Launch News (FAILURE) Telkom-3 and Express MD-2, Proton-M/Breeze-M, August 6/7, 2012

[Cosmic Penguin]

In the midst of the crazy celebrations of the touchdown of Curiosity at Gale crater, the Russians were probably the ones left out in the air (though interestingly they do have one instrument on board Curiosity!). They, however, have a little show of their own today, with a Proton-M rocket getting ready to lift two Russian built communication satellites into orbit, one for the largest tele-com company in Indonesia and another for domestic use. So here are the details....

Launch location:

Baikonur Launch pad no. 81/24 46°4'15.38"N, 62°59'5.11"E

Launch dates and times:

{colsp=6}Launch times

Time Zone |

Baikonur / UTC+6 ​

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Moscow / UTC+4 ​

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Universal / UTC ​

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Washington / EDT ​

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Los Angeles / PDT ​

Launch time (Primary): ​

|

01:31:00​

|

23:31:00​

|

19:31:00​

|

15:31:00​

|

12:31:00​

on: ​

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Aug. 7, 2012​

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Aug. 6, 2012​

|

Aug. 6, 2012​

|

Aug. 6, 2012​

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Aug. 6, 2012​

{colsp=6}

[highlight][eventTimer]2012-08-06 19:31:00?before|after;%dd% Days %hh% Hours %mm% Minutes %ss% Seconds %c%[/eventTimer] Telkom-3 and Express MD-2 Launch[/highlight]​

Live Coverage Of The Launch:

• TSENKI Video Streams: http://www.tv-tsenki.com/livechoose.php
• Khrunichev COOPI (login: ? password: ?): http://coopi.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=200
• Owners of PDA can watch the launch in test mode on: http://www.space-center.ru

PAYLOAD 1

Telkom 3 communication satellite:

Mission Summary

In December 2008, JSC Academician M.F. Reshetnev “Information satellite systems” won a tender on IOD Scheme delivery of a geostationary telecommunication satellite system TELKOM 3 for the Indonesian operator PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk.

The project covers a development and in-orbit delivery of a satellite TELKOM 3, creation of augmented ground control segment, training, internship and technical support to the service operator during the satellite operation life. The satellite will be built based on a new medium-class platform «Ekspress-1000N». It will carry 32 C-band transponders and 10 Ku-transponders or equivalent to 49 TPE. The satellite TELKOM 3 mass will be 1600 kg, payload power – 5.6 kW, lifetime – 15 years. The satellite shall be manufactured and launched into the orbit in the middle of 2011.

The satellite will be built for one of the major telecommunication provider of the Asia-Pacific Region - PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk. For the tender, the main competitors of the Reshetnev company were well-known companies Orbital Sciences, Thales Alenia Space and Space Systems/Loral.

{colsp=2}Summary
Parameter | Value

Working Orbit:​

| GEO

Orbital Location:​

| 118° East

Coverage:​

| South-East Asia

ApA at separation:​

| 35401 km

PeA at separation:​

| 35401 km

Inc at separation:​

| 0°

Characteristics|

Telkom 3​

Customer:​

|

• Telkom Indonesia
  

Prime contractor:​

|

• JSC Information Satellite Systems
  

Platform:​

|

• Express-1000N

Mass at Separation:​

|

• 1903 kg

Dry Mass:​

|

• ?

Stabilization:​

|

• 3 axis stabilized

Dimensions (stowed):​

|

• ?

Batteries:​

|

• ?

Payload:​

|

• 10 C-band transponders
• 32 Ku-band transponders

Life time:​

|

• 15 years

Ku-band coverage:​

|

• ? (can somebody help?)

C-band coverage:​

|

• ? (can somebody help?)

|

PAYLOAD 2

Express MD-2 communication satellite:

Mission Summary

Russian Satellite Communications Company has signed in 2006 a contract with Alcatel Alenia Space Italia and Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre to provide telecommunication payloads for Ekspress-MD1 and Ekspress-MD2 satellites.

Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC) signed a contract with Alcatel Alenia Space Italia to provide telecommunication payloads for the Ekspress MD-1 and Ekspress MD-2 satellites. The space bus will be built by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre.

Ekspress MD-1 and MD-2 will each be equipped with eight C-band and one L-band transponders, along with a repeater panel and an antenna farm, to provide broadcasting and communications services across Russia and the CIS countries, as well as mobile presidential and governmental communications.

The payloads will be produced by Alcatel Alenia Space Italia (now Thales Alenia) and transferred to Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre for integration with the space bus in the third quarter of 2007. Express MD-1 was launched from Baikonur in 2009 jointly with the Ekspress-AM 44 satellite.

The new Express-MD1 and Express-MD2 satellites in orbit will allow RSCC to pursue a more flexible marketing policy on developing the satellite business, including the existing network backup, and to offer advanced communications and broadcasting services both in Russia and abroad.

{colsp=2}Summary
Parameter | Value

Working Orbit:​

| GEO

Orbital Location:​

| 145° East

Coverage:​

| Siberia/Far-eastern Russia

ApA at separation:​

| 35401 km

PeA at separation:​

| 35401 km

Inc at separation:​

| 0°

Characteristics|

Express MD-2​

Customer:​

|

• Russian Satellite Communications Company
  

Prime contractor:​

|

• Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Centre
  

Platform:​

|

• modified Yakhta bus

Mass at Separation:​

|

• 1140 kg

Dry Mass:​

|

• ?

Stabilization:​

|

• 3 axis stabilized

Dimensions (stowed):​

|

• ?

Batteries:​

|

• ?

Payload:​

|

• 8 C-band transponders
• 1 L-band transponder

Life time:​

|

• 10 years

C-band coverage:​

|

• 

|

Launch Vehicle:

{colsp=2}Characteristics

|

{colsp=2}

Proton-M / Briz-M​

Prime contractor:​

|

• Khrunichev Space Centre
  

GRAU Index:​

|

• 8K82KM

Height:​

| 58.2 m with upper stage and payload fairing

Diameter:​

| max 7.4 m

Liftoff mass:​

| 705 metric tonnes

Payload mass:​

| ~22 tonnes at LEO

1st stage:​

|

• 6 X RD-275 engines
• Empty 30.6 tonnes
• Propellants 419.41 tonnes (UDMH and NTO)
• Thrust in vacuum 1069.8 tonnes of force
• Thrust at sea level 971.4 tonnes of force

2nd stage:​

|

• 1 X RD-0211 engine 3 X RD-0210 engines
• Empty 11.4 tonnes
• Propellants 156.113 tonnes (UDMH and NTO)
• Thrust in vacuum 237.4 tonnes of force

3rd stage:​

|

• 1 X RD-0213 engine & 1 X RD-0214 vernier engine
• Empty 3.7 tonnes
• Propellants 46.562 tonnes (UDMH and NTO)
• Thrust in vacuum 59.36 (core) + 3.15 (vernier) tonnes of force

Upper Stage:​

|

• GRAU Index: 14S43
• Common Name: Briz-M
• Designer & Manufacturer: Khrunichev Space Centre
• Dimensions: Length 2.654 m, Diameter 4 m
• Empty Mass 2.2 tonnes
• Propellants 6 660 kg UDMH + 13 260 kg N2O4
• Flight time: no less than 24 hours

• Main Engine: 1 X 14D30
• Thrust in vacuum 2.0 tonnes of force
• ISP 328.6 s
• Main engine restarts: up to 8 times

• Precision Manoeuvering Engines: 4 X 11D458
• Thrust in vacuum 400 N each
• ISP 252 s

• RCS Engines: 12 X 17D58E
• Thrust in vacuum 13.3 N each
• ISP 274 s

Payload Fairing:​

|

• Diameter 4.35 m
• Length 11.6 m

The vehicle's reliability statistics according to http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/log2012.html#rate:

================================================================ 
Vehicle     Successes/Tries Realzd Pred  Consc. Last     Dates    
                             Rate  Rate* Succes Fail    
================================================================
Proton-M/Briz-M  53    57    .93  .92     11    08/17/11 2001-

Proton-M Ascent Profile

The Proton-M first three stages place the orbital unit (OU), which consists of a Breeze-M upper stage, adapter system and the two satellites, into a 51.5° inclination suborbital trajectory.

Proton-M powered flight lasts 582 seconds. The OU powered flight begins at the moment of the third stage separation.

Immediately after the separation of the third stage booster, the Breeze-M stability engines start, damping the angular velocities of the third stage separation and then providing orbital unit orientation and stability during coast flight along a suborbital trajectory to await the first burn. The upper stage follows a five-burn injection profile.

Telkom-3/Express MD-2 Ascent Timeline

Event|Time rel lift-off|Time UTC|Comment
Ignition Start Sequence|-00:00:02.5|19:30:57.5 (August 6th)|
Stage 1 Ignition (40% thrust)|-00:00:01.75|19:30:58.25|
Command Stage 1 (100% thrust)|-00:00:00.9|19:30:59.1|
Maximum Dynamic Pressure|00:01:02|19:32:02|
1st/2nd Stage Separation|00:02:00|19:33:00|
2nd/3rd Stage Separation|00:05:28|19:36:28|
Payload Fairing Separation|00:05:47|19:36:47|
3rd Stage/Breeze M Separation|00:09:42|19:40:42|
1st Burn Ignition|00:11:16|19:42:16|
1st Burn Shutdown|00:15:23|19:46:23|1st Burn's Duration 00:04:07
2nd Burn Ignition|01:07:25|20:38:25|
2nd Burn Shutdown|01:25:19|20:56:19|2nd Burn's Duration 00:17:54
3rd Burn Ignition|03:28:54|22:59:54|
3rd Burn Shutdown|03:46:58|23:17:58|3rd Burn's Duration 00:18:04
APT Jettison|03:48:19|23:19:19|
4th Burn Ignition|08:44:39|04:15:39 (August 7th)|
4th Burn Shutdown|08:57:46|04:28:46|4th Burn's Duration 00:13:07
Telkom 3 Separation|09:13:20|04:44:20|
Express MD-2 Separation|09:43:20|05:14:20|

Weather forecast for Baikonur, Kazakhstan on August 7, 2012 (1 a.m.)

Clear. Low of 19C. Breezy. Winds from the NE at 15 to 25 km/h.

References
http://www.federalspace.ru
http://tvroscosmos.ru
http://www.khrunichev.ru
http://tihiy.fromru.com/Rn/RN_Proton.htm
http://space.skyrocket.de
http://www.tsenki.com
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru
http://www.spacelaunchreport.com
http://english.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=44.84999847,65.50000000

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

 

[orb]

Video replay of the launch

NASASpaceflight: Russian Proton-M launches with Telkom-3 and Ekspress-MD2

 

[N_Molson]

Nice one, congrats ! :thumbup:

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

DAMN! :beathead:

The Breeze-M failed again, this time 7 seconds into its third burn.

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=19396

August 7 during the breeding parent block (RB, "the Briz-M" spacecraft and 2) was not detected in the transfer orbit. The signal from the headunit (GB) was adopted with an emergency intermediate orbit.
According to preliminary information, the inclusion of cruise propulsion system (PS), RB, "the Briz-M" was the estimated time. Shutdown control occurred in 7 seconds instead of the estimated 18 minutes 5 seconds.
GB means accompanied Troops Air and Space Defense and Space Agency.
Conducted an analysis of the situation.

 

[RisingFury]

Are the engines shut down deliberately to prevent explosion or have they shut down on their own?

If they're shut down deliberately in case of impending emergency, why do that? Is one giant bit of debris easier and safer to deal with than a whole bunch of fragments and wouldn't it be better to continue the burn and hope for the best, even if "the best" is very unlikely?

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

Are the engines shut down deliberately to prevent explosion or have they shut down on their own?

If they're shut down deliberately in case of impending emergency, why do that? Is one giant bit of debris easier and safer to deal with than a whole bunch of fragments and wouldn't it be better to continue the burn and hope for the best, even if "the best" is very unlikely?

I guess this is not what happened, as it is an on-orbit stage that shouldn't cause any hazards of collision.

And Khrunichev have a lot to explain - this is the fourth Breeze-M and the fifth Breeze stage to fail in 6 and a half years (and in 57 cases that the stage made it to orbit). Definitely a very bad record by modern standards.

 

[icedown]

The signal from the headunit (GB) was adopted with an emergency intermediate orbit.

Does this mean they could possibly salvage this and re-ignite that stage to put it into orbit?

 

[Andy44]

Bad news for this system. I imagine they're going to have a hard time drumming up new business after all this fail.

 

[MattBaker]

Does this mean they could possibly salvage this and re-ignite that stage to put it into orbit?

Well, the orbit should be something like 270 km x 5200 km, so they should have some time for troubleshooting.

If they can't fix it (what I actually think): Damn, first launch failure of the serious spaceflight nations (only failure until now was the North Korean launch...). I wonder if there was any year without launch failures until August.:hmm:

 

[mojoey]

COTS-2+...but that was a pad abort. Also some miscellaneous Atlas V/Delta IV pad aborts.

 

[MattBaker]

A pad abort is not a failure, as long as the launch vehicle doesn't blow up.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Does this mean they could possibly salvage this and re-ignite that stage to put it into orbit?

Absolutely no, because Briz-M (1) does not have a command uplink chain and (2) is programmed to jettison any payloads and leftover propellants in case of an emergency engine shutdown. So, this launch is a complete writeoff.

 

[Eccentrus]

And here I thought that Telkom is a loyal customer to the Arrianne system, most of our satellites are launched by that lifting vehicle, is there any news about the satellites being insured?

 

[Cosmic Penguin]

 

[N_Molson]

Yes, that Briz-M tug has definitively been a source of trouble those last years. Are they planning to use it on Angara too ?

 

[SiberianTiger]

Yes, that Briz-M tug has definitively been a source of trouble those last years. Are they planning to use it on Angara too ?

Yes. But it's not a concrete technology piece to blame, but its manufacturing or setup.

 

[SiberianTiger]

And here I thought that Telkom is a loyal customer to the Arrianne system, most of our satellites are launched by that lifting vehicle, is there any news about the satellites being insured?

Russian insurance company Ingosstrakh will pay 1,177,149,000 Roubles of coverage on the lost Express-MD2 satellite (source). This company already paid over 7.5 billion roubles last January for the lost Express-AM44 satellite.

Russian insurance company Alpha-Strakhovaniye will pay 7.5 million Dollars out of the full total 185 million Dollars shared between few internation insurers to cover expenses of the Indonesian PTT company which it suffered due to loosing of Telkom-3 satellite (source).

 

[achyarnurandi]

I hope this situation not happen again. And Telkom 3 and Express-MD2 can orbited soon..

 

[orb]

Space News: Proton Upper-stage Failure Investigation Under Way