Welcome to the AMC 14 Blog!

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the second ILS Proton launch campaign for 2008 -- to launch the Lockheed Martin-built A2100AX satellite for SES Americom. Follow along with the launch team as they prepare for the mid-March mission.

Good day, all

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Doh bra deen (Russian for good day) and greetings from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The new year continues with the second of what we expect to be many Proton launch campaigns in 2008 for ILS from the Cosmodrome. The latest campaign is to launch the AMC-14 spacecraft. And we are happy to report that our knowledge of the Russian language has increased by at least one word already for this campaign: "HOL-id-na," which is Russian for cold. The early team arrived safe and sound on Feb. 11 to the comfortable confines of the Cosmodrome’s Area 95, to a temperature of -12 degrees F. But even the temperatures could not dampen the spirits of the early team, as we were warmly welcomed home by the THOR V launch team.

We started our journey even as the previous launch campaign was finishing. After a relaxing first night in Moscow, ILS, SES Americom and Lockheed Martin (LMCSS) personnel were driven to the airport for the next leg of our trip to Baikonur. The flight to Kazakhstan is always enjoyable as the team members get a last few hours to relax and socialize prior to the start of a campaign. And what a start it has been! We were met by many smiling faces, because upon our arrival we learned of the successful launching that day of the Proton with the THOR V spacecraft. After a few hours, SC separation was announced and the celebrating continued. There was even a banquet the second evening. The THOR folks kept insisting it was to celebrate the successful launch, but the AMC-14 team is certain that the banquet was their way of saying, “Welcome to Baikonur.”

So from our campaign to theirs: Congratulations and safe travels back to your homes.

It’s our turn now, and we fully expect to follow their successful lead.

My Funny Valentine

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Valentine's Day in Baikonur. As the early team was busy making the last-minute phone calls to the florists back home, the main team was celebrating Valentine's Day on the inbound charter to Baikonur. After having spent a quiet evening in Moscow, they were on their way to a snowy Cosmodrome to await the arrival of the AMC-14 SC to Kazakhstan. It was quite a unique welcoming at the Yubileiny airfield. As the AMC-14 team was de-planing, they were welcomed by personnel for the THOR V exit charter. One group in, one group out, one plane, all on the same day. But after a short ride to Area 95, they quickly settled in for some food, some laughs, a Valentine's Day call home and some sleep. Because the real fun starts tomorrow, as the SC arrives after its long journey from Sunnyvale. Stay tuned.

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

What an incredible day for the spacecraft arrival in Baikonur. The skies were perfectly clear Friday (February 15) and the sun was shining as the offload crew waited for the arrival of the Antonov with the AMC-14 spacecraft. But the shining sun did not do too much to alter the temperature: -25 degrees C as the Antonov touched down at 10:15 a.m., and that was the high for the day. Can you say layers!! But even the chilly day did not dampen the spirits of anyone, as the launch campaign was officially under way. Even the ILS program director, after having celebrated his 38th wedding anniversary on February 14 here in Baikonur, was having a great time.

Perhaps it was the temperature, perhaps it was the fact that both the LMCSS team and the Khrunichev (KhSC) team have years of offload experience, but the SC and all its support equipment was removed from the Antonov and loaded onto the train cars, ready to roll out within four hours. No matter the reason, the offload was flawless, and the SC was on its way to its home for the next three weeks, Building 92A-50. And the offload crew was on their way to the hotel for some much-needed warmth. Kudos to the Lockheed team from California as they handled themselves admirably. They are definitely not used to this kind of weather.

Takin’ Care of Business

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

After a leisurely and uneventful 5-hour train ride, the spacecraft and its support equipment made it safe and sound to Building 92A-50. And yes, as the song says, it is now time for “takin’ care of business,” that business being preparation of the SC and the rocket for final assembly together. Many warm and rested personnel were on hand to meet the SC, unpack the train cars and begin a week’s worth of what is commonly known as stand-alone testing. It is a busy time for everyone involved in the campaign as the three stages of the Proton booster have been delivered to Khrunichev.

Inside this massive 4-story facility, you can find the rocket team performing final mechanical and electrical testing. On the other side of the facility, the satellite folks are busy 24 hours a day performing similar electrical and mechanical testing operations. Tests include mechanical inspections, SC electrical power turn-on, propellant talk leak tests and communications testing between the SC and the ground station. You could almost say that the SC is undergoing a physical, as we call them health checks, to assure that everything is working properly after the long journey from Sunnyvale, Calif.

And we are all pleased to report at this time that at each day’s morning meeting, the Lockheed Martin doctors are reporting that the SC is quite healthy and things are on schedule.

Cheeseburgers in Paradise

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Okay, okay...what's an American campaign without a good old-fashioned BBQ? Leave it to our Lockheed folks to come prepared for an evening (or two) of socializing. And while the weather wasn't quite suitable for shorts and flip-flops, it did not stop the gang from cooking out.

Tarps were set up as a windscreen, the propane heaters were blasting, and the cheeseburgers and hot dogs were sizzling on the grill. One of the best parts about it was that we didn't even need ice to keep the beverages chilled. And although it wasn't much of a packed house under the veranda, there were a bunch of diehards who spent the evening braving the elements, listening to music and feasting on picnic foods.

While it was awfully crowded around the heaters, it was our little paradise and a great break in the routine.

Breeze M makes its way to Baikonur

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Excitement! The Breeze M upper stage, built by Khrunichev, arrived Friday at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It was delivered to the Yubileny airport on an Antonov AN-124-100 cargo plane. The upper stage is being transported to assembly and testing Building 92A-50, where the rest of the international launch team is conducting preparations for the AMC-14 launch. Soon the Khrunichev team will begin readying the upper stage for its integration with the spacecraft.

Saturday Night's Alright

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

In keeping with the musical theme to our blog, yes, Saturday night’s all right! And what perfect timing.

With the on-time delivery of the Breeze M main engine Friday afternoon, all the hardware for the launch campaign is now in place. The Breeze M and the payload adapter are being processed in Hall 101. The three stages of the launch vehicle are assembled in Hall 111 with testing ongoing. And the spacecraft is being prepared for fueling operations in Hall 103A after an on-time completion of electrical health checks. As we like to say, there is a "plethora of activity" going on in building 92A-50.

It was a perfect evening for the teams to kick back a little. With the next major spacecraft milestone being fuel loading operations, a night of celebration was in order. And our hosts certainly have shown that they just might be getting used to cooking American-style. Tri-tip, barbecue chicken, baked ham, chicken parmesan and sausage and peppers were just a few of the things on the menu. And while the weather may have prevented us from grilling, it didn't stop us from enjoying. There was so much food on the table that it was surprising that it didn't collapse. Of course, everyone bringing their appetite probably helped keep the table upright.

Good food, good music and good friends were in abundance.

Running on Empty

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0000

But not for too much longer! It’s time to fuel the spacecraft.

After the Saturday night dinner festivities, it didn't take long to get back to the business of preparing the satellite for launch. The Lockheed mechanical team arrived at work on Sunday and began to prepare the AMC-14 spacecraft for fueling operations. This is essentially a four day operation and is one of the more hazardous operations that are performed out here in Area 95. The reason for the hazardous condition is the fact that it will be loaded with over 2 tons of fuel; lots of hydrazine and lots of oxidizer.

The team spent a very quiet day 1 reviewing the operational procedures, making sure all precautionary tasks were performed and in place, and that all essential personnel were ready to support the fueling operations.

On Day 2, personnel at building 92A-50 were reduced to a minimum, as only essential personnel are permitted in the area to support the load. Despite not being in the building, all teams were monitoring the progress of the prop load team from the various hotels. And true to form, the load went flawlessly and according to schedule.

Some of the other team members took advantage of the fact that the operations building was closed by hopping on the bus and heading into the town of Baikonur. While braving the weather, some of the gang walked the town and got a chance to hit the local Pizza Restaurant, Palermo's. It was a great day to get away from the Cosmodrome and sample some of the local food and shops.

As for the prop load team, it was barbecue time again!

Monday Monday...

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

"...so good to me!" And a good Monday it is. Spacecraft fueling operations were completed on schedule and without incident. This is a major milestone on the launch campaign calendar, because it signals the end of satellite stand-alone testing, and the approach of joint operations. It was also another chance to use many of the Lockheed Martin and SES Americom supplies, those supplies being tri-tip, roast beef, chicken wings, ham, etc. As usual, the post-fueling gathering at the Polyot Hotel was a huge success.

This is an exciting time for all teams assembled here at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. It's time to mate the spacecraft to the upper stage. It will now be mounted to the payload adapter assembly, the PLA. This SC/PLA assembly will then be lifted onto the Breeze M main engine. After a host of electrical testing verifications, the halves of the payload fairing (PLF) will be installed, completing the assembly of what is known as the Upper Stage (US). This is the ultimate in joint operations as ILS, KhSC and Lockheed Martin CSS personnel work closely together to ensure proper handling and mating of the hardware.

With the end of spacecraft stand-alone operations, and the successful mating of the SC to the PLA, it is time to say goodbye to the mechanical team from Lockheed Martin CSS. Congratulations to all of them for their professionalism, their work ethics and their successes to date. But as we wave goodbye to them, we welcome the Lockheed bus specialists, the electrical team, as they come back to the cosmodrome for the final leg of satellite testing prior to the launch. Launch minus 12 days, L-12, and counting. Stay tuned.

Come Together

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

and that is just what is happening: The pinnacle of coming together here in Baikonur.

It has been quite a week as joint operations have gone into overdrive. After the satellite was mated to the Breeze M, everyone watched as the assembly, over 15000 pounds (6900 kg) of hardware, was tilted horizontally to be in mounted with the payload fairing (PLF), the nosecone of the rocket. Now that the PLF is installed, the assembly is referred to as the ascent unit, or the AU.

There is a small break in the operations as all team members have a chance to sign the logo decals of the organizations involved in the launching of the AMC-14 spacecraft. These logos are mounted onto the PLF. Our names and those of loved ones will go for a ride, out of orbit.

As we continue, the assembly will need to be moved to the KhSC side of building 92A-50, to Hall 111. This is accomplished by lifting the AU onto a rail car, and a train takes the assembly to its next stop. This is the side of the building that houses the launch vehicle: the rest of the rocket, over 130 feet of it, laying sideways on a support system. Incredible! The PLF is rolled to a stop next to the rocket, it is lifted off the rail car, set into its own support rack, and finally, it is rolled to a position that allows the KhSC specialists to mate the two sections together. After some electrical and mechanical tests and verifications, the final stage of launch vehicle integration will begin: preparing the LV for transport to the launch pad. By the time you read this, the coming together will be completed.

Operations continue to run smoothly, the weather is great and we are slightly ahead of schedule!

Mission Overview and Media Advisory

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Links to the Mission Overview and Media Advisory

Mission Overview

Media Advisory

Rocket Man

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

And that is just what it is. It’s a rocket...man! Complete, fueled, on the rail car and getting ready to head out for the journey to Pad 39.

For the past few days, the AMC-14 spacecraft has been resting quite comfortably inside the space head unit (SHU) while mounted to the launch vehicle (LV). The completed assembly, the integrated launch vehicle (ILV), was then subjected to a few days of mechanical and electrical health checks with positive test results. After an internal meeting of our Khrunichev partners, the official go-ahead was given to fuel the Breeze M.

This is an exciting day as many folks gathered to watch the ILV being rolled to the Breeze M fueling station. The station looks like one massive carport out behind the 92A-50 complex. This is another one of the more hazardous operations that we perform during a campaign. Similar to the spacecraft fueling, the Breeze M is loaded with fuel and oxidizer over the course of two days.

The fueling operations were completed successfully and without incident. But no time to celebrate just yet, as immediately following the completion of the fueling operations, the official State Commission Meeting is held. This is quite a formal and very important meeting, because its outcome will determine if the ILV will be rolled to the pad for the final leg of its journey. It is with great pleasure to report from here that we are "go for rollout!" At exactly 06:30 local time, the train will pull out of the fueling station and head to Launch Pad Complex 39.

Rollin' Along

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The roll-out of the fully assembled Proton Breeze M launcher, carrying the AMC -14 spacecraft, to Launch Pad 39 commenced early in this morning (at 6:30 a.m. Baikonur time). By 10 a.m. the rocket was erected in vertical position. Once installed onto the pad, the Proton was enclosed inside a mobile service tower.

Planned on–pad operations are now in progress on the subsystems of the integrated space launcher. The State Commission will meet again on Friday to certify the readiness of the Proton Breeze M vehicle and flight control team for the launch. The liftoff of the Proton Breeze M launch vehicle with the AMC 14 spacecraft remains scheduled for March 15, at 5:18 am Baikonur Standard Time (March 14, 7:18pm EDT).

Waiting is the hardest part...

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The integrated launch vehicle has completed all of its checkouts and is on the pad, ready to proceed with launch. The spacecraft has completed all its checkouts, and is ready to start its 35,000km journey to its final orbit.

All that's left now is the waiting. The countdown will take place this evening into the wee-small hours of the morning when we launch at 5:18am, Saturday, March 15 Baikonur Standard Time (7:18pm, Friday, March 14 EDT). Operators will be obeying their stations, and watching their systems to make sure that all parameters are acceptable for launch. Watch the web cast to see liftoff live from Baikonur!

We Have Liftoff

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

The ILS AMC-14 Launch Team is proud to announce successful liftoff of the Proton Breeze M carrying the AMC-14 satellite! Liftoff occurred at 7:18:55 EDT (05:18:55 Baikonur, 23:18:55 GMT)

WMV 56K

WMV cbl

Real Media 56K

Real Media cbl

Successful First Burn

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

Proton's three stages, including payload fairing jettison, have performed flawlessly. The Breeze M upper stage, which has had its first burn and is presently in a circular parking orbit, will now complete the mission. We'll let you know when we receive confirmation of the Breeze M second burn. That should be in about an hour.

Proton Anomaly Declared

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0000

A Proton anomaly has occured for more information click here