On 19 December, Sirius Satellite Radio and International Launch Services celebrated the successful launch of the Sirius FM-6 satellite, which took place in October this year. The event was hosted by ILS in the Orchid Room of the "21" Club in New York.

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We have had a successful mission with the Proton M Breeze M rocket, carrying the Sirius FM-6 satellite built by SSL. We have confirmation that the satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 11:20 p.m. EDT, or 03:20 UTC, 9 hours and 11 minutes after liftoff.

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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 11:01 p.m. EDT, or 03:01 GMT. Separation of the Sirius FM-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 ILS Proton M rocket continues its climb into space with the SIRIUS FM-6 satellite, 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 about 15 minutes; after that the additional propellant tank will be jettisoned, and the 4th burn will start. All this will happen in a span of about 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 9 minutes ago of our ILS Proton M Breeze M rocket, which is carrying the SIRIUS FM-6 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 4 and a half minutes.

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We have liftoff! of the ILS Proton M Breeze M rocket and the SIRIUS FM-6 satellite.

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Today is the day.  In approximately T-2 hours the ILS Proton is scheduled to lift off with the Sirius FM-6 satellite. Approval to prepare the launch vehicle has been given and the mission teams are moving into their secure locations. Go Proton!   

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Today, the mission teams continue to ready for the launch of Sirius FM-6 here in Baikonur.   Both the spacecraft (SC) and launch vehicle (LV) are safe and remain in stacked configuration at the launch pad.  The SC underwent health checks today with no issues.  As we wait to receive word regarding the satellite manufacturer’s ground station network, the teams decided to head into town for a little bowling. Yes, there is actually bowling alley in Baikonur!
 

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Today, there were no necessary launch vehicle operations as we are standing by while issues with the satellite manufacturer’s ground station network are being resolved. We will celebrate a special birthday of one of our team members tonight with a traditional BBQ…a very happy birthday to Sasha!

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