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 12:12 AM EDT, or 04:12 GMT. Separation of the Nimiq 5 spacecraft is scheduled to follow the 5th burn completion by about 15 minutes.

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As the Breeze M upper stage of our Proton M rocket continues its climb into space with the Nimiq 5 satellite, 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 14 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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With less than three days before launch, the launch vehicle has been fully integrated, the Breeze M fuelled, and the integrated launch vehicle rolled out to Pad 39. Monday graced us with beautiful skies for the verticalization of the ILV. The whole team trooped out to witness this amazing feat of engineering, as well as to get a group photo in front of the erected launcher. The management has done their interviews for the launch broadcast, logistics is getting everything organized for the backhaul on Saturday, the countdown rehearsal is underway and the final integrated launch pad tests are taking place. The checklist is being checked and everything is in order. We look forward to the blessing of the rocket and arrival of the VIP group on Thursday, leading up to a launch at 01:19:19 on Friday local Baikonur time.

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The spacecraft and adapter have been mated to the Breeze M, the payload fairing has encapsulated the orbital unit (spacecraft, adapter and upper stage), the logos have been signed and the resulting ascent unit (AU) has been transported by train from Hall 101 to Hall 111. As this is written, the AU is being mated to the remaining three stages of the launch vehicle. The combined unit (the integrated launch vehicle or ILV) will go through final electrical tests and then, at the end of the week, will be transported to the Breeze M fueling area for fueling this weekend. As well as waving farewell to the AU from Hall 101, we have also said ‘farewell’ to the SS / Loral mechanical and propulsion teams. In true Baikonur fashion, we had a barbeque to send them off and to celebrate Labor Day.

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