We had a successful liftoff about 11 minutes ago of our Proton M Breeze M rocket, which is carrying the BADR-5 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 7 minutes.

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We have liftoff! of the Proton M Breeze M rocket and the BADR-5 satellite.

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Launch campaigns in Baikonur are always special, but we had a very rare opportunity to join KhSC and community members in the Baikonur City Jubilee celebration. The day started with a parade in the stadium and ended with a beautiful fireworks display. Astrium, ARABSAT and ILS were honored to be asked to march alongside KhSC. When we heard about the celebration, we remembered our visit to the space museum at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. At the museum we learned that the city of Baikonur and the space center (which is what “cosmodrome” means) were founded on June 2, 1955. A casual search of the Internet, however, shows that construction in the area was well under way before that date. This raises the question “So, what’s special about June 2?” Noted space expert Valeriy Menshikov, who took part in 900 launches over a 23-year career at Baikonur, provides an answer to that question in his book on the history of the cosmodrome. According to Menshikov, construction of some of the largest structures of the industrial age had begun here early in 1955, but that the official decree of the Soviet General Staff formally inaugurating construction of a scientific research and testing range at Baikonur was issued on June 2. That’s why local residents consider June 2 to be the “birthday” of the settlement and the Cosmodrome.

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Joint Operations have begun and one of the most popular events is the signing of the payload fairing (plf), which occurred very nicely on May 24th. Each campaign team member got a chance to climb up the ladder to the plf assembly cradle and sign a special message or note that will fly off with the rocket. The payload fairing signing is a ceremonial process of the campaign that means a lot to many, especially to the end customer who was able to write a long, profound message to his colleagues back home about how this upcoming launch of the BADR-5 satellite will bring their company to new heights.

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Upon completion of mating the spacecraft and payload adapter with the Breeze M, the assembled BADR-5 Orbital Unit was tilted horizontally in preparation for encapsulation by Khrunichev technicians. An excited crowd of technicians and customers gathered to watch the tilting event which takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Once lowered to its horizontal position, the two payload fairing halves are then secured around the spacecraft. This is the final opportunity to view this spacecraft before it achieves its final destination.

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SC fueling days are very busy days for the Astrium UK Propellant Team. However, because they do such a good job, it can be dull for the rest of us. In an effort to pass the time, the Russians challenged the French team to a football (soccer) match. There was a large crowd cheering on both teams, but the star was Goosha the camel. Goosha returned from his winter home just in time to watch the match, although he was mum about whom he wanted to win. In the end, the French defeated the Russians 4 to 2. There is already a request for a rematch!

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Team Astrium graciously hosted an after-work dinner for the entire campaign crew. Using a family recipe, handed down through generations, the Astrium team members guided the competent Russian chefs in the creation and preparation of Daube, a delectable beef stew. Nearly 100 persons dined and chatted away the evening on what was a glorious night at the Cosmodrome.

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Welcome to the fourth ILS Proton launch campaign for 2010 the launch of the BADR-5 satellite for EADS Astrium, ARABSAT and Thales Alenia Space. Follow along with the mission team as they prepare for the launch.

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