W2A 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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Preparing for Integration with Launch Vehicle

[img]http://www.ilslaunch.com/assets/Images/Media/W2A-Blog/FEC0019blog.jpg[/img] Fueling operations completed after a day of MON loading, a reconfiguration day for the ground support equipment, and one day to load MMH. Fuel and propellant loading completed nominally, the SC was then weighed and finalized. Thales personnel prepared the ground support equipment and SC for the mating with the Payload Adapter. In parallel to fueling and SC closeout operations, the PLA was installed on the PLA stand. The lifting beam was installed on the SC and lifted from the integration dolly and placed on the PLA. Clampband installation and tensioning completed with nominal results. After comprehensive testing, the authorization to mate the PLA and SC to the Breeze M was given by Eutelsat and KhSC. Checkout testing completed and the next day all personnel supported the SC/PLA/BM (now called the Orbital Unit) tilting into the horizontal position on the Universal stand. SC closeouts and battery charging continued and the configuration of the ground transit cables with the launch vehicle were validated. Encapsulation of the OU with the PLF halves finished and the PLF logo was affixed for the teams to sign. Next scheduled event for KhSC is to prepare the Ascent Unit (Encapsulated OU) for transportation to H111 by railcar, for integration with the Launch Vehicle.

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Moving Along Nicely

[img]http://www.ilslaunch.com/assets/Images/Media/W2A-Blog/satblog.jpg[/img] Thales and KhSC setup for the fitcheck most of 9 March, so the 10th could be the day to watch RUAG shine. The Swedish team measured, tensioned, measured again, and notated that things fit right into place. All parties agreed that this was worth the thousands of hours of work and anticipation. The variety and complexity of the SC and PLA arrangement was a marvel of nature, or it would have been, if it wasn’t all man-made. The Breeze-M Upper Stage moved to the fueling station for its two days of loading and upon return, will be the first piece installed on the tilter. So with the fit check complete, the Breeze-M partially fuelled and the PLA back in H101, the satellite will finish stand alone operations before the authorization is given by Eutelsat to proceed with propellant loading operations.

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Launch Preparation Continues

Stand alone operations are ongoing for Thales and KhSC. While Thales performs electrical and mechanical Spacecraft checkouts in H103A, KhSC works in H101 to prepare for operations on the Breeze-M which arrived at Yubileiny and was transported by truck to 92A-50 on 4 Mar. The Launch vehicle is finishing pneumatic testing and after cleaning and testing, the payload fairing halves are resting in storage until integration. RUAG specialists are scheduled to arrive within the week to begin work on the separation system. Coordination meetings between the teams are increasing in frequency and duration which means the Spacecraft and payload adaptor fitcheck is just on the horizon.

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Arriving at Baikonur

[img]http://www.ilslaunch.com/assets/Images/Media/W2A-Blog/scblog.jpg[/img] Early and main team arrival and check-in to the hotels completed just in time to watch a launch of a Federal Satellite on a Proton K Block DM from pad 24. After facility acceptance of 92A-50, office setup and control room configuration began. The Antonov landed around 11h45 on 28 Feb at Yubileiny Airfield carrying the W2A SC and ground support equipment. Watching the 5 hour off load of the Antonov and on load to the railcar was a “miracle of Russian technology.” After the 5-6 hour train ride to 92A-50, the train backed into Hall 101 around 23h00. The late shift began work unloading the SC container and equipment from the railcars and by 06h00 we were able to get the first glimpse of the SC outside of the container.

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Successful Mission!

We are happy to announce the successful conclusion of another launch mission! The Proton M Breeze M rocket has carried to geostationary transfer orbit the Ciel II satellite, built by ThalesAlenia Space for the Ciel Satellite Group. Spacecraft separation occurred on schedule, at 17:55 EST. Total launch time was 9 hours, 12 minutes.

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Down to the last burn

The Breeze M has completed its 3rd and 4th burns, and the additional propellant fuel tank has been jettisoned. The vehicle is now in a five-hour coasting period. The 5th, and final, burn will occur at the end of this period. The 5th burn will last about 7 minutes, and about 15 minutes after that we will have separation of the Ciel II spacecraft. We’ll let you know the mission is complete the moment we have confirmation.

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2nd Burn

The Breeze M’s second burn has been completed successfully. The third burn will start in about two hours. Once the third burn concludes, the Breeze M will shutdown and jettison the additional propellant tank. Moments later, the Breeze M’s 4th burn will begin. We’ll confirm completion of the 4th burn as soon as we have official word.

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Launch Highlight Video Clips

Video clips of the launch are now posted in Real Video and Windows Media Player formats. You can find them [url=http://www.ilslaunch.com/ciel-II-launch-highlights/]here[/url]!

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Breeze M completes 1st burn

We have confirmed completion of the Breeze M’s first burn. The second burn should commence in about 54 minutes and will fire for just under 18 minutes. This will happen while the Orbital Unit is out of range of a receiving station, so we’ll be back when we have reacquired the vehicle and confirmed that the second burn has been completed.

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