28 Dec 2014

ILS Proton Successfully Launches the ASTRA 2G Satellite for SES

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, December 28, 2014 – International Launch Services (ILS), a leader in providing mission integration and launch services to the global commercial satellite industry, successfully placed the Astra 2G satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) today for SES of Luxembourg. SES is a world-leading satellite operator, providing satellite communications solutions to broadcast, telecom, corporate and government customers worldwide. This was the 8th Proton launch of the year and the 3rd ILS mission for 2014.

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28 Dec 2014

Astra 2G | Mission Success!

We have had a successful mission with the Proton M Breeze M rocket, carrying the Astra 2G satellite built by Airbus. We have confirmation that the satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 1:49 a.m. EST, or 06:49 GMT, approximately 9 hours and 12 minutes after liftoff.
Everything occurred as planned with ignition, shutdown and separation of the Proton’s first three stages. Then 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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27 Dec 2014

Astra 2G | | MECO 3 and 4 | APT Jettison

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 01:30 a.m. EST, or 06:30 GMT. Separation of the Astra 2G spacecraft is scheduled to follow the 5th burn completion by about 12 minutes.

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27 Dec 2014

Astra 2G | Breeze M MECO 2

As the Breeze M upper stage of our Proton M rocket continues its climb into space with the Astra 2G satellite onboard, 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 12 minutes; after that the additional propellant tank will be jettisoned and the Breeze M will complete its 4th burn. All this will happen while the vehicle is again out of range of a ground station. We should reacquire the vehicle around 8:28 p.m. EST, or 01:28 GMT.

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27 Dec 2014

Astra 2G | Breeze M MECO 1

We have received confirmation of completion of the first burn. The vehicle is now scheduled to be out of range for just under an hour, after which we will hear confirmation of the second burn

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27 Dec 2014

Astra 2G | Stage Separations

We had a successful liftoff about 11 minutes ago of the ILS Proton M Breeze M rocket, which is carrying the Astra 2G 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 about 5 minutes.

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