Launch News Galileo from Kourou atop Soyuz 2-1b October 21st 2011

[SiberianTiger]

Velocity is growing, looks like Fregat burn has begun.

 

[SiberianTiger]

This drop to below 150 km is chilling! :blink:

 

[SiberianTiger]

The lowest point was 147.7 km!
Now velocity is 8.16 km/s, we are uphill again!

First video of the launch posted:

 

[SiberianTiger]

Vel is over 9 km/s now

 

[Alfastar]

Over the 1000 km. :thumbup:

 

[SiberianTiger]

There's a shutdown of Fregat's main engine!

Alt = 805.9 km
Vel = 9.14 km/s

Fregat will acquire sun-facing attitude and enter a 4-hours long cruise phase.

 

[SiberianTiger]

The second and last burn begins: 14:10:31 UTC
End of the second burn: 14:14:53 UTC
Spacecraft separation: 14:19:53 UTC

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

The second Fregat burn is planned at 14:10 UTC, and will lasts more than 4 minutes. S/C separation is planned at 14:19 UTC.

 

[orb]

A couple of pictures from ESA: Liftoff of Soyuz flight VS01:

Click on images to enlarge







Credits: ESA/CNES/ARIANESPACE - S. Corvaja, 2011​

Aviation Week: Soyuz, Galileo Achieve Double First

 

[SiberianTiger]

Better resolution video, French-narrated:

 

[N_Molson]

T+ 3h15m00s

Live broadcast resumed.

The Fregat is BBQ-ing at 2.5 deg/sec.

Just noticed there is a russian version of this broadcast.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Prior to the burn:

Alt=23255.6 km
Vel=1.40 km/s

The second burn is initiated.

 

[N_Molson]

T+3h40m30s

Fregat stage successfully re-ignited for a 300s burn.

 

[SiberianTiger]

There's a confirmation of main engine's shutdown.

The numbers aren't moving, surprisingly.

 

[SiberianTiger]

The upper composite turns to orbit-normal attitude for spacecraft separation.

 

[N_Molson]

T+3h44m45s

Fregat stage shutdown occured as planned. The orbit is now circularized.

Next phase : orientation manoeuvers prior to satellites release.

 

[SiberianTiger]

There's a confirmation of spacecraft separation!

All, drink rum now!!! :lol:

 

[N_Molson]

Successful separation of the satellites.

A lot of emotion, Mr Popovchkin, director of Roskosmos, was present.

An historical launch that takes places right in time, proving that ESA-Roskosmos cooperation can work very well. :thumbup:

 

[orb]

Arianespace:

• Arianespace scores a double success with its historic first Soyuz launch from the Spaceport
• A historic launch for Arianespace: First Soyuz mission from Guiana Space Center a success; First two Galileo satellites in orbit

ESA: One Soyuz launcher, two Galileo satellites, three successes for Europe

SPACE.com: Photos: Russian Soyuz Rocket Launches from South America

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Interesting trivia, from the Arianespace launch press kit:

On its first mission from CSG, Soyuz will place the Galileo IOV-1 PFM and FM2 (In Orbit Validation) satellites,
[B]named Tiis and Natalia[/B], into circular orbit at an altitude of 23,000 kilometers. The satellites were built by a
consortium led by Astrium GmbH.