Space launch: Russian Proton-M carrying ISS communications satellite blasted into orbit at midnight
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[video=youtube;pVWXl_CFhLg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVWXl_CFhLg[/video]
[QUOTE]A Proton rocket and Breeze M upper stage lifted off Friday and successfully deployed a Russian broadcasting satellite and a craft to relay voice, video and data communications between the International Space Station and mission control.
After lifting off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2104 GMT (5:04 p.m. EDT) Friday, the Proton rocket soared into an overcast sky and released a Breeze M upper stage in space less than 10 minutes later.
The Breeze M main engine fired four times to raise its orbit before deploying the Yamal 300K and Luch 5B communications satellites more than nine hours after launch.
Yamal 300K, which rode in the upper position of the dual-payload stack, separated from the Breeze M stage first. Separation of Luch 5B followed less than 15 minutes later at 0637 GMT (2:37 a.m. EDT).
The mission targeted a near-geostationary orbit 22,300 miles over the equator, Khrunichev - the Proton and Breeze M contractor - declared the flight successful.
The builder of Yamal 300K and Luch 5B - Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Co. - said all mechanical structures deployed on both satellites.
Yamal 300K will broadcast television and high-speed Internet service across Russia and neighboring regions for Gazprom Space Systems, a Moscow-based subsidiary of Gazprom, the Russian oil and gas producer.
The 3,615-pound satellite carries eight C-band and 18 Ku-band transponders to Russia and nearby countries from an operating position at 90 degrees east longitude.
Yamal 300K is designed for a 14-year lifetime. Gazprom will launch the Yamal 402 satellite in December on another Proton/Breeze M flight as the company continues a fleet expansion campaign.
Luch 5B will relay data, voice and video communications between the ground and the Russian segment of the International Space Station, satellites, and rockets in flight.
The new craft is the second in a new generation of Luch data relay satellites. Russia launched the Luch 5A spacecraft in December 2011.
The Luch system is Russia's counterpart to NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, a network of spacecraft linking mission controllers with the space station, scientific satellites and rockets.
Luch 5B weighed 2,513 pounds at launch and will operate for 10 years at 95 degrees east longitude over the Indian Ocean. Luch 5A covers that Atlantic Ocean.
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0:31 in the launch looked insanely amazing, it just disappeared into the clouds.
It sounds like 10 people firing AK-47's at the same time
The ignition is damn spectacular
I like the look of that rocket. Most Russian rockets are quite interesting actually.
[QUOTE=TheTalon;38303729]It sounds like 10 people firing AK-47's at the same time[/QUOTE]
Sure, but thousands of AK 47's firing simultaneously generate a lot of thrust, and it's a good way to get rid of all that cold war 7.62x39 surplus :eng101:
Did they turn off the pad lights individually or did the shock waves knock them out? (look at the right light tower around 0:07)
[QUOTE=BMCHa;38304377]Did they turn off the pad lights individually or did the shock waves knock them out? (look at the right light tower around 0:07)[/QUOTE]
Looks like they were knocked out!
Them commies are still trying to take space from us and we ain't doing anything about it. Y'all shat on Newt and his moonbase well look who's laughin' now.
Wow, that was an extraordinarily clean launch, in comparison to liquid hydrogen or solid boosters.
[QUOTE=hypno-toad;38304038]Sure, but thousands of AK 47's firing simultaneously generate a lot of thrust, and it's a good way to get rid of all that cold war 7.62x39 surplus :eng101:[/QUOTE]
lol even the russians consider the AK47 obsolete
[QUOTE=Dr. Gestapo;38305660]Them commies are still trying to take space from us and we ain't doing anything about it. Y'all shat on Newt and his moonbase well look who's laughin' now.[/QUOTE]
quick build more missiles
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