16 Jul 2011

SES-3 Mission Success

We have had a successful mission with the ILS Proton Rocket carrying the SES-3 satellite built by Orbital Sciences Corporation and the KazSat-2 satellite built by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. We have had confirmation that the SES-3 satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 3:17 a.m. EDT, or 07:17 GMT, 8 hours and 01 minute after liftoff and subsequently the KazSat-2 satellite separated at 4:46 a.m. EDT or 8:46 GMT.

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16 Jul 2011

ILS Proton Successfully Launches the SES-3 Satellite for SES

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, July 16, 2011 – International Launch Services (ILS), a leading launch services provider for the global commercial satellite industry, successfully carried the SES-3 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit for SES of Luxembourg (Euronext Paris and Luxembourg Stock Exchange: SESG), one of the world’s largest telecommunications satellite operators with a fleet of 45 satellites in orbit.  This was the first commercial shared launch for ILS; the SES-3 satellite was paired with the KazSat-2 satellite to serve the Republic of Kazakhstan.

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15 Jul 2011

SES-3 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 4-hour coast period, during which we will have nothing to report. The 5th burn is scheduled to start around 2:59 a.m. EDT, or 06:59 GMT. Separation of SES-3 spacecraft is scheduled to follow the 5th burn completion by about 12 minutes. Then approximately 1 hour and 23 minutes later, the KazSat-2 satellite will separate as well.
 

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15 Jul 2011

SES-3 Second Burn Completion

As the Breeze M upper stage of our Proton M rocket continues its climb into space with the SES-3 and KazSat-2 satellites onboard, we have received confirmation that the 2nd burn of the upper stage occurred and shut down as scheduled.

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15 Jul 2011

SES-3 Stage Separations

We had a successful liftoff about 11 minutes ago of our Proton M Breeze M rocket, which is carrying the SES-3 and KazSat-2 satellites on board. 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 5 minutes.
 

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15 Jul 2011

SES-3 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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12 Jul 2011

SES-3 Integrated Launch Vehicle

After the ascent unit containing the SES-3 spacecraft, the KazSat-2 SC and the Breeze M were integrated to the launch vehicle, the next step was to apply the thermal blanket to the now integrated launch vehicle, which provides a stable environment for our 2 sensitive payloads.  Once complete, the delicate operation of transferring the enormous rocket to the transporter was performed, and the huge machine was slowly moved via rail to the Breeze M fueling station where fueling took place over the course of the next two days.

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03 Jul 2011

Satellite Stack and Tilt

In the last two days, two more important milestones have been accomplished.  The SES-3 spacecraft (SC) was placed on top of the KazSat-2 SC, and the “stack” was tilted into a horizontal position for encapsulation into the payload fairing.  Today, the Orbital electrical team will check the internal Proton umbilical transit lines.  All operations are proceeding according to schedule and there are no issues.

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