14 Nov 2011

ILS First-Timer on a Camel!

On Wednesday 09 November, some additional ILS team members arrived in Baikonur.  We lucked out because we happened to arrive on a BBQ day!  The grill was going with burgers and hot links and despite the cold, everyone was having a great time.  Just as I expected, I was required to do the traditional camel ride for first-timers in Baikonur!  Go AsiaSat-7!

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04 Nov 2011

Here We Go!

The Khrunichev (KhSC), International Launch Services, Space Systems/Loral and AsiaSat teams continue to work hard towards a launch in the early morning in Baikonur on November 26th. Spacecraft stand-alone operations will draw to a close next week, with propellant loading scheduled for completion 9 November. KhSC preparations of the Proton M and Breeze M are on task in Hall 101 and Hall 111 at Building 92A-50.
We’re all on pins and needles for the Glonass launch this evening, hoping that all goes well. The team will be getting together for a barbeque tomorrow in order to celebrate the Russian Unity Day Holiday and enjoy some good company and California style ribs and tri-tip.
 

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20 Oct 2011

ILS Proton Successfully Launches ViaSat-1 for ViaSat

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, October 20, 2011 – International Launch Services (ILS), a leading launch services provider for the global commercial satellite industry, successfully carried the ViaSat-1 satellite into orbit today on an ILS Proton for ViaSat, Inc. of Carlsbad, California.

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20 Oct 2011

ViaSat-1 Mission Success!

We have had a successful mission with the ILS Proton Rocket, carrying the ViaSat-1 satellite built by Space Systems/Loral for ViaSat. We have had confirmation that the ViaSat-1 satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 12:00am EDT, or 04:00 GMT, 9 hours and 12 minutes after liftoff.
Everything occurred as planned with ignition, shutdown and separation of the Proton’s first three stages. Then the Breeze M upper stage with the satellite continued the mission, igniting five times, and then releasing the satellite into transfer orbit.
 

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19 Oct 2011

ViaSat-1 Stage Separations

We had a successful liftoff about 11 minutes ago of the ILS Proton M Breeze M rocket, which is carrying the ViaSat-1 satellite onboard. The three stages of the Proton vehicle have performed as planned, and it is up to the Breeze M upper stage to complete the mission. The upper stage has begun its first burn, which is scheduled to last around 7 minutes.

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19 Oct 2011

ViaSat-1 | First Burn Completion

We have received confirmation of completion of the first burn. The vehicle is now scheduled to be out of range for about an hour, after which we will hear confirmation of the second burn.

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19 Oct 2011

ViaSat-1 Second Burn Completion

As the Breeze M upper stage of our Proton M rocket continues its climb into space with the ViaSat-1 satellite onboard, we have received confirmation that the 2nd burn of the upper stage occurred and shut down as scheduled.
The next events are scheduled for about 2 hours from now. The Breeze M upper stage will ignite for a 3rd time and burn for approximately 9 minutes; after that the additional propellant tank will be jettisoned, and the 4th burn will start and complete. All this will happen in a span of almost 20 minutes while the vehicle is again out of range of a ground station. We should reacquire the vehicle shortly after the 4th burn ends.
 

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19 Oct 2011

ViaSat-1 Third and Fourth Burn Completion

We have confirmed that the Breeze M upper stage has successfully completed its 3rd & 4th burns, as well as jettisoning its additional propellant tank. The vehicle is now in a 5-hour coast period, during which we will have nothing to report. The 5th burn is scheduled to start around 11:43pm EDT or 03:23 GMT. Separation of ViaSat-1 spacecraft is scheduled to follow the 5th burn completion by about 13 minutes.

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