3*Glonass-M Launched on Sept. 1, 2010 (with Proton-M)

[Zipi]

Launch time: 00:53 GMT on 2nd (8:53 pm EDT on 1st)
Launch site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

A Russian government Proton rocket will launch a trio of spacecraft for the Glonass satellite navigation constellation.

Glonass Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GLONASS
Official Glonass Site: http://www.glonass-ianc.rsa.ru/pls/html ... 3506720876

Live Streams

Live stream from TV Tsenki: http://www.tv-tsenki.com/livechoose.php

Proton/Glonass Launch Animation:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9wc18fMv4A[/youtube]

Proton-M Launch Vehicle

Proton Rocket Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_(rocket)
Proton-M Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton-M
Khrunichev's Proton Page: http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=42&lang=en
Khrunichev's Proton Photo Gallery: http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=135&lang=en

Please note that this launch is not using Breeze-M fourth stage which is shown on image above.

Proton-M First Stage:

Six RD-275M Engines burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH. RD-275M is a further developed version from originally used RD-253 engine. Central tank contains the oxidizer and six outer tanks the fuel.

RD-275 Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RD-275
NPO Energomash RD-275 Page: http://www.npoenergomash.ru/eng/engines/rd253/ (all engine evolutions)
ILS Launch Proton Fact Sheets: http://www.ilslaunch.com/proton-breeze-m/

Proton-M Second Stage:

Three RD-0210 and one RD-0211 burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH. These engines are similar, but RD-0211 is the only one providing tank pressurization.

Khrunichev RD-0210 & RD-0211 Page: http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=100&lang=en
Astronautix RD-0210 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd0210.htm
Astronautix RD-0211 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd0211.htm
Some more: http://www.asi.org/adb/04/03/09/01/npo- ... html#13-02



Proton-M Third Stage:

One RD-0212 engine cluster consisting of one RD-0213 for main propulsion and four RD-0214 for steering. All engines are burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH.

Khurinichev RD-0212 Page: http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=94&lang=en
Astronautix RD-0212 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd0212.htm
Astronautix RD-0213 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd0213.htm
Astronautix RD-0214 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd0214.htm



Proton-M Fourth Stage:

This launch is using DM-2 upper stage. It has one 11D68 engine burning LOX/RP-1.

Astronautix DM-2 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/craft/blo1s861.htm
Russianspaceweb's Blok D Page: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/n1_d.html
Blok D Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blok_D
RD-58 Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RD-58
Space and Tech 11D-58 Summary: http://www.spaceandtech.com/spacedata/e ... _sum.shtml

Baikonur Kosmodrome

Baikonur Kosmodrome Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baikonur_Cosmodrome
Russianspaceweb Baikonur Page: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur.html
Russianspaceweb Baikonur Downrange Page: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_downrange.html
Russianspaceweb Baikonur Facilities Page: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/baikonur_facilities.html
Historical Photos from Baikonur Kosmodrome: http://www.buran.ru/htm/baykonur.htm
NASA's Baikonur Page: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stati ... konur.html
Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&q=45.96 ... 30341&z=15
Baikonur-info.ru: http://translate.google.com/translate?j ... l=ru&tl=en
(without Google Translation: http://www.baikonur-info.ru/)

 

[Zipi]

Re: Sept. 1 Proton-M - 3*Glonass-M

SiberianTiger's excellent info package:

http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=17894

Roscosmos Photo Report:

http://www.roscosmos.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=12293&lang=ru

 

[Zipi]

Re: Sept. 1 Proton-M - 3*Glonass-M

GLONASS-M n°37 Preps:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nay_Ah7Ug0E[/youtube]

GLONASS-M n°37 Solar Arrays:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr0ZBdrbC-0[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNT1McEC1Eg[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sxplm79byk[/youtube]

Launch has occured and I'm waiting for official launch video....

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com : Group of navigation satellites launched by Proton rocket

BY STEPHEN CLARK

Posted: September 1, 2010
Updated @ 1 a.m. EDT

A Proton rocket blasted off overnight Wednesday with three spacecraft to help expand Russia's satellite navigation system to provide positioning services around the world.

The Proton rocket lifts off with three Glonass navigation satellites. Credit: TsENKI TV

The Proton rocket launched at 0053 GMT Thursday (8:53 p.m. EDT Wednesday) from pad 81 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where the first pink hues of sunrise splashed the dawn sky.

With six main engines burning, the Proton soared into mostly clear skies and jettisoned its first stage two minutes after liftoff. The three-stage rocket deployed a Block DM upper stage and the three Glonass payloads in space less than 10 minutes into the mission.

The Block DM was expected to fire twice to place the Glonass satellites in a circular orbit 12,000 miles above Earth with an inclination of 64.8 degrees.

Spacecraft separation occurred at 0426 GMT (12:26 a.m. EDT) in the targeted orbit, according to the Russian Space Agency.

Rollout :
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIShd5A4G20[/youtube]

Launch :
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH1ocXct-3w[/youtube]

 

[RVHM]

Proton leaves a very "clean" flame: not too much steam like in Saturn V or too much smoke like with the SRBs.

 

[Zipi]

Proton leaves a very "clean" flame: not too much steam like in Saturn V or too much smoke like with the SRBs.

That's becouse it uses hypergolic fuel. Saturn V used kerosine and SRB's use solid aluminium/rubber as fuel.

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.federalspace.ru : Proton-M/Glonass-M's Launch (photos)

:: 02.09.2010

and more.

 

[RVHM]

Proton leaves a very "clean" flame: not too much steam like in Saturn V or too much smoke like with the SRBs.

That's becouse it uses hypergolic fuel. Saturn V used kerosine and SRB's use solid aluminium/rubber as fuel.

I know. I just thought hypergolics created dirty plumes as well.

 

[Zipi]

Proton leaves a very "clean" flame: not too much steam like in Saturn V or too much smoke like with the SRBs.

That's becouse it uses hypergolic fuel. Saturn V used kerosine and SRB's use solid aluminium/rubber as fuel.

I know. I just thought hypergolics created dirty plumes as well.

Yes, they create brown plumes. But that white flame with bluish tint at edges is probably the most beautiful flame I have ever seen rocket to produce (night launches show this). However rocket flame is always beutiful, no matter what fuel is being used.

 

[Zipi]

Glonass satellite construction:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lzs9ZpH0cM[/youtube]

 

[EarthlingX]

www.federalspace.ru : Orbital Operations with Glonass-M Satellites

:: 29.09.2010

For three Glonass-M satellites developed by Resehtnev ISS company successfully launched on Sept. 2, orbital tests of their service systems have been completed.
Currently, the satellites undergo adjustment in order to bring them into the targeted orbital positions. This operation has been finished for satellite 36 on Sept 20. The other two, №37 and №38, are to reach their positions by the end of Sept. In 8-10 days, following completions of the payload tests, the satellites are to begin their nominal orbital operations.
Telemetry data from Glonass satellites are acquired in the Control Center in Krasnoznamensk and processed with the help of the ISS’ experts.
ISS also continues work with the new-generation Glonass-K satellite, to be launch in late 2010.

Roscosmos PAO

 

[EarthlingX]

www.federalspace.ru : All Three Glonass-M’s Launched in September are Commissioned

:: 13.10.2010

Satellite №736 of the GLONASS orbital constellation has been commissioned on Oct. 12. The other two spacecraft of the GLONASS constellation launched on Sept. 2, aboard Proton, had commenced nominal orbital operations on Oct. 11 and Oct. 4.
Currently, GLONASS constellation comprises 26 satellites, with 21 in nominal operation, 3 undergoing technical maintenance, and 2 as orbital backup.
Three Glonass-M’s and one new-generation Glonass-K are to launched by the end of 2010.

Roscosmos PAO