communications networks. "Our goal is to build a smarter satellite that routes capacity where you need it, when you need it," said Carl Marchetto, vice president and general manager of Commercial Space at Lockheed Martin Space Systems. "And with this technology now available on the modernized A2100 family, it will truly meet customer demand for increased flexibility." Satellites outfitted with Lockheed Martin's flexible technology will be able to maximize revenue generation by dynamically shifting bandwidth to areas of peak demand. The technology can be readily incorporated on a new satellite given the scalability of the A2100 platform. Hellas-Sat-4/SaudiGeoSat-1 is part of a two-satellite deal announced by Lockheed Martin, Arabsat and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology earlier this year and will provide television, internet, telephone and secure communications to customers in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. The satellite is based on Lockheed Martin's modernized A2100 framework and includes a hybrid propulsion system, flexible solar arrays and a host of other upgrades. Hellas-Sat-4/SaudiGeoSat-1 is slated to launch in 2018. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/prnewswire-space-news.html?rkey=20150914SF00192&filter=1639 Later......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 15, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 15, 2015 Proton and AM8 success.... Post-launch events Several minutes after the planned separation of Ekspress-AM8 from Block DM-03, Roskosmos confirmed the successful delivery of the satellite. RKK Energia, which developed the 11S861-03 (DM-03) upper stage, announced that after the separation, the space tug had performed another maneuver to leave the vicinity of the satellite, which had been transferred under the control of its operator. According to the satellite manufacturer, ISS Reshetnev, Ekspress-AM8 entered its target orbit, oriented itself toward the Sun and deployed solar panels. Ground control had established and maintained communications with the spaceceraft, whose systems operated in nominal mode, the company said. http://www.russianspaceweb.com/ekspress-am8.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------ China conducts two space launches in short span Two space launches from China in a 37-hour span have placed an experimental communications satellite and a sharp-eyed Earth-viewing craft into orbit, according to Chinese state media reports. Neither launch was officially announced ahead of time by Chinese authorities. The first mission blasted off from the Xichang space center in southwestern China’s Sichuan province, where a Long March 3B rocket streaked into orbit with an experimental satellite to test communications technologies, the official Xinhua news agency reported. Fitted with four strap-on liquid-fueled boosters, the Long March 3B lifted off at 1542 GMT (11:42 a.m. EDT) Saturday, or 11:42 p.m. Beijing time. The rocket’s third stage released the secretive payload about 27 minutes later, dropping the satellite in a geostationary transfer orbit with a high point of approximately 35,800 kilometers (22,245 miles) and a low point of about 200 kilometers (124 miles), according to U.S. military tracking data. No other information about the spacecraft was released by China — including its name — leading some observers to speculate it might be an intelligence-gathering satellite or a platform to give early warning to Chinese leaders of a missile strike. Another liftoff Monday from the Jiuquan launch base in the Gobi Desert of northwest China put up a new Earth observation satellite, officials said. A two-stage Long March 2D booster fired away from Jiuquan at 0442 GMT (12:42 a.m. EDT) Monday, according to Xinhua. Its payload was the Gaofen 9 remote sensing satellite, a civilian-operated asset designed to collect imagery of Earth with a resolution better than 1 meter (3.3 feet), Xinhua reported. Xinhua said the Gaofen 9 satellite “will be used in land survey, urban planning, road network design, agriculture, and disaster relief.” U.S. satellite tracking information indicated Gaofen 9 was flying around Earth in a nearly circular orbit averaging about 639 kilometers, or 397 miles, in altitude at an inclination of 98 degrees. “Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, Gaofen 9 can also serve key national strategies such as the Belt and Road Initiative and national defense,” Xinhua reported. Previous satellites in the Gaofen series — Gaofen 1, Gaofen 2 and Gaofen 8 — launched from China in 2013, 2014 and earlier in 2015. http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/14/china-conducts-two-space-launches-in-short-span/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Launch Schedule SeptemberLong March 6 • Multi-payload Launch time: TBDLaunch site: Taiyuan, China A Chinese Long March 6 rocket will launch with a cluster of small Chinese amateur and university research satellites. The flight will mark the first launch of the Long March 6, a new rocket fueled by kerosene and liquid oxygen to replace China’s previous generation of launch vehicles. Delayed from July 20. [July 6] Sept. 28PSLV • Astrosat Launch time: TBDLaunch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), flying on the PSLV-C30 mission in the PSLV-XL configuration, will launch the Astrosat observatory. Astrosat is India’s first dedicated astronomical satellite mission, and it carries instruments to observe the universe in visible, ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths, studying black holes, neutron stars, pulsars, quasars, white dwarfs, and active galactic nuclei. [Aug. 27] Sept. 30Ariane 5 • NBN Co 1A & Arsat 2 Launch window: 2019-2146 GMT (4:19-5:46 p.m. EDT)Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA226, to launch the NBN Co 1A and Arsat 2 satellites. The NBN Co 1A satellite will provide high-speed Internet services for Australia’s National Broadband Network. Arsat 2 will provide data transmission, Internet and television services over the Americas for the Arsat operator based in Argentina. [Aug. 20] Oct. 1Soyuz • Progress 61P Launch window: 1649 GMT (12:49 p.m. EDT)Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 61st Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Moved forward from Oct. 22. Delayed from Sept. 21. [Aug. 17] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Note: I was unable to upload photo's as I maxed out the Neowin 2Mb limit again.....will have to find out how that works...ie, is it a 24 hr limit and you start over again.....I need to time it better....Later..... Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 17, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 17, 2015 Virgin Galactic Increases Payload Performance of LauncherOne LauncherOne Virgin Galactic Robust demand from the growing small satellite market has led Virgin Galactic to significantly increase the performance of its LauncherOne satellite launch service. Today the company announced today at the annual World Business Satellite Week in Paris. Driven by strong commercial demand for a launch service that can reliably, affordably, and responsively launch small satellites, Virgin Galactic has nearly doubled the amount of payload that customers can deliver to orbit for the same price. For a price below US $10 million, LauncherOne will now be able to launch 200 kg into the standard Sun-Synchronous Orbit most commonly desired by small satellite missions, a marked increase from the system's originally projected performance to that orbit. Customers will also be able to purchase further increases in performance to the same orbit, as well as launches that reach other altitudes or inclinations. To lower LEO orbits, the system will be capable of launching over 400kg of payload. As an air-launched system, LauncherOne can optimize each mission to customer requirements by operating from any of a variety of launch sites independent from the fixed, often congested, launch ranges and corresponding real-time launch constraints such as weather. Virgin Galactic is in the final stages of acquiring a commercial aircraft to add to its air launch fleet, which includes WhiteKnightTwo, enabling both the increased payload capacity and significantly higher flight rate. The company expects to finalize the acquisition in the coming months. With a dedicated carrier aircraft and strong technical results achieved in an intensive hardware component testing campaign that began in 2013, this performance increase has been achieved by increasing the tank sizing of the rocket, maintaining schedule and launch price while significantly increasing value to customers. With full, private funding already committed to the program, a dedicated and world-class team of 150 experienced aerospace professionals hard at work, and a state-of-the-art 14,000 m2 (150,000 square foot) manufacturing and design facility in Long Beach, California, LauncherOne remains on target to be the most flexible and responsive launch vehicle to offer affordable, dedicated launches to smaller satellites. Virgin Galactic revealed that these changeswhich have been in work for many months and revealed publicly todaywere driven by demand from commercial and government customers. With class-leading payload accommodations and the ability to accommodate both standard and customized form factors, LauncherOne appeals to a broad variety of satellite mission designs. LauncherOne's customer base includes firms such as global communications company OneWeb, which Virgin Galactic recently signed to one of the largest commercial launch orders in history for flights of its internet service satellites on LauncherOne. Virgin Galactic CEO George T. Whitesides said, "The market has spoken, and we have listened: we have roughly doubled the payload for our customers without increasing the price. LauncherOne will be ready to meet the rapidly expanding needs of satellite startups, space agencies, and research institutions thanks to the investments we've already made in our engines, tanks, avionics, and our production infrastructure. Demand has become so significant that LauncherOne will have its own dedicated aircraft. Small satellites are big business, and we look forward to supporting satellite innovators to make history in space and to improve lives here on Earth." http://spaceref.biz/company/virgin-galactic-increases-payload-performance-of-launcherone.html Virgin Galactic websitehttp://www.virgingalactic.com/satellite-launch/ video is 3:42 min...promotional video Later....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Translation: Virgin Galactic could only find one serious high volume customer, SpaceX's "CommX" competitor OneaWeb, and LauncherOne wasn't capable of lifting a OneWeb satellites mass. Enter the much larger LauncherTwo with a whole new set of engines (Newton 3 & 4), however LauncherTwo is now too heavy to launch from WhiteKnightTwo as planned. StratoLaunch's Roc could lift it, but there are only a few runways capable of handling Roc and the flight rate is an issue given Roc already has a primary mission. What to do.... Answer: convert a Boeing 747 into a launcher mothership. It has a higher lift mass capability than WhiteKnightTwo, and a much higher flight rate & easier runway access than StratoLaunch's Roc. Draggendrop and Unobscured Vision 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 17, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 17, 2015 Wow.....This is close to a "Saturday Night Live" comedy sketch.......Mr Potato Head with Lego accessories.......I'm having a hard time visualizing a profitable, and long term business venture, with this scenario....time to cut losses....Up and coming small sat launchers will have these guys for breakfast..... Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 Agreed. Buy a 747 and retrofit it already, VG. Spend your time and resources on researching better engines for it while filling orders and making some cash. While that's going, invest in the Sabre programme. That's the future of the business your company is pursuing, so follow that tech and do what you can to further it. When it's ready, switch to that because you've already invested heavily in it. We already know it works, so give it a push to market. Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 18, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 18, 2015 Space Surveillance Sats Pressed into Early Service Two Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program satellites, featured above in an artist's rendering, performed "remarkably" in their first assignments, a senior service official said. Credit: U.S. Air Force NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – At the request of unspecified users, the U.S. Air Force has twice taken a pair of high-orbiting space surveillance satellites out of test mode to make observations of specific objects in geosynchronous orbit, a senior service official said. The missions mark the first assignments for the once-classified Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, or GSSAP, satellites. The requests speak to the Defense Department’s appetite for surveillance of geosynchronous orbit, the operating location many of its most important and expensive satellites. Two GSSAP satellites have been on orbit since July 2014 and have been going through checkout procedures and operational testing. Air Force Space Command expects to declare initial operational capability for the satellites within the next several weeks, service officials have said. But during a Sept. 16 press briefing here at the Air Force Association tech expo, Gen. John Hyten, commander of Air Force Space Command, said the satellites had already completed their first tasks and “performed remarkably.” “The users that requested the information are extremely pleased with the pictures we gave them,” Hyten said.” The pictures we gave them are truly eye-watering. It’s amazing. You don’t often get to see satellites flying.” He did not elaborate and an Air Force spokesman declined to provide further information on the user. Air Force officials disclosed the previously classified space surveillance program in February 2014. Since then, they have acknowledged that the satellites would perform rendezvous and proximity maneuvers to allow close-up looks at spacecraft in geosynchronous orbits, some 36,000 kilometers above Earth’s surface. Hyten has described geosynchronous orbit as “our most valuable orbit.” Among the U.S. military satellites that operate there are those used for missile warning and nuclear command and control. The Air Force disclosed the existence of GSSAP in part to deter what Pentagon officials say are increasingly threatening activities by China and Russia, Hyten said. “Why do you think it is we released the GSSAP program last year from the black into the white,” Hyten said, referring to the satellite’s declassification. “It was to make sure we send a message to the world that says: Anything you do in the geosynchronous orbit we will know about. Anything.” The Air Force told SpaceNews earlier this year that a Russian military satellite launched in March has made at least 11 close approaches to the rocket upper stage that released it into orbit, a maneuvering capability that is consistent with, but not necessarily indicative of, an on-orbit anti-satellite weapon. Another Russian satellite, known as Object E, was among the subjects of a classified briefing on space threats to congressional defense committees earlier this year, a Capitol Hill source said. China deliberately destroyed one of its own satellites using a ground-based missile in 2007 and since then has conducted additional nondestructive anti-satellite tests, U.S. government officials say. Hyten said the Defense Department also is worried about a number of other Chinese space-related activities that are less visible. According to an Air Force fact sheet, GSSAP is a two-satellite system that operates in a “near-geosynchrous orbit regime” to provide accurate tracking and characterization of man-made orbiting objects. Built by Orbital ATK of Dulles, Virginia, the GSSAP satellites are controlled by operators at Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Two additional GSSAP satellites are notionally scheduled to launch in 2016. http://spacenews.com/space-surveillance-sats-pressed-into-early-service/ I can imagine, articles in other countries papers, stating the same scenario...with the names changed. But honestly, I think it is a good idea to ensure all countries keep an eye out for "bad behaviour" from rogues....it's tough enough up there without added excitement..... -------------------------------------------------------------------- OneWeb Fails (At Least for Now) To Soothe Satellite Interference Fears OneWeb intends to cover the Earth with a constellation of 700 low-Earth-orbiting smallsats built by Airbus Defence and Space. Credit: Airbus video still PARIS — Satellite fleet operators fear that start-up OneWeb Ltd.’s 700 low-orbiting satellites will disrupt their established businesses by unintentionally interfering with millions of user antennas installed around the equator. Some of these companies said they hope their concerns are resolved by OneWeb’s stated commitment to abide by international regulatory guidelines on the operation of low-orbiting satellites using Ku-band radio frequencies also used by almost all of the world’s biggest fleet operators. Others said they are worried that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a global frequency and orbital-slot regulatory notoriously lacking in enforcement power, will not be up to the task if interference develops after OneWeb is deployed in orbit between 2017 and 2019. Aware of what seems to be a groundswell of concern about their system expressed here Sept. 14-18 at the World Satellite Business Week conference, an annual gathering of industry, OneWeb officials repeatedly said they will not interfere with satellites in geostationary orbit 36,000 kilometers over the equator. OneWeb founder Greg Wyler said the company would be filing, in December, an ITU S-1503 submission that will allow regulators and geostationary-satellite operators to assess, with precision, OneWeb’s conformity with ITU rules forbidding interference with geostationary satellites by satellites in non-geostationary. OneWeb’s satellites will orbit at around 1,200 kilometers in altitude. In a Sept. 15 interview, Wyler said the company’s Progressive Pitch technology is designed to modify the orientation and power level of the OneWeb satellites as they pass over the equator so that they do not disturb the millions of satellite dishes pointed toward the geostationary satellites. “We want to make allies of the established operators,” Wyler said. “It would be crazy for us to interfere with them.” Michel de Rosen, chief executive of Paris-based Eutelsat, said the industry has too often dealt with unintentional interference. “It can happen because there has been insufficient respect for one player by another player,” de Rosen said Sept. 15. “So whenever a newcomer arrives to the game, it is the duty of the newcomer to make sure his initiative will not hurt the quality of service that our customers have a right to expect. “We are looking at this topic now at Eutelsat because we cannot simply hope it will work,” de Rosen said of the OneWeb system. “It has to be an issue that will be solved before the constellation is operational.” http://spacenews.com/oneweb-fails-at-least-for-now-to-soothe-satellite-interference-fears/ ------------------------------------------------------------------- Lofty Aspirations for Spire’s Weather-watching Cubesats “We are familiar with roughly a quarter of the planet, which is the land mass,” Platzer said. “The only way to gather large amounts of data over the other three-quarters is from satellites.” In 2015, Spire plans to launch 20 triple cubesats. By the end of 2017, the company will have more than 100 satellites in orbit, said Chris Wake, Spire business operations director. Spire plans to launch the cubesats into a variety of orbits as secondary payloads on many different rockets. “We have flown or signed with everyone out there,” Platzer said. The list includes Russia’s Soyuz and Dnepr rockets, SpaceX’s Falcon 9, Orbital Sciences’ Antares and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ H2A and H2B. To date, Spire has launched four satellites: Ardusat-1 and Ardusat-X, single unit cubesats with open-source software to enable members of the general public to conduct space-based experiments; Ardusat-2, a two-unit technology demonstration and Earth observation cubesat; and Lemur-1, a triple cubesat and technology demonstrator. Those satellites were launched when the company was known as Nanosatisfi. It adopted the name Spire in July 2014. Spire’s new satellites will be equipped with a GPS radio occultation receiver to monitor atmospheric pressure, temperature and water vapor and provide the type of data, Spire executives said, will improve weather forecasts dramatically. “Ninety-four percent of all data that goes into weather forecasting comes from satellites, but it comes from a handful of expensive, outdated systems that are not very resilient,” Platzer said. “If a weather satellite is knocked out by a power failure, solar storm or space debris, you’re out of luck. We calculated that our system will be 10,000 times more resilient than the traditional [weather satellite] systems because we will have a network of 100 satellites and we can launch every single month.” Once its constellation is established, Spire plans to sell weather data to businesses that rely on accurate forecasts. Instead of asking government or commercial customers to contribute to the cost of establishing the weather satellite constellation, Spire clients will buy data, Platzer said. Spire sees another multibillion-dollar market in helping maritime customers track ships, respond quickly to emergencies, steer vessels clear of pirates and combat illegal fishing operations. “When I started this business in 2012, I knew 90 percent of global trade happened on ships, but I did not know that 80 percent of the time the rest of the world didn’t know where the ships were,” Platzer said. Spire’s forecasts showing multibillion markets for its data products have helped the company attract an estimated $80 million in investments. In June, Spire announced that it raised $40 million in its second round of equity financing led by Chicago-based Promus Ventures. http://spacenews.com/lofty-aspirations-for-spires-weather-watching-cubesats/ Ambitious...then again, you have to be to succeed....... 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Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 20, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 20, 2015 Long March 6 lifts off......... China launches first Long March-6 carrier rocket The Long March-6 carrier rocket lifts off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in north China's Shanxi Province at 7 a.m. Beijing time on September 20, 2015. [Photo: Xinhua] China has successfully launched the country's first Long March-6 carrier rocket as well as 20 satellites on Sunday. China Central Television (CCTV) reports that the carrier rocket lifted off from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in north China's Shanxi Province at 7 a.m. Beijing time. The 20 satellites, including nine amateur radio satellites, were developed by a number of universities and space research institutes across China. The satellites separated from the rocket 15 minutes after blasting off from Taiyuan. The Long March-6 carrier rocket is the country's new generation of rocket families, featuring light capacity and high-speed response. Developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, the liquid-fuelled carrier rocket has only a modest lift capability of some 1080 kg. However, the launch is crucial to China's new heavy-lift Long March-5 carrier rocket, an equivalent to the US-made Delta-IV Heavy. The Long March-5 is set to boost its lift capacity by around three times and will be used to launch modules for the country's lunar project and space station. The Long March-5 is scheduled to make its debut flight early next year. http://www.china.org.cn/china/2015-09/20/content_36633709.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- China Debuts New Long March 6 Booster China successfully launched its new Long March 6 rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on Sunday, with the booster placing 20 small satellites into orbit. Long March 6 is a three-stage small satellite launcher capable of placing up to 1,080 kg (2,381 lb) into a sun-synchronous orbit of 700 km (435 miles). It is 29.2 meters (96 feet) tall. The first stage is powered by a single YF-100 engine that burns kerosene RP-1 and liquid oxygen (LOX). The same motor is being used in the first stage of the larger Long March 5 booster, which will debut next year. Long March 6’s second stage uses a single YF-115 engine powered by kerosene RP-1 and kerosene. Its third stage has four YF-85 motor powered by hydrogen peroxide and kerosene. http://www.parabolicarc.com/2015/09/19/china-debuts-long-march-6-booster/ Promotional news video, prior to launch....video is 2:01 min, english Data.....China conducts debut launch of Long March 6http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/09/china-debut-launch-long-march-6/ Overall length is 29.237 m with a total mass at liftoff of 103,217 kg. Dry mass of the three stages combined is 9,020 kg. Fairing diameter is 2.25 m / 2.6 m, and the vehicle is capable of launching a payload of 1,080 kg to a 700 km SSO orbit (500 kg if only Chinese tracking stations are used). The first stage has a 3.35 meter diameter and is equipped with a single YF-100 engine, consuming 76,000 kg of kerosene RP-1/LOX. The YF-100 engine is capable of a ground thrust of 1,177 kN and a ground specific impulse of 2.9 km/s. Burn time is 155 seconds. The first stage uses four 1000 N thrusters for roll control. The second stage has 2.25 meter diameter and consumes 15,150 kg of kerosene RP-1/LOX. It is equipped with a YF-115 developing 147.1 kN (sea level) or 176.5 kN (vacuum), with a vacuum specific impulse of 3.35 km/s. The second stage uses four 25 N thrusters for roll control. The third stage is equipped with four engines with 4 kN (each), along with eight 100 N thrusters for attitude control. The engines are powered by a mixture of kerosene and hydrogen peroxide. Situated in the Kelan County in the northwest part of the Shanxi Province, the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center (TSLC) is also known by the Wuzhai designation. It is used mainly for polar launches (meteorological, Earth resources and scientific satellites). The launch center has two single-pad launch complexes, a launch area for the new Long March-6 rocket, a technical area for rocket and spacecraft preparations, a communications centre, a mission command and control centre, and a space tracking centre. The stages of the rocket were transported to the launch centre by railway and offloaded at a transit station south of the launch complex. They were then transported by road to the technical area for checkout procedures. The launch vehicles were assembled on the launch pad by using a crane at the top of the umbilical tower to hoist each stage of the vehicle in place. Satellites were airlifted to the Taiyuan Wusu Airport about 300km away and then transported to the centre by road. The TT&C Centre, also known as Lüliang Command Post, is headquartered in the city of Taiyuan, It has four subordinate radar tracking stations in Yangqu (Shanxi), Lishi (Shanxi), Yulin (Shaanxi), and Hancheng (Shaanxi). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Launch Schedule Sept. 28PSLV • Astrosat Launch time: 0430 GMT (12:30 a.m. EDT)Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), flying on the PSLV-C30 mission in the PSLV-XL configuration, will launch the Astrosat observatory. Astrosat is India’s first dedicated astronomical satellite mission, and it carries instruments to observe the universe in visible, ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths, studying black holes, neutron stars, pulsars, quasars, white dwarfs, and active galactic nuclei. [Sept. 17] Sept. 30Ariane 5 • NBN Co 1A & Arsat 2 Launch window: 2019-2146 GMT (4:19-5:46 p.m. EDT)Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA226, to launch the NBN Co 1A and Arsat 2 satellites. The NBN Co 1A satellite will provide high-speed Internet services for Australia’s National Broadband Network. Arsat 2 will provide data transmission, Internet and television services over the Americas for the Arsat operator based in Argentina. [Aug. 20] Oct. 1Soyuz • Progress 61P Launch window: 1649 GMT (12:49 p.m. EDT)Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 61st Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Moved forward from Oct. 22. Delayed from Sept. 21. [Aug. 17] Oct. 2Atlas 5 • Morelos 3 Launch window: 1008-1028 GMT (6:08-6:28 a.m. EDT)Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, designated AV-059, will launch the Morelos 3, or Mexsat 2, communications satellite for the Mexican Ministry of Communications and Transportation. The rocket will fly in the 421 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, two solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from Oct. 20. Moved up from Oct. 22. [Sept. 9] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Later..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DocM Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 No doubt the villagers downrange will be glad fewer launchers filled with toxic hypergolic propellants will be dropping on them. Now all they need worry about is flaming kerosene and 30 tonnes of rocket stage. Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 20, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 20, 2015 Those poor villagers....they have to put up with a lot of (insert noun), and it's their fault...they have been told so..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 21, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 21, 2015 (edited) Recap article on the Long March 6 launch...few extra pictures... Debut launch of Long March 6 deploys 20 satellites The first launch of China’s new Long March 6 rocket took off at 2301 GMT (7:01 p.m. EDT) from the Taiyuan space center in northern China. Credit: Chinese Ministry of Defense China’s Long March 6 rocket, fueled by a mixture of kerosene and liquid oxygen, successfully shot into orbit on its first mission Saturday with 20 small satellites, signaling a revolution in Chinese rocketry as the country prepares to test bigger boosters in the coming months. The Long March 6 lifted off at 2301 GMT (7:01 p.m. EDT) Saturday from the new launch pad 16 at the Taiyuan space center in northeastern China’s Shanxi province. Powered by an entirely new generation of rocket engines, the rocket marks the beginning of China’s transition away from satellite launchers burning toxic propellants. Earlier series of Long March rockets consume hydrazine fuel, caustic to the environment and to humans, and were derived from Cold War-era Chinese missile technology. State media reported the launch was successful, and U.S. military tracking data indicated Sunday multiple objects attributed to the mission were in a near-circular orbit 525 kilometers, or 326 miles, at an inclination of 97.5 degrees. The Long March 6’s first stage is powered by a YF-100 main engine, a staged combustion powerplant Chinese engineers have worked on since 2000. Chinese state-run television reported the engine generates up to 120 metric tons, or 264,000 pounds, of thrust. Another kerosene-fueled engine drives the Long March 6’s second stage. A third stage deployed the satellites into orbit. The launch of the Long March 6 rocket occurred at 7:01 a.m. Beijing time Sunday. Credit: Xinhua Chinese authorities have kept many details of the Long March 6’s design and capabilities secret, but the main booster engine is likely the same powerplant destined to fly on the heavy-lift Long March 5 rocket, the most powerful launcher in China’s inventory expected to fly for the first time next year. The Long March 5 could cluster up to eight of the YF-100 engines — along with hydrogen-fueled core engines — to lift hefty payloads into orbit, such as large modules for China’s future space station. An intermediate rocket called the Long March 7 is also in China’s plans. Chinese engineers completed a major test of the Long March 5’s cryogenic propulsion system Aug. 17, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. Xinhua reported a Long March 5 rocket shipped from the Port of Tianjin in northern China on Sunday for a rehearsal at an undisclosed location to practice the rocket’s launch procedures, mimicking preparations for the Chang’e 5 lunar probe due for liftoff in 2017 on a sample return mission to the moon. But many of the launcher’s specifics are closely held by Chinese officials, which approved full-scale development of the Long March 6 in 2009. “I am not confident of the current configuration of the Long March 5 and 7,” said Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics and an expert who tracks spaceflight events. “I believe they all use various numbers of the same engine in the first stage as Long March 6.” The Long March 6 is apparently designed for rapid call-up, giving China a more responsive rocket to launch on need. Animation of the Long March 6’s upper stage with the mission’s payload cluster. Credit: CCTV “Loading, testing and positioning were finished when the Long March 6 rocket was at a horizontal position, before it was lifted to an upright position for launching,” said Zhang Weidong, designer-in-chief at the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. “We believe it will greatly boost the competitiveness of Chinese carrier rockets in the international market. The new model will also significantly improve our ability to access space,” Zhang said in a report by China’s official Xinhua news agency. Xinhua reported the Long March 6 will mainly be used to launch small microsatellites. Standing about 95 feet tall, it can haul up to 1,500 kilograms, or 3,300 pounds, of cargo into low-altitude orbits, according to Sinodefence.com, a British website specializing in Chinese military matters. Some of the 20 satellites sent into space Saturday went up housed inside mothership satellites, where they were stowed for later deployment. Many were assembled by students at Chinese universities, officials said. They will conduct technology demonstrations in orbit, including tests of electric propulsion, in-space communications links, new software and cameras, nanotechnology, and amateur radio relay, officials said. The 20-payload haul is the most number of satellites ever launched on a single rocket by China. http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/09/20/debut-launch-of-long-march-6-deploys-20-satellites/ Later....... Editor misbehaving...doubleposting by merging.......? Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 22, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 22, 2015 India to launch its first space observatory next week India will launch its first space observatory Astrosat next week, a senior space official said Monday. "The 1.5-ton space observatory will be launched by the Indian Space Research Organization on board the country's indigenous PSLV rocket from the southern spaceport of Shriharikota on September 28, " the official said, on condition of anonymity. "The observatory will study celestial bodies once it is placed successfully into a 650 km orbit. Six more satellites - one each from Indonesia and Canada, and four from the United States - will also be launched on board the rocket," he added. If successful, India will join the elite club of three countries - the United States, Russia and Japan - which have launched a space observatory. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/India_to_launch_its_first_space_observatory_next_week_999.html Later....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 23, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 23, 2015 Moscow to Launch Telecom Satellites on Rokot Carrier Rocket Russian Defense Ministry announced the launch of the Rokot lightweight launch vehicle carrying Rodnik communication satellites from the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome. Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday plans to launch a Rokot carrier rocket from the Plesetsk space center in northwestern Russia to put Rodnik communications satellites into orbit, the ministry's press service announced Monday. The launch of the Rokot lightweight launch vehicle carrying Rodnik communication satellites from the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome," the press service announced on its official website. The Rokot launch vehicle, developed by the Russian state-run Khrunichev Center, is a modification of the RS-18 (SS-19 Stiletto) two-stage ballistic missile that is being decommissioned from Russia's Strategic Missile Forces. The Rodnik satellite is a telecommunication vehicle designed to establish communications between remote areas that lack proper communication connections. As Rodnik passes over a territory, the satellite's systems collect messages which they then downlink once they reach the designated recipient. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Moscow_to_Launch_Telecom_Satellites_on_Rokot_Carrier_Rocket_999.html Sept. 23Rockot • Rodnik Launch time: Approx. 2200 GMT (6 p.m. EDT)Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia A Russian government Rockot vehicle will launch three Rodnik communications satellites for the Russian military. [Sept. 21] Sept. 28PSLV • Astrosat Launch time: 0430 GMT (12:30 a.m. EDT)Launch site: Satish Dhawan Space Center, Sriharikota, India India’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), flying on the PSLV-C30 mission in the PSLV-XL configuration, will launch the Astrosat observatory. Astrosat is India’s first dedicated astronomical satellite mission, and it carries instruments to observe the universe in visible, ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths, studying black holes, neutron stars, pulsars, quasars, white dwarfs, and active galactic nuclei. [Sept. 17] Sept. 30Ariane 5 • NBN Co 1A & Arsat 2 Launch window: 2019-2146 GMT (4:19-5:46 p.m. EDT)Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA226, to launch the NBN Co 1A and Arsat 2 satellites. The NBN Co 1A satellite will provide high-speed Internet services for Australia’s National Broadband Network. Arsat 2 will provide data transmission, Internet and television services over the Americas for the Arsat operator based in Argentina. [Aug. 20] Oct. 1Soyuz • Progress 61P Launch window: 1649 GMT (12:49 p.m. EDT)Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch the 61st Progress cargo delivery ship to the International Space Station. Moved forward from Oct. 22. Delayed from Sept. 21. [Aug. 17] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted September 24, 2015 Author Veteran Share Posted September 24, 2015 Rokot launches three Russian military satellites into orbit File photo Three military satellites launched from the Plesetsk space center have been successfully put into orbit. The military satellites launched from the Plesetsk space center with the help of the Rokot carrier rocket early on Thursday have been successfully put into orbit, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson told RIA Novosti. "The light-class Rokot carrier rocket successfully put into orbit at the designated time three Russian Defense Ministry space vehicles," the spokesperson said. The Rokot rocket was launched from the Plesetsk facility in northwestern Russia at 01:00 Moscow time on Thursday, September 24 (22:00 GMT on Wednesday). The Rokot launch vehicle, developed by the Russian state-run Khrunichev Center, is a modification of the RS-18 (SS-19 Stiletto) two-stage ballistic missile that is being decommissioned from Russia's Strategic Missile Forces. The Rokot carrier rocket has been successfully launched from the Plesetsk facility 23 times since its first launch on May 16, 2000. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Rokot_launches_three_Russian_military_satellites_into_orbit_999.html ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ninth Rodnik mission launched Artist rendering of a Rodnik-type satellite deployed in orbit. A long boom pointing toward the center of the Earth helps the spacecraft to maintain a constant orientation in space without use of propellant, thanks to gravitational pull of our planet. 2015 Sept. 24: Breaking with its long tradition of not identifying military payloads prior to their launches, on Sept. 21, 2015, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that a cluster of Rodnik communications satellites would be launched on the Rockot booster from Plesetskon Sept. 24, 2015. According to the official Russian media, the liftoff took place at 01:00 Moscow Time (6 p.m. EDT on September 23) and the payload section successfully separated from the second stage of the launch vehicle at 01:05 Moscow Time. The release of the spacecraft was promised in around two hours. The successful release of the satellites was officially confirmed shortly after scheduled separation. Rodnik's current launch profile Like all other Rockot missions, Rodnik satellite clusters lift off from Facility 14P25 at Pad 3 at Site 133 in Plesetsk with a vertical launch from a surface-based container. To reach an orbit with an inclination 82.5 degrees, the Rockot booster heads northeast from Plesetsk with an azimuth of 13.7 degrees. The first stage powered by three RD-0233 engines and one RD-0234 engine operates for around two minutes and separates under thrust of small solid-propellant motors at an altitude of around 65 kilometers. It then crashes into the Arctic Ocean, just west of Novaya Zemlya archipelago, more than 1,000 kilometers from the launch site. At the time of the separation, four small RD-0235 vernier engines on the second stage already fire to provide initial acceleration for the vehicle, followed by the ignition of the main RD-0236 engine after the first stage falls away. Shortly thereafter, the payload fairing splits into two halves with the help of 32 pyrotechnic locks and falls away. Five minutes after the liftoff, at an altitude of more than 200 kilometers, the Briz-KM upper stage with its three payloads separates from the second stage, which also fires its breaking solid motors and then reenters the atmosphere and falls into the Arctic Ocean more than 3,700 kilometers downrange. Four seconds later, Briz-KM fires its main engine for about nine minutes in order to reach a 160 by 1,479-kilometer transfer orbit with an inclination 82.5 degrees toward the Equator. The upper stage and its payload then climb passively along its orbit. After the stack reaches the highest point (apogee) of this orbit around an hour later, Briz-KM fires its engine again for about a minute, forming a final circular orbit of the mission at an altitude of 1,500 kilometers above the Earth surface and stretching from the South Pole to the North Pole of the planet. The three satellites separate from the upper stage one hour, 50 minutes after launch. Around 11 minutes later, Briz-KM is programmed to fire its engine for less than two minutes in order to avoid collision with its released payloads. Rodnik (Strela-3M) launches: No. Launch date Launcher Payloads 1 2005 Dec. 21 Kosmos-3M Kosmos-2416 (Rodnik/Strela-3M), Gonets-1M 2 2008 May 23 Rockot Kosmos-2437, Kosmos-2438, Kosmos-2439 (Rodnik/Strela-3M), Yubileiny 3 2009 July 6 Rockot Kosmos-2451, Kosmos-2452, Kosmos-2453 (Rodnik/Strela-3M) 4 2010 Sept. 8 Rockot Kosmos-2467, Kosmos-2468 (Rodnik/Strela-3M), Gonets-M No. 12 5 2012 July 28 Rockot Kosmos-2481 (Rodnik/Strela-3M), Gonets-M No. 13, Gonets-M No. 14 6 2013 Jan. 15 Rockot Kosmos-2482, Kosmos-2483, Kosmos-2484 (Rodnik/Strela-3M) 7 2013 Dec. 25 Rockot Kosmos-2488, Kosmos-2489, Kosmos-2490 (Rodnik/Strela-3M); Kosmos-2491* 8 2014 May 23 Rockot Kosmos-2496, Kosmos-2497, Kosmos-2498, (Rodnik/Strela-3M); Kosmos-2499* 9 2015 Sept. 24 Rockot Three Rodnik satellites Specifications of the Rodnik (Strela-3M/14F132) satellites Orbit Circular, altitude: 1,350-1,500 kilometers Orbital inclination 82.5 degrees toward the Equator Life span 5 years Mass 280 kilograms Onboard power supply 300 Watts Developer ISS Reshetnev http://www.russianspaceweb.com/rodnik.html#2015 Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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