BetaguyGZT Posted May 12, 2016 Share Posted May 12, 2016 Hey, Core Samples. Just what we needed from the Lunar South Pole. I most certainly would like to see the data of that strata. Yes! Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 14, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 14, 2016 Launch of Russia’s Glonass-M satellite rescheduled to May 29 — manufacturer Andrei Morgunov/ITAR-TASS Quote KOROLYOV (Moscow Region), May 13. /TASS/. The launch of Glonass-M satellite No. 53 from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in north Russia has been rescheduled from May 21 to May 29, Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems CEO Nikolay Testoyedov said on Friday. The launch postponement has nothing to do with the satellite’s condition, he said. "The launch is planned for May 29 not because of the satellite. This is the decision of the state commission. Today we have received a notice that the launch will take place on May 29. I don’t know the reason for that but this surely has nothing to do with the satellite," Testoyedov said. Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos announced earlier that a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket was expected to bring a new Glonass-M satellite into orbit. As Roscosmos reported on Thursday, up to eight satellites may replenish Russia’s grouping of the GLONASS satellite navigation system before the end of 2017. Both Soyuz spacecraft and Proton-M heavy carrier rockets may be used for the launches. A source in the space rocket industry told TASS that the launch of a Proton carrier rocket with three GLONASS satellites may take place already before the end of 2016. http://tass.ru/en/science/875437 ------------------- Payload integration begins for Arianespace’s next Soyuz mission with Galileo spacecraft In the photo series above, Galileo FOC satellite “Danielė” is moved into position, then integrated on its payload dispenser during activity at the Spaceport’s S3B payload preparation facility. Quote The first of two Galileo navigation satellites to be orbited on Arianespace’s May 24 Soyuz flight has been integrated on its payload dispenser system, marking a key step as preparations advance for this medium-lift mission from French Guiana. Named “Danielė,” the spacecraft was installed this week during activity inside the Spaceport’s S3B payload preparation facility. It is to be joined on the dispenser system by the mission’s other passenger – “Alizée,” whose own installation is forthcoming – in a side-by-side arrangement. The pair – each named after children who won a European Commission-organized painting competition in 2011 – are then to be mated atop Soyuz’ Fregat upper stage and encapsulated in the protective payload fairing. Prime contractor OHB System in Bremen, Germany produced the satellites, and their onboard payloads are supplied by UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL) – which is 99-percent owned by Airbus Defence and Space. Quote “Danielė” and “Alizée” will become the 13th and 14th FOC (Full Operational Capability) spacecraft to join Europe’s Galileo navigation system – which was conceived to provide high-quality positioning, navigation and timing services under civilian control. Its FOC phase is managed and funded by the European Commission, with the European Space Agency (ESA) delegated as the design and procurement agent on the Commission’s behalf. The May 24 flight is designed Flight VS15 and will be performed from the purpose-built ELS launch complex at Europe’s Spaceport – with Arianespace’s Soyuz carrying out a nearly 3-hour, 48-minute mission to place its Galileo passengers into a targeted circular orbit at an altitude of 23,522 km., inclined 57.394 degrees to the equator. Total payload lift performance is estimated at 1,599 kg. http://www.arianespace.com/mission-update/payload-integration-begins-for-arianespaces-next-soyuz-mission-with-galileo/ ------------------------------ Launch Schedule Quote May 14/15 Long March 2D • Gaofen 10 Launch time: Approx. 0240 GMT on 15th (10:40 p.m. EDT on 14th) Launch site: Jiuquan, China A Chinese Long March 2D rocket will launch with the Gaofen 10 Earth observation satellite. [May 6] May 24 Soyuz • Galileo 13 & 14 Launch time: 0848:43 GMT (4:48:43 a.m. EDT) Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS15, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry two Galileo full operational capability satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation constellation. The Soyuz 2-1b (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat-MT upper stage. [April 20] May 26 Falcon 9 • Thaicom 8 Launch time: 2140 GMT (5:40 p.m. EDT) Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Thaicom 8 communications satellite. Thaicom 8 will provide Ku-band broadcast and data services to Thailand, Southeast Asia, India and Africa. Moved forward from June. [May 6] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ BetaguyGZT 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 16, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 16, 2016 China’s Long March 2D successfully sends Reconnaissance Satellite into Orbit Photo: Xinhua Quote China conducted its fifth successful orbital launch of the year on Sunday involving a Long March 2D rocket lifting the Yaogan-30 reconnaissance satellite into orbit. Liftoff from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi desert occurred at 2:43 UTC and Chinese state media confirmed the success of the launch around an hour later after the satellite was confirmed in its working orbit over 600 Kilometers in altitude. As has become the norm with the semi-classified Yaogan program, the satellite is advertised to be of use in “experiments, land surveys, crop yield estimates and disaster relief.” However, the program is primarily dedicated to military reconnaissance using different types of optical, radar and electronic intelligence satellites. Chinese officials insist the Yaogan program is used for experiments, land surveys, crop yield estimates and disaster monitoring, but the consensus among outside observers is that Yaogan is a military program conducting reconnaissance on a global scale. This conclusion is based on information released by Chinese sources, the observed structure of the satellite constellation and its high launch rate that by far surpasses any of the civilian satellite programs. The newer optical satellites in the Yaogan series are likely based on the Phoenix Eye-2 satellite platform that is also employed by the Ziyuan Earth observation satellites. – Image: CCTV more at.... http://spaceflight101.com/china-yaogan-30-launch/ more data at... https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/05/china-yaogan-30-long-march-2d/ Long March 2D Rocket video is 0:32 min. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 17, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 17, 2016 Vantablack is back in the news, and now in use.... World's Blackest Coating Material Makes its Debut in Space Quote The ultra-black Vantablack surface coating material has made its space debut in an optical instrument on board the Kent Ridge 1 satellite. The material's ability to absorb virtually all incident light improves the performance of the satellite's star tracker-based positioning control system. Kent Ridge 1 is a low earth orbit (LEO) microsatellite developed by Berlin Space Technology (BST) in conjunction with the National University of Singapore. It carries two hyper-spectral imaging systems and a high resolution video camera for Earth observation. The Vantablack coating minimizes interference resulting from stray-light inside the star trackers. The new S-VIS version of Surrey NanoSystems' Vantablack is used for this application as it is ideally suited to coating complex space-borne components, and its performance far outstrips that of traditionally-used black paints. Vantablack S-VIS is so effective it traps 99.8% of light hitting its surface. The star tracker is a key element of BST's microsatellite design. On previous satellite missions, BST has used a super-black paint on the baffles inside the optical positioning system to minimize internal reflections and provide an accurate position reference based on a map of the stars. The availability of Surrey NanoSystems' Vantablack coatings, which utilize an innovative carbon nanotube structure to absorb light, decreases the amount of reflected light by an order of magnitude compared with conventional coatings, and extends the angular range over which the star tracker is able to operate in the presence of bright light sources such as the Sun and Moon. This improves the robustness of the Earth observation instruments on the satellite, and reduces the need for gyroscope-aided position control that can introduce drift errors over time. Berlin Space Technologies' Kent Ridge 1 satellite during system building and testing. Vantablack is used to improve the performance of the star tracker optical system - visible on the top surface of the satellite. On the Kent Ridge 1 mission, BST decided to apply Vantablack to an existing baffle design, allowing its performance to be compared with previous generation instruments through measurement of the best 'sun exclusion angle'. However, BST anticipates that it will be able to further reduce the size and weight of its star tracker systems in future, thanks to Vantablack enabling the design of shorter and lighter baffles offering the same high performance. more at the link... http://spaceref.com/nanotechnology/worlds-blackest-coating-material-makes-its-debut-in-space.html Info on Vantablack... Quote The name comes from the term "Vertically Aligned NanoTube Arrays" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vantablack 'Vantablack' - the darkest black invented - BBC - 3rd February 2016 video is 4:28 min. Lynx Vantablack | Darkest material known to man, at Lynx Black Space video is 1:05 min. Handles extreme temperature variations without deformation Vantablack vs. Liquid Nitrogen video is 1:28 min. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 17, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 17, 2016 Full-Scale Production of Plutonium Spacecraft Fuel Still Years Away Quote The United States has begun manufacturing nuclear spacecraft fuel for the first time in a generation, but full production of the stuff is still seven years or so away. In December, officials at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee announced that researchers at the site had generated a 1.8-ounce (50 grams) sample of plutonium-238, the fuel that powers deep-space missions such as NASA's New Horizons Pluto probe and Cassini Saturn orbiter. The milestone marked the first domestic production of Pu-238 since the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, another DOE facility, stopped making the fuel in the late 1980s. But Oak Ridge is still at the proof-of-concept stage in the restart, and it will therefore be a few years before the lab begins churning out large amounts of Pu-238, officials said. [U.S. Makes Plutonium-238 for Deep-Space Exploration (Video)] "What we're shooting for is to get to an interim production level of around 400 to 500 grams [14 to 18 ounces] per year in 2019, and then full-scale, a kilogram and a half [3.3 lbs.] — if everything goes right — in 2023," Bob Wham, the Pu-238 project lead in the Nuclear Security and Isotope Technology division at Oak Ridge, said last month during a presentation with NASA's Future In-Space Operations (FISO) working group. more at the link... http://www.space.com/32890-nuclear-fuel-spacecraft-production-plutonium-238.html /s May be just me, but I'd be a little edgy about having someone named Bob Wham, anywhere near this stuff. " Bob, hands off the goodies " ------------------------------ Quote May 24 Soyuz • Galileo 13 & 14 Launch time: 0848:43 GMT (4:48:43 a.m. EDT) Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS15, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry two Galileo full operational capability satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation constellation. The Soyuz 2-1b (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat-MT upper stage. [April 20] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ SOYUZ FLIGHT VS15 with Galileo FOC-M5 SAT 13-14 satellites Launch kit http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Dossier-de-presse-VS15-GB.pdf Press Release http://www.arianespace.com/press-release/flight-vs15-arianespaces-latest-soyuz-launch-for-the-european-galileo-constellation/ ------------------------------- ISRO’s Reusable Launch Vehicle to take off next week ISRO Quote The first technology demonstrator (TD) launch of the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), or the spaceplane in popular parlance, will take place on May 23 at 9.30 a.m. from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota, according to ISRO officials. Visually, the RLV-TD is a rocket-aircraft combination measuring about 17 m, whose first stage is a solid propellant booster rocket and the second stage is a 6.5 m long aircraft-like winged structure sitting atop the rocket. A misnomer However, the popular perception of the technology as a marriage between rocket and aircraft is a misnomer. In RLV-TD that is awaiting launch at SHAR, the first stage, weighing about 9 tonnes, is merely the Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-3) flown in the 1980s. The vehicle will take off like a rocket and the RLV will be taken to a height of 70 km and where the booster will release the vehicle to carry out its manoeuvres. Hypersonic Experiment 1 According to Dr. K. Sivan, director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvanathapuram, where the RLV was designed, assembled and where it underwent basic electrical, hydraulic and “sign check” tests, the objective is to achieve hypersonic speeds to basically test the hypersonic aero-thermodynamic characterisation of the winged body’s re-entry, its control and guidance systems, autonomous mission management to land at a specific location at sea and testing of “hot structures” that make up the structure of the RLV. The test is, therefore, termed as Hypersonic Experiment 1 (HEX-1). more at the link... http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/isros-reusable-launch-vehicle-to-take-off-next-week/article8608302.ece BetaguyGZT 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 20, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 20, 2016 China to debut new rocket and spaceport next month A ground model of China’s new Long March 7 rocket passed a test campaign at the Wenchang space base last year. Credit: CCTV Quote China plans to launch its first Long March 7 rocket, a new kerosene-fueled booster capable of carrying supplies to the country’s planned space station, by the end of June on a test flight that will reportedly loft an unpiloted prototype of a future crew capsule. The Long March 7’s maiden flight will not only test the new rocket and a next-generation human-rated spacecraft. It will also mark the first use of a new island spaceport in the South China Sea. Rocket components slated for the Long March 7’s inaugural flight left port at Tianjin, China, on May 8, heading to the launch base on Hainan Island off China’s southern coast, the official state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The shipment arrived at Hainan on May 14, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp., the Chinese space program’s government-owned prime contractor. China is developing a new fleet of launchers to replace its antiquated Long March rockets, which burn a toxic mixture of hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellants. The new rockets consume kerosene and liquid oxygen, a more environmentally friendly combination. Flights from the Hainan spaceport, named the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center, will drop spent rocket stages over the ocean instead of on land. Built between 2009 and 2014, the launch center sits at 19 degrees north latitude, closer to the equator than any other Chinese rocket base, giving China better access to place satellites in geostationary orbit. China also plans to use the new spaceport for interplanetary missions, including the Chang’e 5 robotic lunar probe, which aims to return samples from the moon as soon as next year. Quote Chinese officials said the rocket hardware and ground facilities are in good condition, and everything is on schedule for the Long March 7’s maiden flight next month. Research and development tasks on the medium-class rocket are complete, and engineers successfully put a full-scale model of the Long March 7 through a mock launch campaign at Wenchang last year. Hotfire tests of the Long March 7’s engines are also complete. The 53-meter (174-foot-tall) rocket carries four liquid-fueled strap-on boosters, each powered by a single kerosene-fed YF-100 engine. The Long March 7’s first stage is propelled by two of the YF-100 powerplants, each producing about 270,000 pounds of thrust at sea level. Collectively, the engines will give the rocket more than 1.6 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. Four smaller YF-115 engines, burning the same kerosene/liquid oxygen mixture, are mounted on the Long March 7’s second stage. The Long March 7 also features self-monitoring computers and waterproofed components to withstand the wet, tropical conditions at the Wengchang launch base. China’s existing spaceports are located in drier climates. The main objective of the Long March 7’s first flight is to fully verify the rocket’s design, confirm its performance, and conduct research and space technology tests, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. or CASC. Chinese aerospace technicians are pictured with a nose cone for one of the Long March 7 rocket’s strap-on boosters. Credit: Xinhua Quote Development of the Long March 7 rocket officially started in 2011, CASC said on its website, This could be a banner year for China’s space program, with the debut of the Wenchang space center and the Long March 7 planned in June, followed by the maiden flight of the heavy-lift Long March 5 launcher from Wenchang before the end of 2016. The Long March 5 rocket will loft up to 25 metric tons, or 55,000 pounds, to low Earth orbit, enough to place heavy modules in orbit for China’s planned space station. The heavy-lifter can put up to 14 metric tons, or nearly 31,000 pounds, into geostationary transfer orbit, the destination favored by most communications satellites. That is roughly equivalent to the capacity of United Launch Alliance’s Delta 4-Heavy rocket, and two-and-a-half times China’s current lift capability. China plans to replace its current outdated rockets — based on decades-old designs — with a new fleet of Long March 5, 6 and 7 boosters. The Long March 6 is the smallest of the bunch, capable of catapulting small satellites into low-altitude orbits. It successfully flew for the first time in September 2015, demonstrating the YF-100 engine during a real launch. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/18/china-to-debut-new-rocket-and-spaceport-next-month/ They have a plan and apparently are not afraid to put money into it. I hope they do well for science. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 20, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 20, 2016 Next pair of Galileo navigation satellites encapsulated for launch The next two Galileo satellites were encapsulated for next week’s launch Thursday. Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – JM Guillon Quote Europe’s nearly $8 billion Galileo navigation system, an analog to the U.S. GPS satellite network, is hitting a stride in production and launches, with another two spacecraft encapsulated Wednesday inside the fairing of a Soyuz rocket for liftoff next week. The two navigation satellites will become the 13th and 14th operational Galileo craft launched since 2011. With a successful launch May 24, the Galileo system will have received six new satellites since September 2015. Technicians at the European-run space center in French Guiana enclosed the Galileo satellites and their Russian-built Fregat space tug inside their aerodynamic shield Wednesday, a day after the satellites were mounted side-by-side atop the Fregat. Workers then adorned the fairing with traditional decals. A Russian Soyuz-2.1b rocket is scheduled to roll out of its MIK integration building at the Guiana Space Center on Thursday for a nearly 700-meter (2,300-foot) trip to the launch pad. Ground crews will move a mobile service structure around the Soyuz rocket later Friday to add the launcher’s upper composite, comprising the Galileo satellites, Fregat stage and payload fairing. Each Galileo spacecraft weighs about 715 kilograms, or 1,576 pounds, with a full tank of propellant. Liftoff is scheduled for Tuesday at 0848:43 GMT (4:48:43 a.m. EDT; 5:48:43 a.m. French Guiana time) at an instantaneous launch opportunity. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/19/next-pair-of-galileo-navigation-satellites-encapsulated-for-launch/ Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – JM Guillon Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – JM Guillon Photo credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – JM Guillon ---------------------------------- Quote May 24 Soyuz • Galileo 13 & 14 Launch time: 0848:43 GMT (4:48:43 a.m. EDT) Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS15, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry two Galileo full operational capability satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation constellation. The Soyuz 2-1b (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat-MT upper stage. [April 20] May 26 Falcon 9 • Thaicom 8 Launch time: 2140 GMT (5:40 p.m. EDT) Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Thaicom 8 communications satellite. Thaicom 8 will provide Ku-band broadcast and data services to Thailand, Southeast Asia, India and Africa. Moved forward from June. [May 6] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 21, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 21, 2016 A Tale of Two Prizes SpaceShipOne on the floor beside the Spirit of St. Louis of the National Air & Space Museum. (Credit: National Air & Space Museum) Quote Two major flight-related anniversaries are being celebrated this week. Today marks the 89th anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s historic solo flight across the Atlantic aboard the Spirit of St. Louis. Lucky Lindy took off from New York on this date and arrived in Paris some 33.5 hours later, claiming the $25,000 Orteig Prize. Wednesday was the 20th anniversary of the launch of X Prize (later Ansari X Prize). Inspired by the Orteig Prize, it offered $10 million for the first privately build vehicle to fly to suborbital space twice within two weeks. The Ansari X Prize was won in October 2004 by a team led by Burt Rutan and Paul Allen with SpaceShipOne. much more at the link... http://www.parabolicarc.com/2016/05/20/tale-prizes/ And yes...that is X-1 #46-062, nicknamed "Glamorous Glennis" up on top. Bell X-1 Smithsonian https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_X-1 http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?object=nasm_A19510007000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 23, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 23, 2016 India launches first indigenous space shuttle RLV-TD from Sriharikota The RLV Technology Demonstration (RLV-TD), that is ultimately aimed at putting satellites into orbit around earth and then re-enter atmosphere, was carried up on a solid rocket motor. Quote Sriharikota: India on Sunday successfully launched the first technology demonstrator of indigenously made Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), capable of launching satellites into orbit around earth and then re-enter the atmosphere, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. "Mission accomplished successfully," an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) spokesman said, soon after RLV-TD HEX-01 was flight tested with the take off at 7 am. This is the first time ISRO has launched a winged flight vehicle, which glided back onto a virtual runway in the Bay of Bengal, some 500 kilometres from the coast. Known as hypersonic flight experiment, it was about 10 minutes mission from liftoff to splashdown. The RLV-TD is a scaled-down model of the reusable launch vehicle. RLV, being dubbed as India's own space shuttle, is the unanimous solution to achieve low cost, reliable and on-demand space access, according to ISRO scientists. RLV-TD is a series of technology demonstration missions that have been considered as a first step towards realising a Two Stage To Orbit (TSTO) fully re-usable vehicle, ISRO said. It has been configured to act as a flying testbed to evaluate various technologies, including hypersonic flight, autonomous landing, powered cruise flight and hypersonic flight using air-breathing propulsion, it said. The 6.5 metre long 'aeroplane'-like structure weighing 1.75 tons was hoisted into the atmosphere on a special rocket booster. The RLV-TD is described as "a very preliminary step" in the development of a reusable rocket, whose final version is expected to take in 10 to 15 years. http://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/230516/india-launches-first-indigenous-space-shuttle-rlv-td-from-sriharikota.html At 6.5 metres, this space shuttle is a scaled down replica of the final one, planned to be 40 metres. ISRO The space shuttle was built by a team of 600 scientists. ISRO Above 2 images... http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/exclusive-making-of-indias-space-shuttle-the-inside-story-1408551 ISRO embarks on launching Indian space shuttle (Not Launch Video) video is 1:51 min. Hopefully, we will have more info today... Jim K 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted May 23, 2016 Global Moderator Share Posted May 23, 2016 Wait...what? India has a space shuttle now (looks somewhat similar to our X-37)? That is pretty cool...I need to start reading up more. Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted May 23, 2016 Global Moderator Share Posted May 23, 2016 Speaking of the India space shuttle launch. Couple of pictures from isro.gov.in http://www.isro.gov.in/update/23-may-2016/india%E2%80%99s-reusable-launch-vehicle-technology-demonstrator-rlv-td-successfully Draggendrop and DocM 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 24, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 24, 2016 bit more data.... ISRO India successfully launches reusable space shuttle prototype video is 0:48 min. 'Mission accomplished' as made-in-India space shuttle tests video is 2:15 min. India’s Reusable Launch Vehicle Testbed soars to Success in first High-Speed Flight http://spaceflight101.com/rlv-td-hex-success/ India's budget mini space shuttle blasts off http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Indias_budget_mini_space_shuttle_blasts_off_999.html India’s RLV demonstrator completes test flight http://spacenews.com/indias-rlv-demonstrator-completes-test-flight/ Overall, well done. Jim K and BetaguyGZT 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 24, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 24, 2016 Quote May 24 Soyuz • Galileo 13 & 14 Launch time: 0848:43 GMT (4:48:43 a.m. EDT) Launch site: ELS, Sinnamary, French Guiana An Arianespace Soyuz rocket, designated VS15, will launch on a mission from the Guiana Space Center in South America. The Soyuz will carry two Galileo full operational capability satellites for Europe’s Galileo navigation constellation. The Soyuz 2-1b (Soyuz ST-B) rocket will use a Fregat-MT upper stage. [April 20] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Quote Tuesday’s VS15 launch marks the last planned Soyuz mission dedicated to the deployment of Galileo with subsequent launches switching to the Ariane 5 rocket that can lift four satellites into orbit. The first quadruplet launch is planned later this year followed by another two launches in 2017/2018 to bring the satellite constellation to operational strength. Tuesday’s mission was added to the Galileo launch manifest earlier in the year based on the readiness of the satellites and the desire to accelerate the deployment pace. With four satellites flying on Ariane 5 in the fall, the Galileo constellation will enter its Initial Operational Capability, offering navigation services to customers. http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-rocket-poised-to-lift-next-pair-of-galileo-navigation-satellites/ BetaguyGZT 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 25, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 25, 2016 Soyuz launch adds two more satellites to Galileo navigation fleet A Soyuz rocket blasted off at 0848 GMT (4:48 a.m. EDT; 5:48 a.m. French Guiana time) Tuesday from the European-run spaceport in French Guiana. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – P. Piron Quote Two more Galileo satellites successfully catapulted into space from the French Guiana jungle aboard a Soyuz rocket Tuesday, putting Europe’s multibillion-dollar navigation system on track to begin limited global service later this year. Nearly five years into Galileo’s operational deployment, the navigation system has hit a stride in satellite production and rocket launches long sought by European politicians and engineers who have worked on the ambitious project since its inception. “We are now at cruising speed as far as deployment is concerned,” said Paul Verhoef, director of the Galileo program and navigation-related activities at the European Space Agency, a senior partner on the space-based positioning project, which is led by the European Commission. The successful launch Tuesday put the 13th and 14th satellites into the Galileo constellation, which needs 24 spacecraft for an unimpeded global reach and will eventually consist of 30 navigation stations in orbit, including spares. Quote Several countries outside the EU have requested access to the regulated service, including the U.S. and Norwegian governments. “The initial services will be anounced towards the end of the year,” Verhoef said. “We need to have a minimum set of the constellation, and the ground segment in place, in order to do that. This is almost in place at the moment.” Verhoef said engineers are monitoring the performance of Galileo’s satellites and ground support infrastructure to ensure all components are ready for the initial services. “The results of that are very encouraging,” Verhoef said, adding that the test campaign is only about half-complete to date. Heavy-lifting Ariane 5 rockets will launch the next 12 Galileo satellites, carrying four craft at a time into orbit. Verhoef said the first Ariane 5 launch for the Galileo program is currently set for Nov. 17. A new type of satellite dispenser is needed to accommodate four Galileo satellites on a single Ariane 5 launch. It is in the final stages of testing at an Airbus Defense and Space facility in Bordeaux, France. “Testing of the dispenser is currently ongoing,” Verhoef said. “In parallel, the qualification of the launcher is ongoing. There are no concerns at the moment, so we seem to be on track for a November launch.” Galileo missions will fly on the Ariane 5ES version of the European launcher. That configuration features a second stage consuming storable hydrazine fuel with a re-ignitable Aestus engine. Four-satellite dispenser for Galileo’s Ariane 5 seen during shaker testing at Airbus Defence and Space near Bordeaux. The dispenser has had four Galileo engineering models attached to it for test purposes. Credit: ESA Quote Another Ariane 5 mission is set for July 12 with a Japanese military communications satellite and an Indian spacecraft to relay television programming. The Soyuz rocket’s next mission from French Guiana is scheduled for early 2017. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/05/24/soyuz-launch-adds-two-more-satellites-to-galileo-navigation-fleet/ Pre-Dawn Soyuz Launch successfully places Galileo Satellite Pair into Orbit http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs-15-launch-success-galileo-fm-10-11/ Double launch! Soyuz rocket carrying 2 Galileo satellites lifts off video is 0:49 min. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 26, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 26, 2016 Here is a rocket cam shot of the ISRO RLV launch. RLV On board Camera Footage video is 1:24 min. Launch Schedule Quote May 26 Falcon 9 • Thaicom 8 Launch time: 2140 GMT (5:40 p.m. EDT) Launch site: SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Thaicom 8 communications satellite. Thaicom 8 will provide Ku-band broadcast and data services to Thailand, Southeast Asia, India and Africa. Moved forward from June. [May 6] May 29 Soyuz • Glonass M Launch time: 0844:37 GMT (4:44:37 a.m. EDT) Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch a Glonass M navigation satellite. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz 2-1b configuration with a Fregat upper stage. Delayed from May 21. [May 23] May 29/30 Long March 4B • Ziyuan 3 Launch time: 0317 GMT on 30th (11:17 p.m. EDT on 29th) Launch site: Taiyuan, China A Chinese Long March 4B rocket will launch the second Ziyuan 3 land survey satellite and the ÑuSat 1 and ÑuSat 2 commercial high-resolution Earth observation microsatellites for Satellogic of Argentina. [May 23] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ BetaguyGZT and Jim K 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 29, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 29, 2016 Soyuz Rocket set for Sunday Liftoff to replenish Glonass Navigation Constellation Photo: Russian Ministry of Defence (File) Quote A Russian Soyuz rocket is set for liftoff on Sunday from the country’s primary military launch site at Plesetsk on a mission to replenish the Glonass navigation satellite system. Maintenance of the Glonass system has been transitioned to a launch-on-need system, delivering new satellites to orbit when older spacecraft need to be placed into retirement or show signs of degradation. Soyuz, flying in its most-powerful 2-1B version, is set for liftoff from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 8:44 UTC to mark the start of a nine and a half-minute ascent mission by the Soyuz booster before handing off to the Fregat-MT upper stage to complete a flight of over three hours to lift the Glonass-M No. 52 satellite into Medium Earth Orbit over 19,000 Kilometers in altitude. As has been common with launches from Russia’s primary military launch site, no pre-launch status updates were available in the run-up to this mission. The only source of information on the upcoming launch came forward in the form of navigational warnings published to warn of falling rocket debris along the vehicle’s expected ground track. Glonass-M Satellite – Photo: ISS Reshetnev Image: ISS Reshetnev Quote Because this launch is a military mission, no webcast will be provided and information released on the progress of the mission will be limited. much more data at the link... http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-glonass-m-52-preview/ Quote May 29 Soyuz • Glonass M Launch time: 0844:37 GMT (4:44:37 a.m. EDT) Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch a Glonass M navigation satellite. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz 2-1b configuration with a Fregat upper stage. Delayed from May 21. [May 23] May 29/30 Long March 4B • Ziyuan 3 Launch time: 0317 GMT on 30th (11:17 p.m. EDT on 29th) Launch site: Taiyuan, China A Chinese Long March 4B rocket will launch the second Ziyuan 3 land survey satellite and the ÑuSat 1 and ÑuSat 2 commercial high-resolution Earth observation microsatellites for Satellogic of Argentina. [May 23] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 29, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 29, 2016 Soyuz Rocket blasts off with Glonass Navigation Satellite to replenish aging Constellation Photo: Russian Ministry of Defence Quote Russia’s Soyuz workhorse rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 8:44 UTC on Sunday, embarking on a three-and-a-half-hour mission to a 19,100-Kilometer orbit around Earth to deliver a Glonass-M navigation satellite, replenishing the aging constellation as part of standard upkeep and maintenance. Making its second launch of the week after Tuesday’s Galileo deployment from French Guiana, Soyuz blasted off from Site 43/4 at Russia’s primary military launch site, flying to the south east. The 46-meter tall Soyuz again delivered a flawless performance as part of a nine-and-a-half-minute ascent mission to lift the Fregat-M upper stage to a sub-orbital trajectory to take over control of the mission. To directly deliver Glonass-M No. 53 close to the constellation’s operational orbit, the Fregat Upper Stage was tasked with three engine burns – the first immediately after separation from Soyuz to enter a preliminary Low Earth Orbit, the second to lift the apogee to over 19,100 Kilometers followed by a three-hour coast phase to set up for the critical circularization. Glonass-M was released into its target Medium Earth Orbit at 12:16 UTC and established communications with ground control. The following orbital parameters were released for the Glonass-M No. 53 satellite and its spent Fregat Upper Stage: 2016-032A - 19,125 x 19,152 km - 64.82° [Glonass-M No. 53] 2016-032B - 19,149 x 19,491 km - 64.80° [Fregat R/B] http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-glonass-m-53-launch/ http://www.russianspaceweb.com/glonass54.html Start carrier rocket Soyuz-2.1b with the spacecraft "Glonass-M" from Plesetsk video is 1:34 min. Quote Published on May 29, 2016 May 29, 2016, at 11 hours and 45 minutes (MSK) from the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region of combat crews of the Space Forces air and space forces conducted a successful launch of the launch vehicle of the middle class "Soyuz-2.1b" with the Russian navigation spacecraft " Glonass-M ". Start carried out under the overall supervision of the commander of the space forces, Air space forces, Lieutenant-general Alexander Golovko, who arrived to the launch site for monitoring the preparation and conduct of the launch of the spacecraft system" GLONASS ". Start the launcher and removal of spacecraft into orbit It passed in a regular mode. ----------------------- Next launch Quote May 29/30 Long March 4B • Ziyuan 3 Launch time: 0317 GMT on 30th (11:17 p.m. EDT on 29th) Launch site: Taiyuan, China A Chinese Long March 4B rocket will launch the second Ziyuan 3 land survey satellite and the ÑuSat 1 and ÑuSat 2 commercial high-resolution Earth observation microsatellites for Satellogic of Argentina. [May 23] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Jim K 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 31, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted May 31, 2016 Press Reports: Soyuz suffered Engine Problems during Sunday’s Glonass Satellite Delivery Quote Press reports emerged on Monday claiming that Sunday’s successful launch of a Russian Glonass navigation satellite atop a Soyuz rocket was not without trouble. According to the TASS press agency, citing sources within the space industry, Soyuz suffered a problem when firing its third stage, requiring the Fregat upper stage to extend its engine burns to lift the 1,600-Kilogram satellite into its target orbit. Interfax cites sources claiming that the RD-0124 engine of the Block I third stage shut down prior to the scheduled time. Quote Fregat’s Guidance, Navigation and Control system is capable of detecting an underperformance of its launch vehicle and dynamically plot out an adjusted flight profile to make up for performance shortfalls in missions with propellant margins. This was clearly the case on Sunday as Glonass-M reached its planned orbit and Fregat managed to complete is disposal maneuvers. The Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed good tracking and control of the Glonass-M No. 53 satellite after separation from Fregat, set to replenish the aging navigation satellite constellation. http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-engine-problem-glonass-m-53/ http://tass.ru/en/science/878884 ---------------------------------------- Chinese Long March 4B lofts Ziyuan-3 Earth Observer, Commercial Imaging Satellites Photo: Xinhua (File) Quote China’s Long March 4B rocket lifted off from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on Monday, carrying into orbit the Ziyuan-3-02 Earth Observation satellite and a pair of microsatellites for Argentina. The 46-meter tall rocket, conducting the fifth Chinese launch of the year, lifted off around 3:17 UTC and reached its planned polar orbit within ten minutes of liftoff. Ziyuan-3-02 is the second in China’s third generation of Earth Observation Satellites, following the ZY-3-01 satellite orbited in 2012 and now approaching the end of its five-year service life. The first Ziyuan satellite was launched in 1999 to initiate a civilian Earth Observation Program for the collection of data useful for map generation, environmental monitoring and urban planning, however, the first two generations of ZY satellites were also employed for reconnaissance purposes. The Ziyuan-3-02 satellite weighs in at around 2,640 Kilograms and hosts a pair of Earth imaging instruments, a Three-Line Array Camera and a Multispectral Camera. more at the link... http://spaceflight101.com/long-march-4b-launches-ziyuan-3-02/ China's Ziyuan-III 02 Geological Mapping Satellite Launched video is 0:48 min. ----------------------- Quote June 4 Rockot • GEO-IK 2 Launch time: TBD Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia A Russian government Rockot launch vehicle and Breeze KM upper stage will launch the GEO-IK 2 spacecraft. The satellite is designed to survey Earth to measure variations in the gravitational field and study other geodetic features of the planet. Delayed from May. [May 13] June 4 Delta 4-Heavy • NROL-37 Launch period: 1800-2300 GMT (2:00-7:00 p.m. EDT) Launch site: SLC-37B, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida A United Launch Alliance Delta 4-Heavy rocket will launch a classified spy satellite cargo for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The largest of the Delta 4 family, the Heavy version features three Common Booster Cores mounted together to form a triple-body rocket. Delayed from April 27, May 12 and June 3. [April 20] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mirumir Subscriber¹ Posted May 31, 2016 Subscriber¹ Share Posted May 31, 2016 Quote The state frontiers are not visible from space! One can only see the vast expanse of the Universe... BetaguyGZT and Draggendrop 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted June 1, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted June 1, 2016 Now that was fantastic....watched it twice......Thank's for posting it @Mirumir +Mirumir and BetaguyGZT 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted June 2, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted June 2, 2016 US Govt delays launch of classified NROL-37 spy satellite file image Quote The launch of the US National Reconnaissance Office's NROL-37 spy satellite mission has been postponed, United Launch Alliance (ULA) announced in a release on Friday. "The Delta IV [heavy rocket] NROL-37 launch is delayed at the request of the customer," ULA stated. "The NROL-37 spacecraft and launch vehicle are secure on Space Launch Complex 37." The ULA has originally scheduled the launch of the satellite from Cape Canaveral on the largest Delta IV rocket for June 4. The ULA is a joint venture owned by Lockheed Martin and the Boeing Company. It brings together two of the launch industry's most experienced and successful teams - Atlas and Delta - to provide reliable, cost-efficient space launch services for the US government. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/US_Govt_delays_launch_of_classified_NROL_37_spy_satellite_999.html Launch Schedule Quote June 4 Rockot • GEO-IK 2 Launch time: TBD Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia A Russian government Rockot launch vehicle and Breeze KM upper stage will launch the GEO-IK 2 spacecraft. The satellite is designed to survey Earth to measure variations in the gravitational field and study other geodetic features of the planet. Delayed from May. [May 13] Quote June 8 Proton • Intelsat 31/DLA-2 Launch time: TBD Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will deploy the Intelsat 31/DLA-2 communications satellite owned by Intelsat. A majority of Intelsat 31’s capacity will be leased to DirecTV Latin America to provide direct-to-home television broadcasts to Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Delayed from April 23, May 17 and May 28. [May 25] June 8 Ariane 5 • EchoStar 18 & BRIsat Launch window: TBD Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA230, to launch the EchoStar 18 and BRIsat communications satellites. EchoStar 18 will provide direct-to-home television broadcast services over North America for EchoStar and Dish Network. BRIsat will support banking services provided by BRI, a large Indonesian bank. Delayed from May and June 7. [April 20] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted June 3, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted June 3, 2016 Upcoming Delta 4-Heavy launch back on track after payload-related delay Delta 4-Heavy file photo. Credit: Walter Scriptunas II / Scriptunas Images Quote CAPE CANAVERAL — A new launch date has been established — June 9 — for the Delta 4-Heavy rocket to carry a classified satellite into space for U.S. national security needs. Liftoff of the United Launch Alliance rocket will be possible during a five-hour period stretching from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. EDT (1730-2230 GMT). The actual launch window is hidden within that unclassified period. Readiness of the payload delayed the flight from its earlier target of June 4. But given the secretive nature of the spacecraft, no details were publicly revealed about what specifically triggered the slip. The satellite and rocket are stacked atop Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for the mission. “The spacecraft, launch vehicle and support systems are ready to support launch,” United Launch Alliance said in a statement to the press today. The launch is being performed for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office, the agency responsible for the country’s spy satellite fleet. The NRO is a joint organization between the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. The identity of the satellite launching aboard the Delta 4-Heavy is top-secret. The launch is known as NROL-37. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/06/02/upcoming-delta-4-heavy-launch-back-on-track-after-payload-related-delay/ BetaguyGZT 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted June 6, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted June 6, 2016 Russian satellite launched to measure Earth’s size and shape The Rockot launcher with the GEO-IK 2 geodesy satellite blasted off at 1400 GMT (10 a.m. EDT; 5 p.m. Moscow time) Saturday. Credit: Russian Ministry of Defense Quote A Russian military spacecraft designed to map variations in Earth’s gravity field, rotation and tectonic movement reached orbit Sunday after a launch aboard a modified Soviet-era missile that spawned an uproar from Canadian environmentalists over where the rocket would drop a potentially toxic booster stage. The satellite took off on a Rockot launcher at 1400 GMT (10 a.m. EDT) Saturday from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. After firing out of an above-ground launch canister, the 95-foot-tall (29-meter) Rockot vehicle flew northwest from Plesetsk, a forested space launch complex north of Moscow, on top of 420,000 pounds of thrust. The rocket jettisoned its first and second stages in the first five minutes of the flight, then a Breeze KM upper stage took over for a pair of burns to reach the correct orbit. The Rockot’s lower two stages are from a decommissioned SS-19 missile built to lob nuclear warheads around the world. The Breeze KM upper stage, made by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, is added to the top of the SS-19 missile to make satellite launches possible. Saturday’s launch was the 26th liftoff of a Rockot/Breeze KM vehicle since 2000, but the unusual trajectory required to put the satellite into its intended orbit drew the ire of environmentalists because the flight path would drop the Rockot’s second stage over Baffin Bay in the Canadian Arctic. The Rockot’s engines consume a toxic mix of hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide. “The idea of dropping a missile full of toxic chemicals in the Arctic waters off Baffin Island is just as preposterous as drilling for oil there,” Greenpeace Arctic campaigner Alex Speers-Roesch said, according to a CBC news report. Canadian government officials stressed the risk from the re-entry was minimal, adding that most of the hazardous propellants would burn up before debris reaches the ground. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/06/04/russian-satellite-launched-to-measure-earths-gravitational-field/ An approximate ascent scenario and a ground track of the Geo-IK-2 No. 12 mission. http://www.russianspaceweb.com/geo-ik-2-2.html Rockot rumbles off from Russia, carrying GEO-IK Geodesy Satellite http://spaceflight101.com/rockot-geo-ik-2-no-2-launch/ ------------------------ Proton-M Rocket rolls to Baikonur Launch Pad for long Satellite Delivery Mission Wednesday Photo: Roscosmos Quote A Proton-M rocket was rolled to its Baikonur launch pad on Sunday ahead of a Wednesday liftoff with the Intelsat 31 communications satellite. Making its third launch of the year, the Proton-M/Briz-M rocket will be tasked with a long mission of 15 hours and 31 minutes to deliver the 6,450-Kilogram satellite to a Supersynchronous Transfer Orbit. Intelsat 31, also known as DLA-2, was built by Space Systems Loral based on the flight-proven LS-1300 satellite platform. The satellite carries a powerful communications payload comprised of 72 Ku-Band transponders operated by DirecTV Latin America to deliver Direct-To-Home television services. Four additional C-Band transponders are employed by Intelsat to expand its coverage in the Latin American market. The satellite will take up a position at 95°W in Geostationary Orbit, co-located with the Galaxy 3C satellite and Intelsat 30 that launched in 2014 and also delivers DTH for DirecTV Latin America and C-Band coverage for Intelsat. The DLA constellation aims to deliver expanded entertainment services, backup and restoration services. Photo: Intelsat/SS/L http://spaceflight101.com/proton-m-rollout-for-intelsat-31-launch/ Launch Schedule Quote June 8 Proton • Intelsat 31/DLA-2 Launch time: 0710 GMT (3:10 a.m. EDT) Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan An International Launch Services Proton rocket with a Breeze M upper stage will deploy the Intelsat 31/DLA-2 communications satellite owned by Intelsat. A majority of Intelsat 31’s capacity will be leased to DirecTV Latin America to provide direct-to-home television broadcasts to Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Delayed from April 23, May 17 and May 28. [June 1] June 8 Ariane 5 • EchoStar 18 & BRIsat Launch window: 2030-2115 GMT (4:30-5:15 p.m. EDT) Launch site: ELA-3, Kourou, French Guiana Arianespace will use an Ariane 5 ECA rocket, designated VA230, to launch the EchoStar 18 and BRIsat communications satellites. EchoStar 18 will provide direct-to-home television broadcast services over North America for EchoStar and Dish Network. BRIsat will support banking services provided by BRI, a large Indonesian bank. Delayed from May and June 7. [June 1] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ +Mirumir and BetaguyGZT 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted June 7, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted June 7, 2016 Proton rocket transferred to launch pad with TV broadcasting satellite Quote A Russian Proton rocket rolled out to a launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Sunday with a commercial communications satellite to broadcast high-definition television channels to millions of homes across Latin America. The three-stage Proton booster, topped by a Breeze M upper stage, emerged from a fueling station Sunday morning for a rail trip to its launch pad at Baikonur, where a hydraulic lift rotated the rocket vertical. A mobile gantry moved around the 191-foot-tall (58-meter) rocket to give ground crews access to the vehicle for final flight preparations. The Proton is scheduled to blast off at 0710 GMT (3:10 a.m. EDT; 1:10 p.m. Baikonur time) Wednesday with the Intelsat 31 spacecraft, a powerful communications platform made by Space Systems/Loral in Palo Alto, California. Intelsat 31 carries Ku-band and C-band transponders providing communications services over Latin America. The C-band payload will enhance Intelsat’s communications products, while DirecTV Latin America is leasing the satellite’s Ku-band capacity to beam direct-to-home television across Central and South America. The spacecraft weighs approximately 14,118 pounds (6,404 kilograms) with a full load of propellant, according to Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, the Russian contractor for the Proton rocket. Wednesday’s liftoff will be managed under the oversight of International Launch Services, the U.S.-based firm that sells Proton rocket missions on the commercial market. http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/06/05/proton-rocket-transferred-to-launch-pad-with-tv-broadcasting-satellite/ Removal of a Proton-M space rocket with the spacecraft Intelsat DLA-2 video is 4:10 min. +Mirumir 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted June 7, 2016 Author Veteran Share Posted June 7, 2016 Arianespace Flight VA230 - EchoStar XVIII & BRIsat video is 2:26 min. Quote Published on Jun 5, 2016 The Ariane 5 ECA launcher is scheduled to lift off on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, as early as possible in the following launch window: - Between 05:30 p.m. and 06:15 p.m., Kourou time. - Between 04:30 p.m. and 05:15 p.m., Washington D.C. time. - Between 08:30 p.m. and 09:15 p.m., Universal Time (UTC). - Between 10:30 p.m. and 11:15 p.m., Paris time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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