We have had a successful mission with the ILS Proton Rocket carrying the Nimiq 6 satellite built by Space Systems/Loral. We have had confirmation that the Nimiq 6 satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 00:26 a.m. EDT, or 04:26 GMT, 9 hours and 14 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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We have confirmed that the Breeze M upper stage has successfully completed its 3rd & 4th burns, 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 00:03 a.m. EDT, or 04:03 GMT. Separation of the Nimiq 6 spacecraft is scheduled to follow the 5th burn completion by about 13 minutes.

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As the Breeze M upper stage of our Proton M rocket continues its climb into space with the Nimiq 6 satellites 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 and a half hours from now. The Breeze M upper stage will ignite for a 3rd time and burn for approximately 15 minutes; after that the additional propellant tank will be jettisoned, and the 4th burn will start and complete. All this will happen in a span of almost 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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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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We had a successful liftoff about 11 minutes ago of our Proton M Breeze M rocket, which is carrying the Nimiq 6 satellite on board. 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 5 minutes.

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We have liftoff! of the Proton M Breeze M rocket and the Nimiq 6 satellite.

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Yesterday was a long and exciting day here in Baikonur.  After receiving the OK last night from the State Commission it was time to send the Nimiq 6 ILV on its trip to Launch Pad 24.

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It is May 9, and this is one of the most memorialized days in Russian History.  It is Victory Day, the day that marks the end of World War II.  Just as Memorial Day is in America, this is a day of celebrating the veterans of the war, in particular, the many who were lost.  It was an honor to be a part of this day with our Russian friends and colleagues.

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As we get closer to our launch date, the number of activities is increasing…
 
One of the more “technical” operations that we have to perform is signing the payload fairing.  The biggest decision is what to write and to whom one dedicates his or her message. Traditionally designees are parents, children and loved ones. All of the names on the fairing are, in essence, tributes from the launch team members.

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