09 Sep 2013

SIRIUS FM-6 | SSL Standalone Operations

Regardless of how many times SSL has been to 92A50, at the beginning of every campaign, Khrunichev requires each manufacturer to have a bit of instruction on their equipment.   Safety is a top priority while on launch campaign.  After their “refresher discussion” SSL is now hard at work preparing and testing the satellite.  Even if there is a language barrier you can always count on the descriptive caricature illustrating the hazard of the lift! 

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08 Sep 2013

SIRIUS FM-6 | Joint Campaign BBQ!

Tonight we took advantage of the great weather to have a BBQ with the mission teams from the Sirius FM6 campaign as well as those here supporting the Astra 2E launch campaign.  It’s a great night when we can have customers Sirius and SES, manufactures SSL and Astrium coming together with Khrunichev and ILS for some BBQ.  It just proves that we’re all a team out here in Baikonur. 

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06 Sep 2013

SIRIUS FM-6 | SC Arrival!

With the landing of the Antonov at Yubileny the Sirius Fm-6 launch campaign is underway.  The SSL, Sirius, Khrunichev and ILS teams headed out to the airfield to meet the plane.  Bridget Neville, VP of Satellite Engineering & Operations for Sirius Satellite Radio, was finally able to make the journey to Baikonur for this launch of FM-6 and she was a trooper.  She returned from the offload tired and a bit more suntanned than when she began the day, but said she found the day very interesting. Seeing the famous Antonov cargo jet for the first time and witnessing the delicate heavy-lift procedures and the fantastic coordination by the teams of multinational experts is quite a sight!    

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03 Jun 2013

SES-6 | Stage Separations

We had a successful liftoff about 11 minutes ago of the ILS Proton M Breeze M rocket, which is carrying the SES-6 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 4 minutes.

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03 Jun 2013

SES-6 | Mission Success!

We have had a successful mission with the ILS Proton Rocket, carrying the SES-6 satellite built by Astrium for SES. We have had confirmation that the SES-6 satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 8:49 pm EDT, or 00:49 GMT (June 4), 15 hours and 31 minutes after liftoff.
Everything occurred as planned for the 2nd ILS Proton Supersynchronous Mission. After the ignition, shutdown and separation of the ILS Proton’s first three stages, 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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03 Jun 2013

SES-6 | Breeze M Third and Fourth Burn Completion

We have confirmed that the Breeze M upper stage has successfully completed its 3rd burn, APT jettison and its 4th burn. 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 at 8:33 pm EDT or 12:33 am GMT and last approximately 4 minutes. Separation of the SES-6 spacecraft is scheduled to follow the 5th burn completion by approximately 12 minutes.

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03 Jun 2013

SES-6 | Breeze M Third Burn Start

We have confirmed that the Breeze M upper stage has successfully begun its 3rd burn.  The Breeze M will be out of range until approximately 3:13 pm EDT or  7:13 pm GMT. Additional updates will follow.

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03 Jun 2013

SES-6 | Breeze M Second Burn Completion

As the Breeze M upper stage of our Proton M rocket continues its climb into space with the SES-6 satellite onboard, we have received confirmation that the 2nd burn of the upper stage occurred and shut down as scheduled.
The 3rd Breeze M burn is scheduled to begin at approximately 9:42 AM EDT and last 9 minutes.  After that the auxiliary propulsion tank will be jettisoned and the 4th Breeze M burn will begin.

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For the latest news and information, or if you have a question, please email ILS at contactus@ilslaunch.com