12 Nov 2013

SC Offload and Fitcheck

Once the SC in its container was safely inside 92A-50 and after the Globus-1M-3/Proton launch from Pad 24, the team began early in the day to offload the SC and perform a fitcheck.  The offload requires highly skilled manpower to meticulously transfer the SC safely off the railcar, unpack it from its container and place it onto the payload adaptor for the fitcheck. 
Within the next week, the SC will undergo rigorous testing.  During this time, the team will gradually adjust to their new surroundings and time-zone changes (11 hours for ILS and 14 hours for Boeing).

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11 Nov 2013

SC Arrival!

With the full Inmarsat-5 F1 team gathered in Baikonur, they headed to Yubileiny Airfield to meet the Antonov-124 that was delivering the Inmarsat-5 F1 spacecraft.  Just like commercial flights, the Antonov-124 can also experience weather delays, as was the case today due to rough weather over Canada and Iceland.  After touchdown the SC in its container was slowly and precisely maneuvered to the railcar for its journey to hall 92A-50 and arrived at approximately 00h30 on 12 Nov. 

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25 Oct 2013

SIRIUS FM-6 | Launch Day!

Today is the day.  In approximately T-2 hours the ILS Proton is scheduled to lift off with the Sirius FM-6 satellite. Approval to prepare the launch vehicle has been given and the mission teams are moving into their secure locations. Go Proton!   

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25 Oct 2013

Sirius FM-6 | Mission Success

We have had a successful mission with the Proton M Breeze M rocket, carrying the Sirius FM-6 satellite built by SSL. We have confirmation that the satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 11:20 p.m. EDT, or 03:20 UTC, 9 hours and 11 minutes after liftoff.

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25 Oct 2013

Sirius FM-6 | Third and Fourth Burn

We have confirmed that the Breeze M upper stage has successfully completed its 3rd and 4th burn, 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 11:01 p.m. EDT, or 03:01 GMT. Separation of the Sirius FM-6 spacecraft is scheduled to follow the 5th burn completion by about 13 minutes.

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25 Oct 2013

SIRIUS FM-6 | Second Burn Completion

As the Breeze M upper stage of our ILS Proton M rocket continues its climb into space with the SIRIUS FM-6 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 about 15 minutes; after that the additional propellant tank will be jettisoned, and the 4th burn will start. All this will happen in a span of about 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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25 Oct 2013

SIRIUS FM-6 | Stage Separations

We had a successful liftoff about 9 minutes ago of our ILS Proton M Breeze M rocket, which is carrying the SIRIUS FM-6 satellite. 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 4 and a half minutes.

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23 Oct 2013

SIRIUS FM-6 | Bowling!

Today, the mission teams continue to ready for the launch of Sirius FM-6 here in Baikonur.   Both the spacecraft (SC) and launch vehicle (LV) are safe and remain in stacked configuration at the launch pad.  The SC underwent health checks today with no issues.  As we wait to receive word regarding the satellite manufacturer’s ground station network, the teams decided to head into town for a little bowling. Yes, there is actually bowling alley in Baikonur!
 

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