Sept. 25, 2008 - Triple GLONASS on Proton M / DM-2

[SiberianTiger]

Launch date: September 25, 2008
Launch time: 12:49:37 Moscow Summer Time (08:49:37 UTC)
Payload: Triple GLONASS-M (Uragan-M) Satellites
Customer: Government of Russia
Head Contractor: Roscosmos

Goal: to replenish the GLObal NAvigational Satellite System's composition by adding three new spacecrafts to the Orbital plane 1 (slots 1 through 8).

The current GLONASS constellation stats as of 22.09.2008:

Total satellites in constellation     16 SC
Operational     14 SC
In commissioning phase     -
In maintenance     1 SC
In decommissioning phase     1 SC

It's planned to launch 6 new GLONASS-M satellites before the end of this year; together with 6 more in the next year, this should be enough to reach the nominal constellation capacity of 24 active satellites in 2009. Since 2010, a test launch of the new generation GLONASS-K sats is planned.

The satellite's vendor: The JSC “Information Satellite Systems – Reshetnev Company” (NPO PM).

GLONASS-M

Performances

Service type:navigation Orbit:Middle-high circular Lifetime: 7 years Launching mass:1415 kg Power supply system:1400 W Flight test beginningecember, 10, 2003 Launch vehicle: Proton
Khrunichev Space Centre release: 22.09.2008:
This morning Proton-M rocket with three Glonass-M satellites aboard was transported from integration and test facility №92-50 to launch pad №81, Baikonur space port. Then the launcher was erected. Baikonur expert groups carry out the prelaunch processing in line with the schedule for so-called Launch day 1.

There won't be a live launch coverage like Khrunichev does for commercial launches, but it will be likely covered live on Russian TV. I will post a video link in this thread when one is available.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Streaming video links

The live video reports on the GLONASS-M satellites triple launch will be available on Vesti streaming channel:

Vesti: High quality
Vesti: Low quality
Vesti: Microsoft Silverlight

After the launch, the video clip will be posted at:
http://tvroscosmos.ru/?page=videopusk


-----Posted Added-----


there's a liftoff


-----Posted Added-----


The Proton stages has worked fine. Now it's up to DM-2.


-----Posted Added-----


Meanwhile, successful delivery of the three GLONASS-M satellites to the target orbit is confirmed.

 

[simonpro]

Congrats to all involved for the success.

 

[cjp]

The nose of the rocket... is that duct tape???

 

[SiberianTiger]

The nose of the rocket... is that duct tape???

No, it's a fairing jacket to protect the payload from the harsh steppe conditions (heating, freezing). It's removed before a launch.


-----Posted Added-----


This is the final version of this launch's video. There are four replays in there:

http://tvroscosmos.ru/picture_library/video/start32.wmv

My favourite Proton launch video still remains the same (AMC-14, Mar 15, 2008):

http://tvroscosmos.ru/picture_library/video/start13.wmv

 

[VF2_Rolf]

Good pics of the Proton. Thanks for the launch links.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Good pics of the Proton. Thanks for the launch links.

Always happy to keep ya informed. Missed one Dnepr launch yesterday, but it got very little coverage anyway. Get tuned for the Soyuz launch on October, 12.