Форум Новости Космонавтики

ЦитироватьРОСКОСМОС. ГРАФИК ПУСКОВ В I КВАРТАЛЕ 2018 ГОДА

Комиссия Госкорпорации «РОСКОСМОС» определила план запусков космических аппаратов (КА) в рамках Федеральной космической программы (ФКП), Федеральных целевых программ (ФЦП), международного сотрудничества и коммерческих проектов на январь – март 2018 года.

По программе МКС в первом квартале 2018 года планируется осуществить 2 пуска с космодрома БАЙКОНУР:

• 11 февраля – транспортный грузовой корабль «Прогресс МС-08»;
• 15 марта – транспортный пилотируемый корабль «Союз МС-08».
  

По ФКП и коммерческой программам в январе-марте 2018 года также планируется осуществить 2 запуска: с космодрома ВОСТОЧНЫЙ и из Гвианского космического центра (ГКЦ).

• 1 февраля (космодром ВОСТОЧНЫЙ) – КА «Канопус-В» №3 и №4, РН «Союз-2.1а»;
• 1 марта (ГКЦ) – КА O3b F4, РН «Союз СТ-Б».
  

ЦитироватьЕвропейский спутник O3b запустят с космодрома Куру 1 марта
МОСКВА, 29 дек – РИА Новости. Российская ракета "Союз-СТ" стартует со спутником O3b с европейского космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане 1 марта 2018 года, сообщает в пятницу "Роскосмос".
Спутники O3b предназначены для создания новой европейской среднеорбитальной космической системы связи, а также предоставления телекоммуникационных услуг и скоростного доступа в интернет в Азии, Африке, Латинской Америке и на Ближнем Востоке.
"Планируется осуществить ... с космодрома Куру: 1 марта — ракета-носитель "Союз-СТ-Б" со спутником O3bF4", — отмечается в релизе.
Спутники O3b уже три раза выводились на орбиту российскими "Союзами-СТ" с космодрома Куру – в июне 2013 года, в июле и декабре 2014 года. На расчетные орбиты каждый раз выводили по четыре аппарата.
Аппараты призваны обеспечить связью и высокоскоростным доступом в интернет жителей удаленных и развивающихся регионов, где нельзя проложить оптоволоконные кабели, — в общей сложности аудиторию около 3 миллиардов человек.

Цитировать (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29242.jpg)  DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace)  18 янв. (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/953970538019545088)
Preparations for the next #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) launch #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) are progressing in #CSG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSG?src=hash), #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) satellites FM14 & FM15 are being processed in S1B
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ЦитироватьThales Alenia Space‏ @Thales_Alenia_S (https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S) · 17m (https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S/status/956823320288268288)

Two more #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) satellites @SES_Satellites (https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites) have arrived at the Guiana Space Cente http://ow.ly/Pswi30i0Phu  (https://t.co/0tEBbLl3bX) r, Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana @leonardo_live (https://twitter.com/leonardo_live) @telespazio (https://twitter.com/telespazio)

Цитировать (https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg) Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 3 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/958009223195119616)

All four #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) satellites for launch on #Arianespace (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arianespace?src=hash)'s next #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) mission are in French Guiana! The second pair arrived at Cayenne's Félix Eboué Airport, following delivery of the first pair earlier this month. #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) @SES_Networks (https://twitter.com/SES_Networks) @Thales_Alenia_S (https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S)
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Спойлер

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ЦитироватьSES set to expand O3b fleet with arrival of four MEO satellites in Kourou ahead of March Launch

Written on 29 Jan 2018

The new satellites will enable SES Networks to meet exponential demand for reliable fibre-like connectivity worldwide

Luxembourg, 29 January 2018 – Four new O3b satellites have arrived safely at the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana, in preparation for launch by a Soyuz vehicle in March 2018.

Спойлер

The four O3b medium earth orbit (MEO) satellites will be placed in orbit nearly 8,000 kilometres from Earth, four times closer to the planet than geostationary satellites. Built by Thales Alenia Space, the Ka-band satellites will offer low latency, fibre-like connectivity to people and businesses in the growing mobility, fixed data and government markets.

The launch of the new satellites will augment SES's fleet of 12 O3b satellites, which were also built by Thales Alenia Space. The four new spacecraft have improved connectivity capabilities and increased performance, and will serve to seamlessly scale the existing O3b constellation. Together, they will enable SES Networks to offer more capacity, enhanced coverage, increased efficiencies and greater reliability while delivering carrier-grade services including MEF Carrier Ethernet 2.0 certified services, to telcos, mobile network operators (MNOs), enterprises, internet service providers (ISPs) and government customers.

Steve Collar, Chief Executive Officer at SES Networks, said, "The uptake of our O3b fleet and capability has been breathtaking. From being the fastest growing operator in 2015 to our customers demanding for more O3b services today, we are now approaching peak capacity across a number of regions. As the only operational low-latency, broadband constellation in the world, we are developing our network aggressively to deliver cloud scale connectivity and solutions. Our managed end-to-end network services are comparable with terrestrial networks, empowering our customers to offer high-performance connectivity on a truly global scale."

Martin Halliwell, Chief Technology Officer at SES, added, "In addition to the O3b satellites' throughput capabilities and low latency, a unique feature of the O3b constellation is that it is easily scalable and is designed to be expanded in response to demand. Demand for reliable fibre-like connectivity has never been higher, and we are excited that our satellites can play a key role in connecting people, communities, and improving their lives."

SES will be launching another four satellites in the constellation with Arianespace in 2019, bringing the total number of O3b satellites to 20. The first 12 O3b satellites were launched by three Soyuz launch vehicles in 2013 and 2014.

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Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29242.jpg)DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace) 28m ago (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/963349249932087296)

Small #CSG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSG?src=hash) update on the next #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) launch #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) with #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) now planned for 6th of March at 13:38:36 local

ЦитироватьРОСКОСМОС. ПОДГОТОВКА РАКЕТЫ-НОСИТЕЛЯ «СОЮЗ-СТ-Б» НА КОСМОДРОМЕ ВО ФРАНЦУЗСКОЙ ГВИАНЕ
16.02.2018 11:31

16 февраля 2018 года специалисты предприятий РОСКОСМОСА в Гвианском космическом центре (Куру, Французская Гвиана) приступили к автономным испытаниям системы управления ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ-Б» в рамках пусковой кампании по выводу на орбиту Земли четырех европейских телекоммуникационных космических аппаратов O3b. Днем ранее были проведены автономные испытания систем измерений ракеты-носителя и установлена на борт аппаратура европейского комплекта обеспечения безопасности в полете. Также продолжается заправка разгонного блока «Фрегат-МТ» компонентами ракетного топлива и подготовка стартового комплекса к приему ракеты-носителя и космической головной части. Пуск ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ-Б» с космодрома Куру по согласованию с заказчиком запланирован на 6 марта 2018 года.

Спойлер

Спутники O3b предназначены для создания новой европейской среднеорбитальной космической системы связи. Аппараты призваны обеспечить связью и высокоскоростным доступом в интернет жителей удаленных и развивающихся регионов, где нельзя проложить оптоволоконные кабели, — в общей сложности аудиторию около 3 миллиардов человек.

Ракеты-носители «Союз-СТ-Б» участвовали уже в трех пусковых кампаниях с Гвианского космического центра с полезной нагрузкой в виде спутников O3b – в июне 2013 года, в июле и декабре 2014 года. Российские средства выведения доставляли на расчетные орбиты по четыре космических аппаратов за каждую пусковую кампанию.

Гвианский космический центр - европейский космодром, расположенный вблизи города Куру во Французской Гвиане (департамент Франции в Южной Америки). Его расположение около экватора обеспечивает 15% преимущество по полезной нагрузке по сравнению с запусками в восточном направлении с американского космодрома на мысе Канаверал и 40% - при запусках с космодрома БАЙКОНУР. С начала 70-х годов прошлого века ГКЦ используется для запусков КА ракетами-носителями семейства «Ариан». Космодром используется в интересах совместных европейских космических программ.

Российско-европейский проект «Союз» в Гвианском космическом центре» начался в 2003 году, когда на правительственном уровне было принято решение о запусках ракет-носителей «Союз» с европейского космодрома во Французской Гвиане. В рамках принятых решений был подписан целый ряд межправительственных соглашений, которые заложили правовую основу для подписания контрактов на создание наземной инфраструктуры стартового комплекса «Союз», изготовление и отгрузку ракет-носителей «Союз-СТ» и разгонных блоков «Фрегат» в Гвианский космический центр. В 2005 году началось строительство стартового комплекса для «Союз-СТ», в мае 2011 года состоялась официальная церемония передачи стартового комплекса Европейскому космическому агентству и эксплуатанту космодрома – компании Arianespace. Первый пуск ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ» состоялся в октябре 2011 года. Ежегодно осуществляется 2-3 пуска как в интересах ESA, так и в интересах коммерческих компаний.

Головным контрактным интегратором предприятий российской кооперации в проекте «Союз» в Гвианском космическом центре выступает АО «Главкосмос», обеспечивая взаимодействие с Arianespace.

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Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29242.jpg)DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace) 9h ago (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/964797502368215040)

The next #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) launch at #CSG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSG?src=hash) with O3b is getting closer, final integration on the dispenser is on-going in S3B #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash)
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Спойлер

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ЦитироватьНИИСК: участие в подготовке пуска РН «Союз-СТ-Б» в Гвианском космическом центре
20/02/2018

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Сотрудники Центра эксплуатации стартовых комплексов принимают участие в подготовке к пуску РН «Союз-СТБ» с КА «О3b F4» в составе совместного расчета на стартовом комплексе РН «Союз» в ГКЦ.
Специалисты отдела криогенных систем оборудования с 7 февраля 2018 года проводят подготовку криогенных систем заправки в процессе подготовки к пуску ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ» на космодроме Гвианского космического центра. В целом подготовка в ГКЦ идет по графику.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29242.jpg)DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace) 6 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/966962366222159872)

Launch prep for the next #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) launch #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) is progressing well, integration of the O3b F4 S/C almost complete at #CSG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSG?src=hash)
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ЦитироватьSoyuz (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=soyuz) | February 21, 2018

Four O3b Medium Earth Orbit satellites will be lofted on Arianespace's next Soyuz mission

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One of the four O3b MEO satellites for Arianespace's VS18 Soyuz launch is maneuvered inside the Spaceport's S3B payload preparation facility.

Arianespace's fourth mission to loft O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites is set for March, with its four spacecraft and the Soyuz launch vehicle undergoing preparations at the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Once orbited by Arianespace, the satellites will be operated by SES Networks to deliver the world's only low latency, fibre-like connectivity in the growing mobility, fixed data and government markets.

The trapezoidal-shaped Ka-band relay platforms have a liftoff mass of 700 kg. each, and were produced by Thales Alenia Space.

The current constellation of 12 O3b MEO satellites was orbited by Arianespace, utilizing its medium-lift Soyuz workhorse to carry four spacecraft each on launches that began in June 2013, and was followed by missions in July and December 2014.

Arianespace's upcoming Soyuz mission is designated VS18 in the company's launcher family numbering system, denoting the 18th flight of the Russian-built launch vehicle since its introduction at the Spaceport in October 2011.

ЦитироватьSeamlessly Scaling our O3b Fleet to Meet Exponential Demand for Connectivity
Written on 26 Feb 2018

In March 2018, SES will launch four new O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites fr om the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana.

Спойлер

The new Ka-band satellites will join the existing O3b constellation of 12 satellites to offer the world's only low latency, fibre-like connectivity to people and businesses in the growing mobility, fixed data and government markets.

By scaling efficiently its MEO fleet, SES is adding 38% more capacity across the globe and growing the addressable market from +/- 45 to +/- 50 degrees latitude.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/218625.jpg)

Together, the MEO constellation will enable SES Networks to offer more capacity, enhanced coverage, increased efficiencies and greater reliability, while delivering carrier-grade services including MEF Carrier Ethernet 2.0 certified services, to telecommunications operators, mobile network operators (MNOs), enterprises, internet service providers (ISPs) and government customers.

One and Only to Successfully Commercialise Non-Geostationary Satellites

SES Networks' O3b fleet of MEO satellites is the only successful non-geostationary constellation to deliver commercial broadband services.

Positioned at approximately 8,000 km, the O3b satellites are approximately ¼ of the distance from the earth than traditional geostationary (GEO) satellites. The lower altitude greatly reduces latency, decreases response times, improves voice and video quality as well as enables an array of cloud services.

The unique offering of the O3b MEO constellation has transformed communities and disrupted industries by empowering people with opportunities. By connecting numerous towns, cities and countries for the first time to modern, high-performance communications, SES Networks is driving digital equality and generating social and economic development.

The managed end-to-end connectivity services delivered by the existing O3b fleet have also left their mark on the cruise industry and government organisations. Thanks to the enhanced connectivity powered by SES Networks, cruise liners can target new addressable markets of holiday-goers who want to very much stay connected while out at sea. High throughput and fibre-like connectivity has also enabled the connection of remote offices and sites of governments and institutions such as the United States Department of Defense and the United Nations.

Seamless Scaling to meet Expotential Demand

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Every satellite in the existing O3b constellation was built by Thales Alenia Space. Eight new satellites, four of which will be launched in March 2018 on Soyuz from Arianespace, are also built by Thales Alenia Space.

With those four new satellites, SES Networks will continue help bridge the digital divide by providing access to mobile broadband to underserved areas, and help mobile operators address the increasing demand for bandwidth as the number of 4G/LTE subscribers is set to jump from 1.6 billion in 2016 to 3.8 billion by end 2020.

The additional capacity will also serve the cruise industry which is thriving, with a $11,7 billion annual revenue increase foreseen between 2018 and 2020. With 27.2 million people are expected to go on cruises in 2018 only , the level of performance and throughput required to enable the "always on" experience to cruise guests is set to rise – and the augmented O3b constellation is ideally equipped to cater to that demand.

In addition, the expanded O3b fleet will allow SES Networks to further support the digital transformation of businesses, especially in the mining industry, wh ere 81% of companies have already adopted, or plan to adopt a form of cloud connectivity.

About the manufacturer and launcher
The four O3b MEO satellites were built by Thales Alenia Space and are designed to operate for 10 years. Each spacecraft weighs 700 kg and a wingspan of about 8 meters.
The satellites will be launched by a Soyuz rocket in March 2018. They will be launched by Arianespace from European space Center in Kourou, French Guiana.

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ЦитироватьSoyuz (http://www.arianespace.com/press-releases/?taxonomy%5Bpress-release-category%5D=soyuz) | February 27, 2018

Arianespace Flight VS18 – a fourth launch for the operator SES and its O3b constellation

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For Arianespace's second mission of 2018, the company will use a Soyuz launch vehicle to orbit four additional O3b MEO (Medium Earth Orbit) satellites in the constellation operated by SES Networks.

Carried out from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in French Guiana, this launch also is Arianespace's second of the year for SES and the fourth it has performed for the O3b MEO fleet, following the deployment in 2013 and 2014 of the constellation's initial 12 satellites.

With the launch of these four latest satellites, Arianespace is supporting SES Networks in the expansion and evolution of its constellation, which has been in commercial service since September 2014.

The launch will be from the Soyuz Launch Complex (ELS) in Sinnamary, French Guiana.

The Launch Readiness Review (LRR) will take place on Monday, March 5, 2018 in Kourou, to authorize the start of operations for the final countdown.

The O3b satellites lofted by Arianespace Flight VS18 are the 54th, 55th, 56th and 57th satellites to be launched by Arianespace for the global satellite operator SES.

Спойлер

The current 12-spacecraft constellation was successfully orbited by Arianespace, utilizing its medium-lift Soyuz workhorse to carry four spacecraft each on launches that began in June 2013, followed by additional missions in July and December 2014.

The four O3b MEO satellites will be placed in Medium Earth Orbit at 7,830 km. from Earth, four-times-closer than geostationary satellites, and will provide low-latency, fiber-like connectivity.

These new Ka-band satellites will join the existing O3b constellation to deliver high-speed connectivity to people and businesses in the growing mobility, fixed data and government markets. By efficiently scaling its O3b MEO fleet, SES is adding 38% more capacity across the globe and growing the addressable market from 45 to 50 degrees north and south latitude.

The O3b satellites on Flight VS18 were built by Thales Alenia Space at its plant in Cannes, France.

For further information, download the Flight VS18 Launch Kit by clicking here: http://www.arianespace.com/press-kits (http://www.arianespace.com/press-kits/) 

To watch a live, high-speed online transmission of the launch (including commentary in French and English from the launch site), go to arianespace.com (http://www.arianespace.com/) on March 6, 2018, beginning 15 minutes before liftoff.

You also can follow the  launch  live on  youtube.com/arianespace  (https://www.youtube.com/arianespace)and on  your  iPhone  or  iPad (the Arianespace HD app is free).

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ЦитироватьЗАПУСКИ
06.03.2018 19:38:36     Запуск КА O3b F4     ГКЦ, Куру     Союз-2      Предстоящий  
6 марта 2018 года в рамках пусковой кампании Arianespace VS18 с космодрома Гвианского космического центра (Куру, Французская Гвиана) запланирован пуск российской ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ-Б» с четырьмя европейскими телекоммуникационными аппаратами O3b. Вывод на целевую орбиту обеспечит российский разгонный блок «Фрегат-МТ».

Спойлер

Ракеты-носители «Союз-СТ-Б» участвовали уже в трех пусковых кампаниях с Гвианского космического центра с полезной нагрузкой в виде спутников O3b – в июне 2013 года, в июле и декабре 2014 года. Российские средства выведения доставляли на расчетные орбиты по четыре космических аппаратов за каждую пусковую кампанию. Пуск РН «Союз-СТ-Б» в марте 2018 будет четвертым со спутниками O3b и восемнадцатым пуском с космодрома во Французской Гвиане.
Головным контрактным интегратором предприятий российской кооперации в проекте «Союз» в Гвианском космическом центре выступает АО «Главкосмос», обеспечивая взаимодействие с Arianespace.

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Описание миссии
 Дата и время пуска - 06 марта 2018 года в 19:38:36 мск.;
Продолжительность миссии (от старта до отделения космических аппаратов) – 2 часа 22 минуты 51 секунда;
Целевая орбита – круговая с перигеем 7830 км, наклонение – 0,04°;
Масса полезной нагрузки – 2800 кг (4 спутника по 700 кг).

Полет ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ-Б»
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/218187.jpg)
00:00:00 - Старт
00:01:58 - Отделение первой ступени
00:03:55 - Сброс створок головного обтекателя
00:04:47 – Отделение второй ступени
00:09:23 – Отделение космического головного блока от третьей ступени

Полет разгонного блока «Фрегат-МТ»
00:10:23-00:14:23 – Первое включение двигательной установки, формирование опорной орбиты
00:22:50-00:31:26 – Второе включение двигательной установки, формирование переходной орбиты
01:52:45-01:57:51 – Третье включение двигательной установки, формирование первой орбиты отделения космических аппаратов
02:01:11 - Отделение космических аппаратов O3b №2 и 4
 02:16:11-02:16:28 – Четвертое включение двигательной установки, формирование второй орбиты отделения
02:22:51 – Отделение космических аппаратов O3b №1 и 3
Завершение миссии Arianespace
Пятое включение двигательной установки, формирование орбиты увода разгонного блока
 Шестое включение двигательной установки, формирование орбиты захоронения разгонного блока
Спутники O3b(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/218192.jpg)
Спутники O3b предназначены для создания новой европейской среднеорбитальной космической системы связи. Аппараты призваны обеспечить связью и высокоскоростным доступом в интернет жителей удаленных и развивающихся регионов, где нельзя проложить оптоволоконные кабели, — в общей сложности аудиторию около 3 миллиардов человек. Заказчик пусковых услуг – глобальный спутниковый оператор SES.
Заказчик - SES
Производитель - Thales Alenia Space
Сфера - телекоммуникации и интернет
 Аппаратура - транспондеры Ka-диапазона, управляемые антенны
 Масса при запуске - 2800 кг (4 спутника по 700 кг)
Размеры - 7,72 м х 3,2 м х 1,7 м
 Стабилизация - по трем осям
 Срок службы - 10 лет

ЦитироватьРОСКОСМОС. ЗАВЕРШЕНА СБОРКА КОСМИЧЕСКОЙ ГОЛОВНОЙ ЧАСТИ РАКЕТЫ-НОСИТЕЛЯ «СОЮЗ-СТ-Б»
01.03.2018 18:43

В Гвианском космическом центре (Куру, Французская Гвиана) завершены операции по формированию космической головной части для пуска ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ-Б». Четыре телекоммуникационных космических аппарата O3b смонтированы на ферме разгонного блока «Фрегат-МТ». Сборку космической головной части завершили операции проверки электрических соединений и установки створок головного обтекателя. Ракета-носитель «Союз-СТ-Б» находится на транспортно-установочном агрегате и подготовлена к вывозу на пусковую площадку для стыковки с космической головной частью.

Пуск российской ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ-Б» с четырьмя европейскими телекоммуникационными аппаратами O3b запланирован на 6 марта 2018 года в рамках пусковой кампании Arianespace VS18 с космодрома Гвианского космического центра. Вывод на целевую орбиту обеспечит российский разгонный блок «Фрегат-МТ».

Спойлер

Спутники O3b предназначены для создания новой европейской среднеорбитальной космической системы связи. Аппараты призваны обеспечить связью и высокоскоростным доступом в интернет жителей удаленных и развивающихся регионов, где нельзя проложить оптоволоконные кабели, — в общей сложности аудиторию около 3 миллиардов человек. Заказчик пусковых услуг – глобальный спутниковый оператор SES.

Ракеты-носители «Союз-СТ-Б» участвовали уже в трех пусковых кампаниях с Гвианского космического центра с полезной нагрузкой в виде спутников O3b – в июне 2013 года, в июле и декабре 2014 года. Российские средства выведения доставляли на расчетные орбиты по четыре космических аппаратов за каждую пусковую кампанию. Пуск РН «Союз-СТ-Б» в марте 2018 будет четвертым со спутниками O3b и восемнадцатым пуском с космодрома во Французской Гвиане.

Головным контрактным интегратором предприятий российской кооперации в проекте «Союз» в Гвианском космическом центре выступает АО «Главкосмос» (входит в Госкорпорацию «РОСКОСМОС»), обеспечивая взаимодействие с Arianespace.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьSoyuz (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=soyuz) | March 1, 2018

Four O3b MEO satellites are integrated for their upcoming Arianespace Soyuz launch

The four O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites for Arianespace's first Soyuz mission of 2018 have been integrated with their launcher's Fregat upper stage, marking a key milestone as preparations continue for a March 6 liftoff from French Guiana.

Спойлер

(http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3-1-2018-VS18.jpg)
The four O3b MEO satellites' mating to the Fregat upper stage is shown in these photos, with front and rear views as they are positioned atop Fregat – which is covered by gold-colored thermal insulation.

These spacecraft – which previously were clustered on their dispenser system – were mated atop Soyuz' Fregat upper stage during operations in the Spaceport's S3B payload preparation facility. This activity will be followed by encapsulation of the Fregat stage and its satellites in a protective payload fairing, creating an "upper composite" unit to be placed atop Soyuz once the vehicle has been rolled out to the launch zone.

After their launch by Arianespace, the O3b satellites will be operated by SES Networks to provide the world with low latency, fiber-like connectivity in the growing mobility, fixed data and government markets. The trapezoidal-shaped Ka-band relay platforms, produced by Thales Alenia Space, have a liftoff mass of 700 kg. each.

Twelve O3b satellites currently are in orbit, launched by Arianespace utilizing its medium-lift Soyuz workhorse to carry four spacecraft each on launches that began in June 2013, followed by missions in July and December 2014.

Soyuz' March 6 launch, designated Flight VS18 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system, will be the 18th with Soyuz from the Spaceport since this vehicle was introduced at the French Guiana base in 2011 – joining the company's heavy-lift Ariane 5 and lightweight Vega.

[свернуть]

Цитировать

ЦитироватьNAVAREA IV 178/2018 (24)  

WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
FRENCH GUIANA.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1620Z TO 1742Z DAILY
   06 THRU 31 MAR IN AREA BOUND BY
   05-22.03N 052-52.20W, 05-25.89N 052-37.34W,
   05-21.65N 052-31.55W, 05-10.45N 052-38.45W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 311842Z MAR 18.

( 010953Z MAR 2018 )

ЦитироватьHYDROLANT 711/2018 (24)  

WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.
BRAZIL-NORTH COAST.
DNC 01.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1638Z TO 1742Z
   DAILY 06 THRU 31 MAR IN AREA BOUND BY
   05-29N 050-14W, 05-29N 049-36W,
   05-15N 049-36W, 05-14N 050-13W.
2. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1530Z TO 1742Z
   DAILY 06 THRU 31 MAR IN AREAS BOUND BY:
   A. 05-30N 045-21W, 05-29N 044-05W,
   05-02N 044-05W, 05-03N 045-21W.
   B. 05-28N 041-08W, 05-26N 039-38W,
   04-48N 039-39W, 04-50N 041-09W.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 311842Z MAR 18.

( 011020Z MAR 2018 )

ЦитироватьHYDROLANT 712/2018 (57)

GULF OF GUINEA.
DNC 01.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1631Z TO 1830Z
   DAILY 06 THRU 31 MAR IN AREA BOUND BY
   03-12N 000-54W, 02-56N 002-14E,
   02-22N 002-12E, 02-38N 000-57W.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 311930Z MAR 18.

( 011032Z MAR 2018 )

Цитироватьzandr пишет:
https://www.roscosmos.ru/24756/

ЦитироватьЗАПУСКИ
06.03.2018 19:38:36    Запуск КА O3b F4    ГКЦ, Куру    Союз-2    Предстоящий
6 марта 2018 года в рамках пусковой кампании Arianespace VS18 с космодрома Гвианского космического центра (Куру, Французская Гвиана) запланирован пуск российской ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ-Б» с четырьмя европейскими телекоммуникационными аппаратами O3b.

Уже просто "Март 2018" – https://www.roscosmos.ru/24756/

ЦитироватьDiver пишет:

8го марта

ЦитироватьSoyuz (http://www.arianespace.com/press-releases/?taxonomy%5Bpress-release-category%5D=soyuz) | March 5, 2018

Arianespace Flight VS18 Soyuz – O3b Satellites

New launch date for SES

Due to additional checks at the Guiana Space Center (CSG) as part of the resumption of launches, the Flight VS18 mission – initially scheduled for March 6 – is being postponed by a few days.

The Soyuz launch vehicle and spacecraft are in stable and safe conditions.

The new targeted launch date for the O3b satellites is March 9, 2018 at exactly:

[/li]
• 11:37:06 a.m., in Washington, D.C.
• 1:37:06 p.m., local time in French Guiana
• 16:37:06, Universal Time (UTC)
• 5:37:06 p.m., in Luxembourg and Paris
• 7:37:06 p.m., in Moscow.
  

ЦитироватьSoyuz (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=soyuz) | March 5, 2018

New target launch date for Flight VS18 with Soyuz and O3b satellites

The Flight VS18 mission, which will orbit four O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites for SES, has been postponed to a new target date of March 9.

This will enable additional checks as part of the resumption of launches from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Спойлер

The Soyuz launch vehicle and spacecraft are in stable and safe conditions.

The new targeted launch date for the O3b satellites is March 9 at exactly:

[/li]
• 11:37:06 a.m., in Washington, D.C.
• 1:37:06 p.m., local time in French Guiana
• 16:37:06, Universal Time (UTC)
• 5:37:06 p.m., in Luxembourg and Paris
• 7:37:06 p.m., in Moscow.
  

[свернуть]

Цитировать

Four O3b telecommunications satellites, built by Thales Alenia Space for SES, will be orbited by Arianespace

in the following days, using a Soyuz launcher. They will join the current group of 12 satellites, also built by Thales Alenia Space. The constellation has been operational since 2014

ЦитироватьПУСК РН «СОЮЗ-СТ-Б» С КОСМОДРОМА ГКЦ
9 марта 2018

Пусковая кампания

9 марта 2018 года в 19:37 мск в рамках пусковой кампании Arianespace VS18 с космодрома Гвианского космического центра (Куру, Французская Гвиана) запланирован пуск российской ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ-Б» с четырьмя европейскими телекоммуникационными аппаратами O3b. Вывод на целевую орбиту обеспечит российский разгонный блок «Фрегат-МТ».

Ракеты-носители «Союз-СТ-Б» участвовали уже в трех пусковых кампаниях с Гвианского космического центра с полезной нагрузкой в виде спутников O3b – в июне 2013 года, в июле и декабре 2014 года. Российские средства выведения доставляли на расчетные орбиты по четыре космических аппаратов за каждую пусковую кампанию. Пуск РН «Союз-СТ-Б» в марте 2018 будет четвертым со спутниками O3b и восемнадцатым пуском с космодрома во Французской Гвиане.

Головным контрактным интегратором предприятий российской кооперации в проекте «Союз» в Гвианском космическом центре выступает АО «Главкосмос», обеспечивая взаимодействие с Arianespace.

Подробная информация о пусковой кампании (https://www.roscosmos.ru/24756/)

ЦитироватьSoyuz launch from French Guiana delayed to Friday
March 5, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144077.jpg)
The Soyuz rocket set to launch with four new O3b broadband satellites rolled out to its launch pad in French Guiana on March 2. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – P. Baudon

The blastoff of four broadband Internet satellites aboard a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana has been pushed back to Friday, the launch company Arianespace announced Monday.

The Russian-made launcher, modified for missions from the Guiana Space Center in South America, was supposed to take off Tuesday with four upgraded communications satellites for the O3b network providing Internet services from an orbit nearly 5,000 miles (8,000 kilometers) over the equator.

Arianespace, which is responsible for Soyuz launches in French Guiana, said Monday that the mission would be delayed to Friday to complete additional checks as part of the resumption of the company's launches following the off-target flight of a European Ariane 5 rocket Jan. 25.

The Ariane 5 and Soyuz boosters do not share any significant hardware, but both rockets share key ground infrastructure at the European-run spaceport in French Guiana, along with oversight from Arianespace technical teams.

Arianespace did not disclose details of the additional checks to be conducted ahead of the Soyuz launch, now scheduled for Friday at 1637:06 GMT (11:37:06 a.m. EST; 1:37:06 p.m. French Guiana time).

Спойлер

It will be the 18th flight of the venerable Soyuz rocket from French Guiana since 2011, and the 1,885th launch of a Soyuz family booster over the past 60 years.

The Russian launch team in French Guiana rolled the Soyuz-2.1b rocket from an assembly building, known by the Russian acronym MIK, to the Soyuz launch pad Friday morning. The booster was towed along rail tracks for the 2,300-foot (700-meter) trip to the launch pad, then erected vertical on mounts before a mobile gantry moved into place around the rocket.

Ground teams will transfer the Soyuz rocket's Fregat upper stage and the four O3b satellites, already affixed to a dispenser inside the launcher's payload shroud, to the launch pad Tuesday. Cranes will hoist the Fregat stage and the four satellites atop the Soyuz rocket for attachment and final compatibility tests.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144076.jpg)
The four O3b satellites, seen at right on top of the Soyuz rocket's Fregat upper stage, prepare for encapsulation inside the payload fairing. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – P. Baudon

A launch rehearsal is on tap Wednesday, followed by a launch readiness review Thursday to assess the status of the rocket, the satellites and ground systems ahead of Friday morning's countdown.

Built by Thales Alenia Space, the four O3b satellites will join 12 others launched from French Guiana aboard three Soyuz rocket flights in 2013 and 2014.

Each spacecraft weighs around 1,543 pounds (700 kilograms), and the Soyuz rocket's Fregat upper stage will fire its main engine three times before deploying the first two O3b satellites into orbit 4,865 miles (7,830 kilometers) over the equator around two hours after liftoff.

A brief fourth firing of the Fregat engine will set up for separation of the other two O3b satellites in a similar orbit.

The O3b satellite fleet, owned by SES Networks, provides broadband connectivity to Internet service providers, network operators, governments and maritime customers, including cruise ships. O3b is short for the "other 3 billion," a nod to the nearly half of the world's population without access to reliable broadband Internet services.

Eight upgraded O3b satellites ordered from Thales Alenia Space in December 2015 will answer growing demand for the "fiber-like" connectivity offered by the space network, which is positioned in a "medium Earth orbit" more than four times closer to the planet than conventional telecom satellites in geostationary orbit.

The lower altitude reduces the latency, or lag time, experienced by customers sending and receiving data through the network.

Another set of four O3b satellites will launch on a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana in 2019 under a contract signed between SES and Arianespace last year.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьРОСКОСМОС. НА КОСМОДРОМЕ ГКЦ ЗАВЕРШИЛИСЬ РАБОТЫ ПО ГРАФИКУ ПЕРВОГО СТАРТОВОГО ДНЯ


6 и 7 марта 2018 года в Гвианском космическом центре (ГКЦ, Куру, Французская Гвиана) были проведены операции по вывозу и установке на ракету-носитель «Союз-СТ-Б» космической головной части в составе четырех космических аппаратов O3b и разгонного блока (РБ) «Фрегат-МТ» под обтекателем.

Ранее на стартовый комплекс была вывезена и установлена в стартовую систему РН «Союз-СТ-Б». По программе работы первого стартового дня были проведены операции по механической, электрической и пневматической стыковкой космической головной части с ракетой-носителем «Союз-СТ-Б». Особенностью подготовки пуска в Гвиане является раздельная транспортировка трех ступеней ракеты-носителя и космической головной части с последующей их сборкой на пусковой установке с использованием мобильной башни обслуживания.

В последующие дни до пуска специалистами предприятий РОСКОСМОСА будут проведены автономные проверки разгонного блока «Фрегат-МТ» и ракеты-носителя, контрольные и генеральные испытания, работы по контрольному набору стартовой готовности РБ «Фрегат-МТ». На четвертый стартовый день по результатам всех работ специальная комиссия примет решение о заправке ракеты-носителя.

В связи с необходимостью доработки процедуры принятия решения по системе безопасности полетов с космодрома ГКЦ запуск космических аппаратов ракетой-носителем «Союз-СТ-Б» был перенесен на 9 марта 2018 года в 19:37:06 мск.

Подготовка РН «Союз-СТ-Б» и работа поставленного российской стороной наземного технологического оборудования обеспечивается специалистами предприятий РОСКОСМОСА. Запуск космических аппаратов с космодрома ГКЦ будут проводить совместные российские-европейские пусковые расчеты.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186301.jpg)РОСКОСМОС‏Подлинная учетная запись @roscosmos (https://twitter.com/roscosmos) 18 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/971366338240360448)

Фотографии вывоза ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ-Б» на стартовый комплекс и установка космической головной части в составе четырех космических аппаратов O3b и разгонного блока «Фрегат-МТ» под обтекателем.

Пуск запланирован 9 марта в 19:37 мск с Гвианского космического центра
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174303.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174304.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174305.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174306.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29242.jpg)DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace) 2 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/971671889084141568)

Meanwhile at #CSG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSG?src=hash) the @SES_Satellites (https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites) O3b F4 upper composite has been integrated onto the #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) launcher ready for lift-off tomorrow
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174373.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174374.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/29242.jpg)DutchSpace‏ @DutchSpace (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace) 1 ч. назад (https://twitter.com/DutchSpace/status/971675874016849920)

In spaceflight we like to use a lot of abbreviations, for example, this thing, used to transport the upper composite to the #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) ZLS launch pad, is called the PFRCS or PlateForme Routière Composite Supérieur (Upper Composite Transport platform) #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) #CSG (https://twitter.com/hashtag/CSG?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174379.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174380.jpg)

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg)Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 7 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/971807897100472323)

#Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) is ready for flight! The launch readiness review has cleared this medium-lift vehicle for tomorrow's #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) mission w/ four #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) medium Earth orbit satellites. @SES_Satellites (https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites) @Thales_Alenia_S (https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S)
https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DXyNy8MXcAENgpK.mp4 (https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DXyNy8MXcAENgpK.mp4)
(video (https://video.twimg.com/tweet_video/DXyNy8MXcAENgpK.mp4))

ЦитироватьSoyuz Rocket set for Friday Liftoff fr om French Guiana with Next Set of O3b Broadband Satellites
March 8, 2018 (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs-18-launch-preview/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153804.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/28467737_1745109922194015_5494585366928912337_n.jpg)
Soyuz emerges from its Assembly Hall – Photo: Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique Video du CSG

The first Soyuz launch from the Guiana Space Center in nearly ten months is on tap on Friday as a 'Europeanized' version of the Russian workhorse stands ready to soar into orbit with the fourth set of O3b broadband Internet satellites.

Liftoff with the SES-owned O3b FM13 through FM16 satellites is targeting an instantaneous window at 16:37:06 UTC to kick off a mission of two hours and 23 minutes aiming to deliver the four satellites into a 7,830-Kilometer orbit directly over the equator.

Friday's launch will bring the total number of O3b satellites in orbit to sixteen, following quadruplet launches atop Soyuz ST-B rockets in 2013 and 2014 that established the initial constellation to deliver continuous services to customers at latitudes lower than 45 degrees.

Спойлер

O3b Networks was founded back in 2007 to start an effort of connecting "the Other 3 Billion" – referring to the population of the world without readily available access to broadband data services.  Backed by industry giants Google and SES over the first years of operation, O3b proved its business model by attracting a number of customers for the initial constellation including U.S. Department of Defence contracts.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153808.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/vs18prep1.jpg)
Integration of O3b Satellites around their payload adapter – Photo: Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique Video du CSG

In 2016, O3b Networks was acquired as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Luxembourg-based SES, one of the world's largest telecommunications providers. SES plans to continue operating and expanding the current constellation of O3b satellites in equatorial orbits before upgrading to a much more powerful system called O3b mPower (http://spaceflight101.com/ses-orders-super-powered-satellites-from-boeing-to-expand-o3b-broadband-services/) that will deliver nearly 30,000 spot beams in its initial configuration and allow for smart routing of traffic between the constellation in Medium Earth Orbit and SES satellites parked in the Geostationary Belt.

The four O3b satellites launching on Friday were ordered from Thales Alenia Space in 2015 as part of an eight-satellite expansion order for the first generation constellation. These eight satellites have some performance enhancements over the first dozen launched in 2013 and 2014 and will help extend O3b services into the second half of the 2020s.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153807.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/o3b_900_3.jpg)
Image: Thales Alenia Space

Based on the ELiTeBus satellite platform, each O3b satellite weighs in at 700 Kilograms and hosts twelve fully steerable Ka-Band antenna assemblies operating at the 4.3 GHz frequency. Ten are used to connect to remote terminals while the remaining two provide the gateway links needed to connect the remote customers to the Internet.

Each satellite can deliver a throughput in excess of 12.5 Gbit/s with an end-to-end latency better than 240 milliseconds since the satellites only orbit at around 25% the distance of their counterparts in Geostationary Orbit.

>> O3b Satellite & Constellation Overview (http://spaceflight101.com/spacecraft/o3b/)

Friday's Soyuz launch comes nearly ten months after the most recent mission of the Russian workhorse launcher from its equatorial launch site. It also marks the return to flight for Arianespace after the VA241 anomaly (http://spaceflight101.com/ariane-5-va241/) involving the company's Ariane 5 rocket "taking a wrong turn."

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153806.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/DXmBftJXkAAjWPr.jpg)
Photo: Thales Alenia Space

On the January 25 mission, Ariane 5 flew 20 degrees off its planned course because a programming error of the rocket's Inertial Measurement System was not detected during pre-launch verifications, taking the launcher much closer to the nearby town of Kourou than it would normally come and delivering its two satellites into a less-than-optimal orbit.

An Independent Enquiry Commission chaired by the European Space Agency studied the root cause of the anomaly and green-lighted an action plan developed by ArianeGroup and Arianespace to implement enhanced end-to-end verification of mission specific parameters prior to launch. ESA declined to publish the independent commission's report or answer questions related to it.

Soyuz VS18 was pushed from a planned Tuesday liftoff to Friday, providing three days for what Arianespace called "additional checks as part of the resumption of launches from the Spaceport in French Guiana." The Soyuz ST-B rocket for this mission was moved from the MIK launcher integration facility to the ELS launch pad on March 2nd followed by the rollout of the upper composite comprising the encapsulated satellites and Fregat upper stage on March 6.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153810.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/28684876_1751253004913040_3078984273444496569_n.jpg)
Photo: Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique Video du CSG

Towering 46-meters above its ELS launch pad, still protected inside the Mobile Service Gantry, Soyuz will enter an eight-hour countdown sequence on Friday. Initially going through a series of pre-launch checks, Soyuz will be cleared by the Russian State Commission around five hours ahead of the day's T-0 time with propellant loading operations starting at the L-4 hour mark to load the four boosters, core stage and third stage with 274 metric tons of Liquid Oxygen and Kerosene. In addition, the Soyuz receives Nitrogen and Helium to act as tank pressurization gas while the boosters & core also receive highly reactive Hydrogen Peroxide to drive the engine turbopumps.

Standing fully-fueled, Soyuz will be revealed atop is launch pad with one hour to go in the countdown when the Service Gantry will be moved to its launch position. The four satellites will move to internal power around 20 minutes before launch and a final check at L-10 minutes will give clearance for the six-minute Automated Countdown Sequence.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/154299.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/vs052136654_orig.jpg)
Photo: Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique Video du CSG (O3b F1)

Checking off its final countdown steps, Soyuz will power up its telemetry systems, purge its engines with inert nitrogen, pressurize its tanks and switch to onboard power & control. At T-20 seconds, the Launch Command is issued and all engines of the boosters and the core stage are ignited to first soar to an intermediate thrust level before ramping up to full thrust.

Liftoff is timed for precisely 16:37:06 UTC, 1:37 p.m. local time in French Guiana to allow the O3b satellites to reach their precisely planned injection point within the existing constellation. Rising from its pad, Soyuz will complete a brief vertical climb before pitching and rolling onto a due-easterly departure path on an equator-hugging trajectory that will ultimate lead it into an equatorial orbit.

Burning 1,600 Kilograms of propellant per second, Soyuz will quickly pass the speed of sound and encounter Maximum Dynamic Pressure as it makes its way out of the atmosphere. The four boosters will shut down their RD-107A engines at T+118 seconds after each burned nearly 40 metric tons of propellant to help Soyuz accelerate to a speed close to two Kilometers per second. Swinging outward, the 19.6-meter long boosters will drop away from the core stage that will continue firing its RD-108A engines at full throttle, pushing Soyuz into space with a thrust of 102 metric ton-force.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153822.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/VS18-Profile.jpg)
VS18 Launch Profile – Image: Arianespace/Lavochkin Association

Three minutes and 55 seconds into the mission, Soyuz will split open and separate its fairing halves, revealing the four O3b satellites around their cylindrical payload adapter. After burning over 90 metric tons of propellant, RD-108A will shut down four minutes and 45 seconds into the mission followed two seconds later by the ignition of the Block I upper stage and the pyrotechnic separation of the 27.8-meter core.

Soaring to a thrust of 30 metric ton-force, the RD-0124 engine will be in action for four and a half minutes, in the process burning 25,400 Kilograms of Oxygen and Kerosene. Separation of the Fregat is planned nine minutes and 23 seconds into the mission onto a sub-orbital arc from wh ere the upper stage will make three burns to initially reach a stable orbit, then maneuver into an elliptical transfer orbit and eventually circularize the orbit directly above the equator – creating a mission of over two hours.

Fregat, loaded with 7,100 Kilograms of self-igniting propellants, will fire up its 2,000-Kilogram-force main engine one minute after separating from the Soyuz on a burn of exactly four minutes, aiming for a Low Earth Parking Orbit of 160 by 205 Kilometers, inclined 5.16 degrees. This will be followed by a brief passive coast phase of only eight and a half minutes to allow Fregat to complete the second & longest burn of the mission while crossing the equator so that the high point of the resulting orbit is placed over the equator on the opposite side of the planet.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153805.png) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/9216386_orig.png)
Image: Arianespace

The second burn is programmed to start at T+22 minutes and 50 seconds and runs for seven minutes and 36 seconds to inject the stack into a transfer orbit of 190 by 7,869 Kilometers at a slightly reduced inclination of 3.88 degrees. Next will be the mission's longest coast phase as Fregat has to climb all the way to the apogee of the transfer orbit for the circularization maneuver, taking the vehicle halfway around the globe.

Re-start of the S5.92 main engine is planned one hour, 52 minutes and 45 seconds into the mission and the burn will last for five minutes and six seconds – accomplishing the circularization of the orbit at 7,830 Kilometers and a reduction of inclination to 0.04 degrees. This will set the stage for the separation of the first two O3b satellites at T+2 hours and one minute, using loaded springs to push the satellites off into opposite directions.

The separation of the second pair of satellites will be preceded by a 17-second re-start of the Fregat upper stage two hours and 16 minutes after launch so that they will be placed into a slightly different orbit to ease the process of drifting them into the proper slots within the constellation. Separation of the second pair at T+2 hours and 23 minutes will mark the end of the VS18 primary mission, the first of up to four Soyuz missions from the CSG in 2018.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьSoyuz (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=soyuz) | March 8, 2018
Soyuz receives the "go" for Arianespace's March 9 liftoff with O3b MEO satellites

(http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2018/03/Pose-composite-sur-lanceur_ZLS_168/753309743.jpg)
Soyuz has been cleared for Arianespace's March 9 liftoff with four O3b MEO satellites, which are contained in the "upper composite" – shown here after integration atop the launcher in French Guiana.

Authorization has been given for tomorrow's Arianespace Soyuz launch from French Guiana, providing the "all clear" for this medium-lift mission that will orbit four O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites.

Approval was granted today after the regular pre-launch review for Arianespace flights – which confirmed the readiness of Soyuz and its multi-satellite payload, the launch site and associated infrastructure at the Spaceport, as well as the network of downrange tracking stations.

Спойлер

The March 9 mission – designated VS18 in Arianespace's numbering system – will be performed from the purpose-built ELS launch facility for Soyuz. Liftoff is scheduled at precisely 1:37:06 p.m. local time in French Guiana, with the four passengers to be deployed during a flight lasting approximately 2 hrs., 22 min.

After their launch by Arianespace, the O3b spacecraft will be operated by SES Networks to provide the world with low latency, fiber-like connectivity in the growing mobility, fixed data and government markets. The trapezoidal-shaped Ka-band relay platforms, produced by Thales Alenia Space, have a liftoff mass of 700 kg. each.

Twelve O3b satellites currently are in orbit, launched by Arianespace utilizing its medium-lift Soyuz workhorse to carry four spacecraft each on launches that began in June 2013, followed by missions in July and December 2014.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьLive coverage: Soyuz rocket readied for liftoff with four O3b broadband satellites
March 9, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

03/09/2018 08:24 Stephen Clark

Officials gave a go-ahead for liftoff of a Soyuz rocket Friday during a launch readiness review convened Thursday to assess the status of the Russian-built booster and four O3b broadband communications satellites on a launch pad in French Guiana.

The Soyuz-2.1b rocket, crowned with a Fregat upper stage, is set for blastoff from the European-run Guiana Space Center at 1637:06 GMT (11:37:06 a.m. EST; 1:37:06 p.m. French Guiana time) Friday.

Спойлер

Four commercial communications satellites poised to join the O3b broadband network, owned by the large telecom operator SES, are mounted atop the Soyuz rocket.

The O3b satellites are fastened to a specially-built dispenser, and it will take the Soyuz rocket around 2 hours, 23 minutes, to deploy all four spacecraft into a circular orbit 4,865 miles (7,830 kilometers) over the equator.

Built by Thales Alenia Space, the quartet of O3b satellites awaiting launch Friday will join 12 others launched on three previous Soyuz missions from French Guiana in 2013 and 2014.

Another four O3b satellites are due for liftoff on a Soyuz flight from the South American spaceport in 2019.

The O3b network provides broadband connectivity to Internet service providers, network operators, governments and maritime customers, including cruise ships. O3b is short for the "other 3 billion," a nod to the nearly half of the world's population without access to reliable broadband Internet services.

Eight upgraded O3b satellites ordered from Thales Alenia Space in December 2015 will answer growing demand for the "fiber-like" connectivity offered by the space network, which is positioned in a "medium Earth orbit" more than four times closer to the planet than conventional telecom satellites in geostationary orbit.

The lower altitude reduces the latency, or lag time, experienced by customers sending and receiving data through the network.

The Soyuz launch Friday will mark the 18th flight of the venerable Russian booster from French Guiana since October 2011.

Ground crews installed the O3b satellites and the Fregat upper stage, already closed inside the Soyuz payload fairing, atop the rocket on its launch pad Tuesday.

[свернуть]

Russian officials will meet with Arianespace management around five hours before liftoff Friday morning to approve fueling of the Soyuz rocket with kerosene and liquid oxygen.

Propellant loading into the three-stage Soyuz rocket should begin around 1207 GMT (7:07 a.m. EST; 9:07 a.m. French Guiana time), with completion expected approximately three hours later.

The mobile gantry will roll back to launch position at around 1527 GMT (10:27 a.m. EST; 12:27 p.m. French Guiana time), revealing the Soyuz rocket for liftoff.

ЦитироватьArianespace VS18 - Live Launch (EN)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220938.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ) arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Запланировано на 9 мар. 2018 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) сейчас (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/972087627703836673)

Arianespace's Soyuz-ST-B/Fregat-MT (VS18) is launching in four hours time (16:37 UTC), tasked with lofting four O3b satellites (FM13-16) from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186185.jpg)SES‏Подлинная учетная запись @SES_Satellites (https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites) сейчас26 секунд назад (https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites/status/972102364269301762)


(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png)It's launch day! (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png) Follow the #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) MEO launch live on http://arianespace.com  (https://t.co/W9Budd84sF) or http://youtube.com/arianespace  (https://t.co/b1y6aEy66O) Begins 15 minutes before liftoff - scheduled for 1:37:06PM KOUROU, FRENCH GUIANA time

Цитировать03/09/2018 17:21 Stephen Clark

The launch team is loading more than 500,000 pounds of liquid oxygen and kerosene propellant into the rocket this morning, plus hydrogen peroxide to drive the engines' gas turbines and liquid nitrogen to keep the propellant tanks pressurized.

The Soyuz countdown sequence begins 5 minutes, 10 seconds prior to liftoff, then the Fregat upper stage will transition to internal power five minutes before launch.

The umbilical arm servicing the upper stage and payloads will pull away at T-minus 2 minutes, 25 seconds. The Soyuz rocket is operating on internal power at T-minus 40 seconds, and the final servicing mast retracts from the rocket 20 seconds later.

The ignition sequence of the Soyuz rocket's kerosene-fueled core stage and four strap-on boosters begins 17 seconds before liftoff, and all engines should be at full thrust three seconds before launch.

Спойлер

Flying for the 18th time from the Guiana Space Center in South America, the Soyuz will head east over the Atlantic with four O3b broadband satellites, heading for a circular orbit 4,865 miles (7,830 kilometers) over the equator. Separation of the first two O3b satellites is scheduled for 2 hours, 1 minute, after liftoff, followed by deployment of the second pair at Plus+2 hours, 22 minutes.

It will be the second Arianespace flight of the year, and third Soyuz launch anywhere so far in 2018.

Russian officials, Arianespace top management and representatives from the French-run spaceport met around five hours before liftoff to authorize fueling of the three-stage Soyuz rocket with kerosene and liquid oxygen.

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg)Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/972123586537418752)

We're counting down to #Arianespace (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arianespace?src=hash)'s first #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) launch in 2018! Liftoff of Flight #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) with four #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) satellites (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) is set for 1:37 PM local time in French Guiana (16:37 UTC). @SES_Satellites (https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites) @Thales_Alenia_S (https://twitter.com/Thales_Alenia_S)

ЦитироватьStéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) сейчас1 минуту назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/972123586537418752)


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We're counting down to #Arianespace (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arianespace?src=hash)'s first #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) launch in 2018! Liftoff of Flight #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) with four #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) satellites (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125535.png) is set for 1:37 PM local time in French Guiana (16:37 UTC).

Цитировать03/09/2018 21:07     Stephen Clark

The launch pad's 174-foot-tall mobile service gantry will be retracting soon to reveal the Soyuz booster. The mobile structure will be secured in launch position about 260 feet from the rocket.
The tower's retraction to launch position allows ground teams to complete radio checks with the rocket's tracking beacon and destruct system.

Цитировать

Soyuz VS18 Flight Profile (O3b FM13-16)

Launch Timeline

Спойлер

[TH]Time[/TH][TH]Event[/TH]

T-0:00:20	Launch Command
T-0:00:14	Preliminary Thrust Level
T-0:00:05	To Full Thrust Level
T+0:00:00	LIFTOFF
T+0:01:58	Booster Separation
T+0:03:55	Payload Fairing Jettison
T+0:04:45	Core Stage Shutdown
T+0:04:47	3rd Stage Ignition & Staging
T+0:04:57	Aft Section Cover Jettison
T+0:09:23	3rd Stage Separation
T+0:10:23	Fregat Ignition
	Burn Duration: 04:00
T+0:14:23	Fregat Upper Stage Cutoff
T+0:22:50	Fregat Re-Start
	Duration: 08:36
T+0:31:26	Fregat Shutdown
T+1:52:45	Fregat Re-Start
	Duration: 05:06
T+1:57:51	Fregat Shutdown
T+2:01:11	O3b #1 & #2 Separation
T+2:16:11	Fregat Re-Start (17 Seconds)
T+2:22:51	O3b #3 & #4 Separation

[свернуть]

Mission Data

Спойлер

Mission: Soyuz VS18
Launch Vehicle: Soyuz ST-B (2-1B)
Launch Site: ELS, Guiana Space Center
Payload: 4 O3b (2,800kg)
Total Payload Mass: 3,198kg
Launch Date: March 9, 2018
Launch Time: 16:37:06 UTC
Ascent Duration: 2 Hours 23 Minutes

[свернуть]

Orbital Data

Спойлер

Orbit at Fregat Separation:
Type: Sub-Orbital Trajectory
Perigee: -1,186 km
Apogee: 194 km
Inclination: 5.27°

Parking Orbit:
Type: Low Earth Orbit
Perigee: 160 km
Apogee: 205 km
Inclination: 5.16°

Transfer Orbit:
Type: MEO Transfer Orbit
Perigee: 190 km
Apogee: 7,869 km
Inclination: 3.88°

Target Orbit:
Type: Equatorial Medium Earth Orbit
Perigee: 7,830 km
Apogee: 7,830 km
Inclination: 0.04°

Disposal Orbit:
Type: Equatorial Medium Earth Orbit
Perigee: 7,673 km
Apogee: 7,673 km
Inclination: 0.06°

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153820.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153820.jpg)
Image: Arianespace/Lavochkin Association

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153823.jpg) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153823.jpg)
Image: Arianespace/Lavochkin Association

[свернуть]

Цитировать03/09/2018 21:21 Stephen Clark

We've embedded Arianespace's live YouTube feed, which is set to begin around 15 minutes prior to liftoff.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg)Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 41 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/972134290879283200)

T-1 Hour: One hour to today's instantaneous T-0 opportunity for #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) Flight 4. Prop load should be complete by this point ahead of final checks to prepare for the automated countdown sequence. #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash)

ЦитироватьArianespace‏ @Arianespace (https://twitter.com/Arianespace) сейчас25 секунд назад (https://twitter.com/Arianespace/status/972137512280973320)


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The live broadcast for #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) Flight #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) will begin in less than one hour on http://Arianespace.com  (https://t.co/W7okeIwHLW) and @YouTube (https://twitter.com/YouTube).

Цитировать03/09/2018 21:52 Stephen Clark

T-minus 45 minutes. The European-funded, Russian-built pad is located about eight miles northwest of the Ariane 5 and Vega launch pads at the Guiana Space Center. Engineers sel ected the Soyuz launch site based on terrain, geology and a location away from Ariane facilities to ensure they did not interfere with each other.
It took three years and cost European governments $800 million to build the Soyuz launch facility, which is known by its French acronym ELS. Other than the 17-story mobile servicing tower and four lightning masts, the launch pad is modeled after the Soyuz launch pad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
This morning's launch is the 18th Soyuz to fly fr om ELS.
The Soyuz pad includes blue and yellow umbilical arms and hold-down petals at the base of the rocket. On the back side of the pad is a deep flame trench dug out of granite bedrock. The facility also houses living quarters for Russian workers and a launch control center.
The Soyuz site lies closer to the town of Sinnamary than Kourou, which is more typically associated with the spaceport.

Цитировать03/09/2018 18:57 Stephen Clark

T-minus 40 minutes. Some statistics on today's flight:

1,885th Soyuz rocket launch
3rd Soyuz launch of 2018
18th Soyuz launch from French Guiana
2nd launch from Guiana Space Center in 2018
1st Soyuz launch from French Guiana in 2018
296th Arianespace launch since 1980
54th-57th SES satellites launched by Arianespace
150th-153rd Thales Alenia Space satellites launched by Arianespace
24th global orbital launch attempt in 2018

Цитировать03/09/2018 22:07 Stephen Clark

Minus-30 minutes. This morning's launch will use the Soyuz-2.1b, or Soyuz ST-B, version of the venerable Russian booster, featuring advanced digital avionics. Thrust from 32 engine nozzles on the first stage will generate more than 900,000 pounds of thrust at liftoff.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg)Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/972141804031217665)

L-30 Minutes: Launch Command Power is activated at this time & teams head into final preps for automated countdown. #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg)Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 36 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/972143978492637185)

Setting up for the auto sequence, the four #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) satellites switch to internal power and the spacecraft team reports their final GO for launch. Final Guidance System setup occurs at T-10 minutes, in parallel with a last check of weather conditions.

ЦитироватьUpdated: 03/09/2018 22:16 Stephen Clark

Today's launch will use the Soyuz-2.1b, or Soyuz ST-B, version of the venerable Russian booster, featuring advanced digital avionics and an upgraded RD-0124 third stage engine. Thrust from 32 engine nozzles on the first stage will generate more than 900,000 pounds of thrust at liftoff.

Цитировать03/09/2018 22:17 Stephen Clark

Minus-20 minutes. The four 1,543-pound (700-kilogram) O3b satellites mounted on top of the Soyuz rocket are now being configured for launch.

Цитировать03/09/2018 22:22 Stephen Clark

The Soyuz rocket family has flown 1,884 times since the 1950s, and this is the 18th time the venerable launcher will fly from outside the territory of the former Soviet Union.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) сейчас1 минуту назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/972146200194486274)


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Soyuz ST-B webcast begins with audio saying Red Weather. Clearly a mistake as the webcast starts and shows it's green.

ЦитироватьChris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) сейчас1 минуту назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/972147329548603392)


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Had to be bad weather to stop a Soyuz rocket. They launch in most adverse conditions. Apparently @upperlevelwinds (https://twitter.com/upperlevelwinds) is paying them an unwelcome visit. New T-0 shifts the launch by 33 minutes.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg)Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 6 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/972147311366242310)

Weather is RED, due to the nature of today's mission, there is a backup window 33 minutes after the first opportunity. Upper Level Winds are the reason. #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash)

ЦитироватьChris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) сейчас1 минуту назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/972149503930388480)


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17:10 UTC is the new T-0.

ЦитироватьЗапуск "Союза" с космодрома Куру перенесен на полчаса из-за сильного ветра на десятикилометровой высоте
09.03.2018 19:37:48

Париж. 9 марта. ИНТЕРФАКС - Запуск российской ракеты-носителя "Союз-СТ-Б" с четырьмя европейскими телекоммуникационными аппаратами O3b с космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане отложен на полчаса из-за неблагоприятных метеоусловий, сообщили "Интерфаксу" на космодроме.

 "Запуск отложен на 20:10 мск в связи с сильным ветром на высоте 10 км. Задержка запуска пока составит 33 минуты", - сказал собеседник агентства.

Спойлер

Запуск ракеты планировался на 19:37 мск в рамках пусковой кампании Arianespace VS18 с космодрома Гвианского космического центра (Куру, Французская Гвиана).

 Вывод на целевую орбиту обеспечит российский разгонный блок "Фрегат-МТ".

 Ракеты-носители "Союз-СТ-Б" участвовали уже в трех пусковых кампаниях с Гвианского космического центра с полезной нагрузкой в виде спутников O3b - в июне 2013 года, в июле и декабре 2014 года. Российские средства выведения доставляли на расчетные орбиты по четыре космических аппаратов за каждую пусковую кампанию. Пуск РН "Союз-СТ-Б" в марте 2018 будет четвертым со спутниками O3b и восемнадцатым пуском с космодрома во Французской Гвиане.

 Головным контрактным интегратором предприятий российской кооперации в проекте "Союз" в Гвианском космическом центре выступает АО "Главкосмос", обеспечивая взаимодействие с Arianespace.

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg)Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/972151649698492416)

The countdown for Flight #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) is on hold due to a "red" for weather conditions at the Spaceport in French Guiana. Both the launcher and its payloads are in a safe condition. Second liftoff opportunity is at 17:10:06 UTC.

ЦитироватьSoyuz (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=soyuz) | March 9, 2018

Soyuz lifts off from French Guiana with four O3b MEO satellites

The Arianespace mission with four O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites is now underway following today's Soyuz liftoff from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

Total lift performance for the launch is estimated at 3,198 kg., with the satellites to be deployed during a flight lasting approximately 2 hrs., 22 min.

ЦитироватьSoyuz ST-B launches four O3b MEO satellites

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220782.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/SciNewsRo)  SciNews (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjU6ZwoTQtKWfz1urL7XcbA)

Опубликовано: 9 мар. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьС Куру стартовала ракета-носитель "Союз" с четырьмя спутниками связи
ПАРИЖ, 9 марта. /ТАСС/. Российская ракета-носитель "Союз" со спутниками связи стартовала в пятницу вечером с космодрома в Куру (Французская Гвиана). Об этом свидетельствует прямая трансляция на сайте (http://www.arianespace.com/) компании Arianespace, которая осуществляет коммерческие пуски российской ракеты с этого космодрома.
"Союзу" предстоит вывести на орбиту четыре телекоммуникационных спутника серии O3b MEO (Medium Earth Orbit - среднеорбитальные спутники Земли) для оператора SES. Они станут частью группы аппаратов коммуникационной системы под названием O3b.
Все четыре спутника серии O3b MEO (Medium Earth Orbit - среднеорбитальные спутники Земли) созданы корпорацией Thales Alenia Space на ее заводе у Канн (юг Франции). Они выводятся на орбиту высотой около 8 тыс. км, что в четыре раза ниже обычных для спутников связи геостационарных орбит.
Спутники коммуникационной системы O3b уже три раза выводились на орбиту российскими "Союзами" с космодрома Куру: в июне 2013 года, а также в июле и декабре 2014 года.

ЦитироватьРакета "Союз" стартовала с космодрома Куру
09.03.2018 20:11:47

Париж. 9 марта. ИНТЕРФАКС - Российская ракета-носитель "Союз-СТ-Б" с четырьмя европейскими телекоммуникационными аппаратами O3b стартовала на полчаса позже запланированного из-за неблагоприятных метеоусловий, сообщили "Интерфаксу" на космодроме.

 Запуск ракеты планировался на 19:37 мск в рамках пусковой кампании Arianespace VS18 с космодрома Гвианского космического центра (Куру, Французская Гвиана) однако был отложен на 33 минуты из-за сильных ветров на высоте 10 км.

 Вывод на целевую орбиту обеспечит российский разгонный блок "Фрегат-МТ". Космические аппараты начнут отделяться от разгонного блока через 2 часа после запуска.

ЦитироватьРазгонный блок отделился от запущенной с космодрома Куру ракеты "Союз"
09.03.2018 20:21:41

Париж. 9 марта. ИНТЕРФАКС - Разгонный блок "Фрегат-МТ" отделился от третьей ступени российской ракеты-носителя "Союз-СТ-Б" с четырьмя европейскими телекоммуникационными аппаратами O3b после запуска с космодрома Куру во Французской Гвиане, сообщили "Интерфаксу" на космодроме.

 Первые два спутника O3b №2 и №4 отделятся в течение двух часов, затем еще через 21 минуту от разгонного блока отделятся два других спутника O3b №1 и №3.

Цитировать03/09/2018 20:53 Stephen Clark

The Fregat upper stage is now coasting to the O3b satellites' orbit insertion altitude of approximately 4,865 miles (7,830 kilometers), where the main engine will ignite again at 1902 GMT (2:02 p.m. EST) to circularize its path around Earth in preparation for deployment of the four broadband telecom spacecraft.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186301.jpg)РОСКОСМОС‏Подлинная учетная запись @roscosmos (https://twitter.com/roscosmos) 28 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/972162229075349504)

Сегодня, 9 марта, в 20:10 мск с космодрома Гвианского космического центра состоялся пуск ракеты-носителя «Союз-СТ-Б» с четырьмя аппаратами #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash). Продолжительность миссии от момента пуска до момента отделения всех четырех спутников – 2 часа 22 минуты 51 секунда
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174084.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174083.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174086.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174085.jpg)

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/186040.jpg)Chris B - NSF‏ @NASASpaceflight (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight) 46 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/972158547587948545)

Awesome downrange view. And there go the boosters.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174082.jpg)

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174080.jpg)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174081.jpg)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174087.jpg)

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьArianespace VS18 - Launch Sequence, March 9, 2018

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220938.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)  arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 9 мар. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьРОСКОСМОС. РАКЕТА-НОСИТЕЛЬ «СОЮЗ-СТ-Б» СТАРТОВАЛА С ГКЦ
9 марта 2018 года в 20:10:06 мск в рамках пусковой кампании Arianespace VS18 с космодрома Гвианского космического центра (Куру, Французская Гвиана) осуществлен пуск российской ракеты-носителя (РН) «Союз-СТ-Б» с четырьмя европейскими телекоммуникационными аппаратами O3b.
Через 9 минут 23 секунды после старта головной блок в составе разгонного блока (РБ) «Фрегат-МТ» и четырех космических аппаратов O3b успешно отделился от третьей ступени РН «Союз-СТ-Б». Разгонный блок «Фрегат-МТ» приступил к выполнению полетного задания по выводу на целевую орбиту космических аппаратов.
Программой полета предусмотрены три включения двигательной установки разгонного блока для формирования опорной, переходной и первой орбиты отделения двух космических аппаратов. Четвертое включение двигательной установки должно сформировать орбиту отделения оставшихся двух аппаратов. Продолжительность миссии от момента пуска до момента отделения всех четырех спутников – 2 часа 22 минуты 51 секунда. По завершении миссии разгонный блок «Фрегат-МТ» будет переведен на орбиту «существования» за счет двух включений двигателей...

ЦитироватьArianespace TV VS18 LAUNCH CAMPAIGN

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220938.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ) arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 9 мар. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьArianespace TV Promoweb VS18

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220938.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ) arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 9 мар. 2018 г.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg)Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 4 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/972185611972079616)

Fregat has begun the re-orientation for the burn, propellant settling is next. #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg)Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 1 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/972186502250815490)

Good Fregat ignition confirmed. The #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) F4 mission is targeting a circular injection orbit 7,830 Kilometers in altitude, inclined 0.04 degrees. #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg)Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 50 сек. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/972187501174624256)

Fregat has concluded its third burn and should now be in its desired equatorial orbit (to be confirmed through tracking). Three minutes to the separation of the first two #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) satellites.

Цитировать03/09/2018 22:12 O3b FM14 and FM15 separation Stephen Clark

Two of the four 1,543-pound (700-kilogram) O3b satellites should have deployed from their dispenser mounted on the forward end of the Fregat upper stage. Confirmation of a good separation is expected shortly.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg)Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/972188646936924160)

SEPARATION! The first two #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) satellites were sent off by loaded springs, being pushed off into opposite directions to avoid re-contact. Next up for Fregat will be a very brief fourth burn to dispatch the second pair of satellites at a drift relative to the first two.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174088.jpg)

Цитировать03/09/2018 22:16 Stephen Clark

Launch controllers have confirmed deployment of the first two O3b satellites through telemetry received from the Fregat upper stage.

Цитировать03/09/2018 22:18 Stephen Clark

The 17-second restart of the Fregat main engine is expected at 1926 GMT (2:26 p.m. EST), followed by separation of the two other O3b satellites at 1932 GMT (2:32 p.m. EST).

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185988.jpg)Peter B. de Selding‏ @pbdes (https://twitter.com/pbdes) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/972192426566791168)

Health signals confirmed from 1st two @SES_Networks (https://twitter.com/SES_Networks) O3b satellites separated from @ArianeGroup (https://twitter.com/ArianeGroup) @Arianespace (https://twitter.com/Arianespace) @roscosmos (https://twitter.com/roscosmos) Soyuz rocket. Awaiting separation-then-confirmation of the other 2.

Цитировать03/10/2018 01:31 Stephen Clark

SES confirms that signals from the first two O3b satellites have been acquired by ground controllers, confirming their status after today's launch.

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg)Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 3 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/972194192767283200)

...and there it is! The second pair of #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) Medium Earth Orbit satellites has been released by #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash). We are now awaiting acquisition confirmation from SES.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg)Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/972195036602535943)

Fregat will finish its mission by maneuvering into a 7,673-Kilometer disposal orbit, 0.08° followed by passivation by the T+5 hour mark to close out the #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash) mission. #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash)

Цитировать03/10/2018 01:42 Stephen Clark

Telemetry acquisition from the second pair of O3b satellites has been confirmed.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185376.jpg)Spaceflight101 LIVE‏ @S101_Live (https://twitter.com/S101_Live) 2 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/S101_Live/status/972195953166946306)

Launch Success for #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash). #Soyuz (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Soyuz?src=hash) provided a flawless ride, Fregat did its job and all four #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) satellites checked in with ground stations in good health. Next for the satellites is a multi-week checkout and phasing operation before entering active service.
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174089.jpg)

Цитировать03/10/2018 01:48 Stephen Clark

"Arianespace is delighted to announce that the four O3b satellites have been safely separated as planned in their targeted Medium Earth Orbit," said Luce Fabreguettes, the launch company's executive vice president for missions, operations and purchasing.

Цитироватьphobos24 пишет:
Как-то они бесцеремонно теток целовали всех!

ЦитироватьSES (https://twitter.com/SES_Satellites) ретвитнул(а)


(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185973.jpg)Caleb Henry‏ @CHenry_SN (https://twitter.com/CHenry_SN) 5 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/CHenry_SN/status/972198556919631872)

SES CTO Martin Halliwell: new O3b satellites go into service May 17, increases satellite constellation by about 38% #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174091.jpg)

ЦитироватьРОСКОСМОС. КОСМИЧЕСКИЕ АППАРАТЫ O3B УСПЕШНО ВЫВЕДЕНЫ НА РАСЧЕТНУЮ ОРБИТУ
9 марта 2018 года в 22:11 и 22:32 мск прошло отделение четырех европейских космических аппаратов O3b от разгонного блока «Фрегат-МТ». Пусковая кампания Arianespace VS18 успешно завершена. Российские средства выведения – ракета-носитель «Союз-СТ-Б» (производитель РКЦ «Прогресс») и разгонный блок «Фрегат-МТ» (производитель НПО Лавочкина) – выполнили программу полета без замечаний. Аппараты взяты заказчиком на управление.
Спутники O3b предназначены для создания новой европейской среднеорбитальной космической системы связи. Аппараты призваны обеспечить связью и высокоскоростным доступом в интернет жителей удаленных и развивающихся регионов, где нельзя проложить оптоволоконные кабели, — в общей сложности аудиторию около 3 миллиардов человек. Заказчик пусковых услуг – глобальный спутниковый оператор SES.

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185876.jpg)CNES‏Подлинная учетная запись @CNES (https://twitter.com/CNES) сейчас31 секунду назад (https://twitter.com/CNES/status/972195358850904070)

Mission réussie pour le lanceur Soyouz #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125513.png), qui a mis en orbite 4 satellites #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125385.png)(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125385.png)

Цитироватьпоц пишет:

Цитироватьphobos24 пишет:
Как-то они бесцеремонно теток целовали всех!

ну это же не грех... или уже грех?

ЦитироватьSuccessful Launch of Four O3b Satellites Expands Fibre-like Connectivity (https://www.ses.com/press-release/successful-launch-four-o3b-satellites-expands-fibre-connectivity)

ЦитироватьIn addition to these four new satellites, another four O3b satellites are scheduled to launch in H1 2019.

ЦитироватьSoyuz (http://www.arianespace.com/mission-updates/?taxonomy%5Bmission-update-category%5D=soyuz) | March 9, 2018

Arianespace gives a lift to four more satellites in the O3b Medium Earth Orbit constellation

(http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2018/03/3-9-2018-VS18-success-pano/301752715.jpg)
Lifting off from the Spaceport in French Guiana, the Soyuz launcher for Arianespace Flight VS18 begins its mission to deploy four O3b Medium Earth Orbit satellites.

Four additional spacecraft for SES' O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellite constellation were orbited today by a Soyuz launch from French Guiana, supporting a long-time Arianespace customer and underscoring the medium-lift workhorse launcher's suitability for a full range of missions.

Departing from the Spaceport's ELS launch complex near the city of Sinnamary, and ascending into clear skies over French Guiana, Soyuz deployed its four passengers during a flight of approximately 2 hrs., 22 min. This included the propulsion of Soyuz' first three stages, as well as four burns of its Fregat upper stage.

Today's launch was Soyuz' 18th from French Guiana since it began service at the Spaceport in 2011, and was designated Flight VS18 in Arianespace's launcher family numbering system.

Спойлер

Impressive numbers for the SES/Arianespace relationship

In post-launch comments at the Spaceport, Luce Fabreguettes, Arianespace's Executive Vice President Missions, Operations & Purchasing, noted that the mission's payloads are the 54th, 55th, 56th and 57th spacecraft orbited by Arianespace for global satellite operator SES – extending an exceptional partnership that dates back to 1988.

O3b spacecraft are utilized by the SES Networks operation of SES to provide low latency, fiber-like connectivity in the growing mobility, fixed data and government markets. These trapezoidal-shaped Ka-band relay platforms, produced by Thales Alenia Space, have a liftoff mass of 700 kg. each.

Enhancing SES Networks' services from orbit

(http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3-9-2018-VS18-success-sm.jpg) (http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/3-9-2018-VS18-success-lg.jpg)
Arianespace's medium-lift workhorse vehicle climbs away from French Guiana on its 18th Spaceport mission.

They will join the 12 O3b satellites already in orbit, launched by Arianespace using its medium-lift Soyuz workhorse that carries four spacecraft on each launch. The previous missions were performed in June 2013, July 2014 and December 2014. Positioned at approximately 8,000 km., the O3b satellites are some four-times-closer to Earth than geostationary-orbit satellites.

The four newly-launched satellites will enable SES Networks to offer more capacity, enhanced coverage, increased efficiencies and greater reliability while delivering carrier-grade services to telecommunications operators, mobile network operators, enterprises, internet service providers and government customers.

After today's Flight VS18, Arianespace has five more SES satellites in its backlog, comprising four additional spacecraft for SES Networks' O3b constellation, and the all-electric SES-17 – to be used by SES for high-speed inflight connectivity and high-powered data services.

Flight VS18 was Arianespace's second mission in 2018 with a member of its complete launcher family – which also includes the heavyweight Ariane 5 and light-lift Vega. It continues a busy year of activity for Arianespace, which will perform as many as 14 missions from the Spaceport in French Guiana.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьSoyuz (http://www.arianespace.com/press-releases/?taxonomy%5Bpress-release-category%5D=soyuz) | March 9, 2018

Flight VS18: Arianespace orbits four more O3b satellites for SES on its fourth mission for the O3b constellation

(http://www.arianespace.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2018/03/3-9-2018-vs18-success-pr-topper/3617535135.jpg)

Arianespace has successfully launched four additional O3b satellites for the constellation operated by SES Networks.

The launch took place on Friday, March 9 at 2:10 pm (local time) from the Guiana Space Center (CSG), Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana (South America).

This mission was the second of the year for Arianespace, the first in 2018 using a Soyuz rocket and the second launch since January for the global operator SES. With this fourth launch for O3b fleet since 2013, all 16 spacecraft in the current O3b constellation have been orbited by Arianespace.

With this latest mission, Arianespace has demonstrated that its family of launchers is extremely well suited to the deployment of communications, navigation and Earth observation satellite systems.

A new launch for SES Networks' O3b constellation

Спойлер

Today's mission was the fourth for the O3b satellite fleet operated by global operator SES, following three previous launches to orbit the constellation's first 12 satellites performed on June 25, 2013, July 10, 2014 and December 18, 2014. With this latest successful launch of four more O3b satellites, Arianespace supports SES Networks' continued development of its constellation, which started commercial service in September 2014.

The four Ka-band O3b satellites will join the other O3b satellites already in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) to provide low latency, fibre-like connectivity in the booming mobility, fixed data and government markets.

By expanding its O3b fleet, SES will be able to offer 38% more capacity worldwide, and extend its potential market from 45 to 50 degrees north and south latitude.

These new satellites will enable SES Networks to offer more capacity, extended coverage, greater efficiency and higher reliability. At the same time, they will provide operator-class services to businesses, government customers, telecommunications companies, mobile network operators and internet service providers.

Arianespace will launch four more O3b satellites into Medium Earth Orbit for this constellation in 2019.

[свернуть]

Arianespace launches 57 satellites for SES in a 30-year partnership

Спойлер

SES, a world-leading satellite operator, is the first to deliver a differentiated and scalable GEO-MEO offering worldwide, with more than 50 satellites in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) and 12 satellites in Medium Earth Orbit (MEO).

Arianespace and SES have developed an exceptional partnership over the last 30 years, made even stronger by this latest successful launch. Because of its versatile and complementary family of launchers, Arianespace is perfectly suited to address SES's GEO/MEO strategy and the requirements of its future programs.

[свернуть]

The Arianespace family: especially well-suited to constellation launches

Спойлер

With its current family of launchers (Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega) and its future family (Ariane 6 and Vega C), Arianespace enjoys an excellent position in the growth market of satellite constellations, whether for navigation, telecommunications or Earth observation; and for initial deployment, as well as subsequent replacement launches.

Right from its service entry in 2020, Ariane 6 will offer three major advantages for constellations: larger payload capacity, a restartable Vinci upper stage engine, and the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), allowing the sequential release of satellites to prevent any collisions.

To address the specific needs of constellations with small satellites (0-400 kg.) – primarily for Earth observation – two multiple launch systems for Ariane 6 and Vega C are now being developed with the European Space Agency and the European Commission.

Shortly after the official announcement of the orbital injection of the O3b satellites on today's Flight VS18 mission, Stéphane Israël, CEO of Arianespace, said: "With this second launch of the year, and the first by Soyuz, Arianespace is proud to help its long-standing customer SES meet its ambitious goals, for the second time in 2018. We are honored by the renewed confidence placed in us by SES, for whom we have launched 57 satellites since 1988, including the entire O3b constellation. I also would like to congratulate Thales Alenia Space, another loyal partner, which built all four O3b satellites. I would like to thank the Russian space agency Roscosmos for their commitment to our partnership based on Soyuz. My thanks go as well to CNES/CSG, our ground segment partners and all employees at the launch base, who continue to support us as we go from success to success. And of course, congratulations to all Arianespace staff, for this 18th Soyuz launch from CSG."

ЦитироватьO3b satellites

O3b satellites are built by Thales Alenia Space at its plant in Cannes, France. The payload offers Ka-band wide beams. These four O3b satellites will be positioned in medium Earth orbit (MEO) at an altitude of 7,830 km.

The satellites weighed a combined total of 2,800 kg. at liftoff (700 kg. per satellite).

[свернуть]

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/185853.jpg)Steve Collar‏ @steviecO3b (https://twitter.com/steviecO3b) 37 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/steviecO3b/status/972198546744147969)

Our babies are in orbit! All 4 brand new #O3b (https://twitter.com/hashtag/O3b?src=hash) satellites are in orbit. Acquisition confirmed. All sats healthy and on their way to #MEO (https://twitter.com/hashtag/MEO?src=hash)! Thanks @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) to you and the team. Great job. Great day. (https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/125484.png)
(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/174090.jpg)

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:
http://militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=475704 (http://militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=475704)

ЦитироватьЗапуск "Союза" с космодрома Куру перенесен на полчаса из-за сильного ветра на десятикилометровой высоте  

ЦитироватьПАРИЖ, 9 марта. /ТАСС/. Российская ракета-носитель "Союз", стартовавшая в пятницу вечером с космодрома в Куру (Французская Гвиана), успешно вывела на орбиту четыре спутника связи. Об этом сообщила вице-президент компании Arianespace по вопросам миссий, операций и закупок Люс Фабрегетт.
"Все четыре спутника успешно отделились от ракеты и вышли на орбиту", - сказала она. Фабрегетт отметила, что "это второй запуск с космодрома в Куру с начала этого года". "Поздравляю всех партнеров с этим успехом, - добавила она. - Я бы хотела выразить благодарность нашим российским партнерам, в частности госкорпорации "Роскосмос", РКЦ "Прогресс", за сотрудничество".


Подробнее на ТАСС:
http://tass.ru/kosmos/5019033

Цитировать(https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/740932957309947906/eyELdt9o_bigger.jpg)Stéphane Israël‏ @arianespaceceo (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo) 55 мин. назад (https://twitter.com/arianespaceceo/status/972197922485014528)

I also would like to express my gratitude to #Arianespace (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Arianespace?src=hash)'s Russian partners @roscosmos (https://twitter.com/roscosmos), #RKTs (https://twitter.com/hashtag/RKTs?src=hash)-Progress, #NPOLavochkin (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NPOLavochkin?src=hash) and #Tsenki (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tsenki?src=hash) for their cooperation on Flight #VS18 (https://twitter.com/hashtag/VS18?src=hash). #Teamwork (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Teamwork?src=hash)

Цитироватьzandr (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/44434/) пишет:
Неочевидно как проводится мониторинг ветров на высотах от 1 до 15 км в районе старта за 10-15 минут до пуска

ЦитироватьSoyuz Rocket Fires into Orbit with Fourth Group of O3b Network Satellites
March 9, 2018 (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/soyuz-vs-18-launches-o3b-f4/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153814.jpg)
Photo: Arianespace Webcast

A Russian-built Soyuz/Fregat rocket soared into the skies over the Guiana Space Center on Friday with the fourth set of O3b broadband satellites, joining twelve constellation craft launched in recent years to connect those parts of the world where Internet access is not readily available through conventional means.

The O3b quadruplets launched on Friday will provide expansion services and extend the operation of the constellation into the mid-2020s when fleet operator SES plans to have the next evolutionary step of the system ready to deliver even greater capacity on a global scale.

The 'Europeanized' Soyuz rocket – returning to French Guiana after a break of nearly ten months – lifted off fr om the edge of the Amazon jungle at 17:10 UTC, racing into mostly clear skies for a fast trip across the Atlantic Ocean on an equator-hugging trajectory. Soyuz provided a flawless ride and delivered the Fregat onto a sub-orbital arc from where it was up to the upper stage to dispatch the 700-Kilogram satellites into their desired orbit nearly 8,000 Kilometers in altitude right above the equator.

Спойлер

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153811.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/o3b_900_3.jpg)
Image: Thales Alenia Space

Fregat first injected the stack into a preliminary orbit before firing a second time for a boost into an elliptical transfer orbit and a two-hour coast phase that took the vehicle halfway around the world for the critical circularization maneuver and pairwise separation of the O3b satellites. Arianespace confirmed that all satellites had been deployed into their target orbits and satellite manufacturer Thales Alenia Space reported all four were in communications with ground stations after a seemingly flawless Soyuz/Fregat mission – putting the checkmark behind the first of as many as four Soyuz launches from French Guiana this year.

O3b Networks was founded back in 2007 in an effort to connect the "Other 3 billion" – referring to the world's population without access to the Internet, particularly in developing countries and remote island states.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153812.png) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/O3b_Const_1.png)
Image: O3b

The concept developed by the company was a constellation of satellites in equatorial Medium Earth Orbit – allowing a large coverage area around the equator to be served with a manageable number of satellites while also cutting the two-way signal travel time by placing the satellites at only 25% the distance of their counterparts parked in Geostationary Orbit.

The first set of four O3b satellites was lifted into orbit in 2013, but shortly after launch it became clear that they suffered from a problem with their transponders, causing a degradation of timing signals needed for the downlink of data. Corrective measures were put in place and 2014 saw two O3b quadruplet launches to bring the constellation to twelve members; however, only nine remain in active service after three of the first batch were demoted to a stand-by position due to their timing issues.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153821.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/vs18prep1.jpg)
Photo: Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique Video du CSG

With the initial constellation in operation, O3b attracted a number of commercial customers from across the globe, including network providers on island states and other remote nations, commercial business through cruise ship operators and government contracts through the U.S. Department of Defence. SES acquired O3b as a wholly owned subsidiary in 2016 after the start-up's business model had proved itself.

The four satellites launched on Friday were part of an eight-satellite expansion order placed to Thales Alenia Space in 2015 to provide additional capacity for the constellation and extend services into the mid-2020s via the satellites' ten-year service lives. This batch of O3b satellites features some improvements in performance like higher throughput and processing speed, but is seamlessly compatible with the first generation of satellites already in orbit.

>> O3b Satellite & Constellation Overview (http://spaceflight101.com/spacecraft/o3b/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153809.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/28055897_1728147790556895_5547359668273201530_n.jpg)
Photo: Arianespace/ESA/CNES/Optique Video du CSG

Each O3b satellite weighs 700 Kilograms at launch, including 141kg of maneuvering propellant, and hosts twelve steerable Ka-Band antenna assemblies on its Earth-facing deck – delivering ten customer beams and two gateway beams to connect remote terminals to terrestrial network gateways or provide point-to-point trunking services. Operating in the 4.3 GHz frequency band, each O3b satellite offers a data throughput in excess of 12 Gbit/s to create fiber-like trunking services and data backhaul directly to 3G and WiMAX cell towers.

The launch of the final four O3b satellites currently on order is planned in the first half of next year before constellation operator SES expects to upgrade to the follow-on system called O3b mPower (http://spaceflight101.com/ses-orders-super-powered-satellites-from-boeing-to-expand-o3b-broadband-services/), set to add a series of high-throughput satellites to the constellation starting in 2021. mPower will expand the constellation to global coverage, switch manufacturers to Boeing and leverage state of the art technology to enable the baseline seven-satellite constellation to deliver nearly 30,000 communications spot beams.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153815.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/va18-launch-1.jpg)
Photo: Arianespace Webcast

Preparations for the 18th Soyuz launch from French Guiana, the 1,885th overall, kicked into high gear last Friday when the assembled Soyuz rocket was moved from its MIK integration hall to the ELS launch pad wh ere it took its vertical launch position. The encapsulated payload stack was hoisted atop the rocket on Tuesday after the launch was pushed by three days to facilitate additional checks as part of the resumption of missions from the CSG after the anomalous Ariane 5 VA241 flight of January 25 (http://spaceflight101.com/ariane-5-va241/).

A launch rehearsal was run on Wednesday and the Launch Readiness Review green-lighted the mission on Thursday, allowing Soyuz to enter an eight-hour countdown operation. Four hours before the day's planned T-0, Soyuz began filling up on rocket-grade Kerosene followed by loading the vehicle with -183°C Liquid Oxygen around the L-3-hour mark. Soyuz also received Nitrogen and Helium to act as pressurization gas on the boost stages and Block I upper stage, respectively, and technicians pumped highly reactive Hydrogen Peroxide into the boosters and core stage to drive their engine pumps.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153816.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/va18-launch-2.jpg)
Photo: Arianespace Webcast

Towering 46 meters above the ELS launch pad, Soyuz was revealed at the one-hour mark when the protective Service Gantry retracted to clear the way for final preparations. Countdown operations had to be halted at T-11 minutes as Launch Controllers elected to defer the day's T-0 time to the second available instantaneous launch slot to provide time for an area of calmer upper level winds to move over the launch site near the town of Sinnamary.

As computers assumed full control of the countdown after a 33-minute delay, Soyuz pressurized its tanks and purged its engines before the first of two umbilical towers retracted from the rocket at the moment Soyuz was handed control of the final countdown steps.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153817.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/va18-launch-4.jpg)
Photo: Arianespace Webcast

The venerable booster soared to life at T-20 seconds when pumps began driving and igniters fired up on the four liquid-fueled boosters and core stage – soaring to an intermediate thrust level before ramping up to a collective launch thrust of over 420 metric ton-force to overcome counterweights and lift the vehicle off the ground.

Soyuz blasted off at precisely 17:10:06 UTC and rose vertically for less than fifteen seconds before starting its pre-programmed pitch and roll maneuvers to begin flying straight to the east on an equator-hugging trajectory similar to the initial flight path of Ariane 5 missions to Geotransfer Orbit.

Burning propellant at a rate of 1,600 Kilograms per second, Soyuz reached the speed of sound within one minute of liftoff and passed Maximum Aerodynamic Pressure 75 seconds into the mission as it cut through the dense layers of the atmosphere.

>> Soyuz 2-1B Overview (http://spaceflight101.com/spacerockets/soyuz-2-1b/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153818.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/va18-launch-7.jpg)
Photo: Arianespace Webcast

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153819.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/va18-launch-8.jpg)
Photo: Arianespace Webcast

Soyuz shed its four boosters one minute and 58 seconds into the flight after each burned nearly 40 metric tons of propellant to help push the Soyuz to a speed of 1.65 Kilometers per second. Dropping the boosters into the Atlantic, Soyuz headed on powered by the four-chamber RD-108A engine alone, generating over 100 tf of thrust as the vehicle escaped the dense atmosphere.

Three minutes and 55 seconds into the mission, Soyuz passed 120 Kilometers in altitude and separated its two fairing halves to lose no-longer-needed weight on its way into orbit. Block A, the trusted core stage, raised the vehicle's speed to 3.75 Kilometers per second before the 27.8-meter long booster separated from the Block I upper stage in the typical hot staging sequence four minutes and 47 seconds into the flight.

Firing up its closed-cycle, 30-metric-ton-force RD-0124 engine, the modified Block I stage was tasked with a burn of four and a half minutes to lift the Orbital Unit onto a sub-orbital arc of -1,186 by 194 Kilometers. Separation of the Fregat upper stage was confirmed at T+9 minutes and 23 seconds, being sent off on a fairly complex four-burn mission to deliver its passengers to orbit.

Flying in its MT configuration with extended tanks, Fregat was loaded with 7,100 Kilograms of self-igniting propellant for consumption by its S5.92 engine to lift a total payload upmass of 3,198 Kilograms into Medium Earth Orbit. Its first task on Friday was transitioning the stack from a sub-orbital path into a stable Parking Orbit, firing up its 2,000kgf main engine on a four-minute burn one minute after separation from Soyuz, targeting a 160 by 205-Kilometer orbit, inclined 5.16 degrees.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153813.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/va18-launch-10.jpg)
Image: Arianespace Webcast

Reaching orbit, Fregat only coasted for eight and a half minutes before re-starting its main engine on the mission's longest burn of eight and a half minutes to boost the stack into an elliptical transfer orbit of 190 by 7,869 Kilometers, 3.88° – reaching its peak over the equator on the opposite side of the planet. Fregat performed as advertised and transitioned into a long coast phase of one hour and 22 minutes, designed to allow the stack to climb up to apogee for the circularization.

Having traveled halfway across the planet, Fregat fired up again one hour and 52 minutes into the flight on a burn of just over 5 minutes, tasked with circularizing the orbit at 7,830 Kilometers and reducing its inclination to 0.04 degrees. The first two O3b satellites, FM14 & FM15, departed their cylindrical adapter at T+2 hours and one minute, being sent off in opposite directions to avoid re-contact.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/153814.jpg) (http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-vs18/wp-content/uploads/sites/213/2018/03/va18-launch-11.jpg)
Image: Arianespace Webcast

Separation of the remaining two occurred 23 minutes later after Fregat conducted a 17-second boost with its settling thrusters to create a drift rate between the two pairs and ease the process of phasing them into the operational constellation orbiting 8,063 Kilometers above the equator.

Arianespace declared mission success after tracking data showed a nominal orbit was achieved and Thales Alenia confirmed all four satellites had checked in with ground stations in good health – ready to enter a multi-week commissioning phase before entering the active constellation.

For Arianespace, the next mission is right around the corner as Ariane 5 aims to return to flight on March 21st with the Superbird-8 (http://spaceflight101.com/ariane-5-va242/superbird-8-dsn-1/) and HYLAS-4 (http://spaceflight101.com/ariane-5-va242/hylas-4/) communications satellites.

[свернуть]

ЦитироватьArianespace VS18 - Live Launch (EN)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220938.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)  arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Трансляция началась 5 часов назад

ЦитироватьPréparation du lancement du 9 mars 2018

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220705.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/cnescsg)  CNES CSG (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe5WxcqciZKvkJr2_AOhVsA)

Опубликовано: 9 мар. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьDecollage du Vol Soyouz depuis le CSG

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220705.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/user/cnescsg)  CNES CSG (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe5WxcqciZKvkJr2_AOhVsA)

Опубликовано: 9 мар. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьArianespace TV - VS18 - Successful Mission

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220938.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ) arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 9 мар. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьArianespace TV - VS18 - Conclusions

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220938.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ) arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 9 мар. 2018 г.

Цитироватьtnt22 пишет:

Цитироватьzandr (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/44434/) пишет:
Неочевидно как проводится мониторинг ветров на высотах от 1 до 15 км в районе старта за 10-15 минут до пуска

Насколько я понимаю, метеобаллоны никто и не думал запрещать - улетел, данные сбросил, решение приняли ДА/НЕТ...

P.S. Как пример, см запуск Paz (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum12/topic16269/?PAGEN_1=8) с VAFB - 1-я попытка 2018-02-21.

Цитироватьzandr (http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/user/44434/) пишет:
Чтобы метеобаллон за полчаса поднялся на 10 км, вертикальная скорость должна быть 6 м/с. Так и есть?

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/230357.jpg)

Цитировать(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/230356.gif)
Figure 5 Altitude Curve of BU60-1

ЦитироватьFour O3b satellites launched to beam Internet to developing world
March 9, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/) Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144099.jpg)
A Soyuz rocket lifts off Friday fr om the Guiana Space Center with four O3b broadband satellites. Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – S. Martin

Four satellites set to join O3b's expanding broadband network successfully launched Friday on top of a Russian-built Soyuz booster fr om French Guiana, joining 12 other craft linking developing nations, far-flung islands, cruise ships and other hard-to-reach locales with the Internet.

Mounted on a carrying dispenser inside the Soyuz rocket's nose cone, the four O3b spacecraft will grow the satellite-based broadband network's reach and coverage, answering demand for more bandwidth fr om the initiative's current and prospective customers.

The satellites lifted off at 1710:06 GMT (12:10:06 p.m. EST; 2:10:06 p.m. French Guiana time) from the Guiana Space Center, a spaceport carved from the edge of the Amazon rainforest on the northeastern coast of South America. A Soyuz-2.1b rocket pushed the O3b payloads into a mostly sunny sky after 33-minute delay to allow for improved wind conditions aloft.

Спойлер

The Soyuz booster pitched on a downrange trajectory east from the European-run space center, and dropped four kerosene-fueled first stage boosters into the Atlantic Ocean around two minutes after liftoff. Engines on the Soyuz core stage and third stage fired in succession, and a Russian Fregat upper stage ignited to place the O3b satellites into a preliminary parking orbit.

Two more Fregat upper stage burns placed the O3b payloads close to their targeted deployment altitude of 4,865 miles (7,830 kilometers) above the equator.

The first pair of O3b satellites released from the Fregat upper stage at 1911 GMT (2:11 p.m. EST), followed by a brief rocket firing to move to a nearby position for separation of the other two spacecraft at 1932 GMT (2:32 p.m. EST).

Officials confirmed all four satellites, built by Thales Alenia Space, established contact with ground teams a few minutes later. The reception of telemetry verified the spacecraft were in the correct orbit and healthy following the launch.

Arianespace, the French company in charge of Soyuz launch operations at the Guiana Space Center, declared the mission a success.

"Arianespace is delighted to announce that the four O3b satellites have been safely separated as planned in their targeted Medium Earth Orbit," said Luce Fabreguettes, the launch company's executive vice president for missions, operations and purchasing.

Friday's launch was the 18th time a Russian Soyuz rocket has lifted off from French Guiana since October 2011, and the 1,885th flight by a Soyuz rocket variant overall.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144190.jpg)
One of the four O3b satellites launched Friday. Credit: Thales Alenia Space

The flight plan for the satellites called for each craft to extend its power-generating solar panels, then complete a series of in-orbit checks. The spacecraft will slightly raise their altitudes to join the other 12 satellites in the O3b fleet, then enter commercial service by mid-May.

"We are very excited to have four more O3b satellites in orbit, and we look forward to them joining the constellation in May and serving our customers around the globe," said Steve Collar, the CEO of SES Networks who will take over as chief executive of the overall SES enterprise next month. "The demand for high performance bandwidth and networks continues to grow and, as the only successful non-geostationary broadband system, we need these new satellites to fulfil demand across a wide range of verticals and applications."

The four new satellites join 12 others launched on three previous Soyuz rocket flights from French Guiana in 2013 and 2014.

SES completed the purchase of 100 percent of O3b Networks' ownership in 2016, soon after O3b ordered eight additional satellites from Thales Alenia Space in response to growing demand. The next four O3b craft will launch on another Soyuz mission from French Guiana in early 2019.

The O3b satellites carry Ka-band broadband beams to relay high-speed Internet connectivity to far-flung communities, industrial facilities and mobile users.

"From connecting underserved communities and meaningfully transforming lives through improved broadband access, to delivering state of the art satellite-enabled network services to ships, planes and government platforms, our O3b fleet offers unique and differentiated performance and is driving our customers' businesses forward," Collar said in a press release.

The O3b network provides connectivity to conventional Internet Service Providers, governments, schools and universities, remote factories, oil and gas platforms, humanitarian missions, resorts and the maritime industry, including luxury cruise ships owned by Royal Caribbean.

The O3b satellites fly in a medium-altitude orbit more than four times closer to Earth than the geostationary belt more than 22,000 miles (nearly 36,000 kilometers) over the equator, wh ere most large telecommunications craft reside. That reduces the latency of an Internet connection established through the O3b satellites, or the time required for a user to send a request and get a response.

The idea behind O3b, which was named for the "Other 3 billion" people without reliable Internet access, was to use satellites to link places difficult to reach with terrestrial fiber networks.

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144191.jpg)
Artist's concept of a part of the O3b satellite fleet. Credit: SES

From Medium Earth Orbit, the O3b satellites cover a swath of the planet ranging between approximately 45 degrees north and south latitude.

SES Networks says the O3b network has beamed Internet signals for the U.S. Department of Defense and the United Nations, and provided connectivity to numerous island nations: Palau, Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands, East Timor and America Samoa.

African markets have also taken up O3b usage, with Internet services beamed to Chad, South Sudan, Somalia, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Angola and Madagascar.

The Galapagos Islands and Easter Island have also received Internet services through the O3b satellites, along with parts of Peru and the Amazon basin in Brazil.

The satellites launched Friday will add 38 percent to O3b's broadband capacity, officials said. They also debut an improved antenna design and a better encryption standard, offering a performance upgrade over the original 12 O3b satellites.

"There's not one segment that's really driven us to do this," said John-Paul Hemingway, executive vice president of product, marketing and strategy at SES Networks. "All the (market) segments are doing well, but we just needed more capacity. We have actually pre-sold some of this capacity, but there's a lot more capacity available with this (additional) 38 percent to react to customer growth.

"Of course, we're very positive about that because we are planning to launch another four satellites within the next 12 months, some time in the first half of '19," Hemingway said in a phone interview with Spaceflight Now.

"This was the fourth launch performed by Arianespace for our O3b fleet and we have yet another batch of O3b satellites planned for 2019 on their Soyuz rocket as well," said Martin Halliwell, chief technology officer at SES. "This is the beauty of our MEO constellation: it can easily be scaled to respond to demand in an agile manner while beams can be allocated dynamically to wh ere the demand is, and thus deliver low-latency connectivity wh ere our customers need it. By augmenting our fleet, we will offer more throughput, more coverage, and more capabilities to our customers."

SES last year announced an upgraded network that will begin launching in 2021.

The O3b mPower fleet will consist of seven satellites built by Boeing that will launch into the same roughly 5,000-mile-high (8,000-kilometer) orbit currently occupied by the first-generation O3b satellites.

Once operational, the O3b mPower network will reach many more parts of the world, meeting the entire data traffic needs of some small countries, SES officials said when they unveiled the program in September.

Billed as the first "multi-terabit" satellite constellation, O3b mPower will multiply the capability of the current-generation O3b fleet. Each O3b mPower satellite will carry 4,000 Ka-band beams, up from 10 on each of the current O3b spacecraft.

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FOURTH BATCH OF O3B SATELLITES IN ORBIT

| 09.03.2018 |

Cannes, March 9th, 2018 – The four latest satellites in the O3b constellation built by Thales Alenia Space for SES Networks were successfully launched today from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana (South America) by a Soyuz rocket.

These four new satellites will expand the current O3b constellation of 12 satellites, which have been operational in orbit since 2014. Together, they will offer more capacity, improved coverage, greater efficiency and even higher reliability.

Спойлер

(https://www.thalesgroup.com/sites/default/files/styles/resp_custom_user_wide_1x/public/assets/images/o3b_1100_2_3_1_0.jpg?itok=Yq7v2S-M×tamp=1520627181)

Thanks to these high-performance satellites, SES Networks, the SES business unit dedicated to global data networks, provides broadband services to telecom and mobile network operators, Internet service providers, enterprises, and customers in the mobility, energy and government sectors.

O3b satellites are positioned at an altitude of 8,000 km along the equator, four times closer to the Earth than satellites in geostationary orbit. Operating in the Ka-band, they offer telecommunications and Internet connectivity services at a fibre-like speed across the globe.

Цитировать"After having delivered 46 telecom satellites in 2017, Thales Alenia Space is delighted to celebrate the kickoff of 2018 launches with our long-standing partners, SES and Arianespace," said Jean Loïc Galle, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thales Alenia Space. "This latest cluster of four satellites joins its sister satellites in orbit, after their launches in 2013 and 2014, to boost the constellation's service capacity. We are proud to help our customer SES grow their market, and we are ready and willing to offer new telecom solutions that provide even higher performance, with more integrated and digital systems."

(https://www.thalesgroup.com/sites/default/files/styles/resp_custom_user_wide_1x/public/assets/images/o3b_1100_4_1_0.jpg?itok=O8g5EBbJ×tamp=1520627335)

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ЦитироватьPhotos: Soyuz rocket soars into space from French Guiana
March 12, 2018 (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/) | Stephen Clark (https://spaceflightnow.com/author/stephen-clark/)

A Soyuz rocket launched Friday with four commercial satellites to expand broadband Internet coverage in remote parts of the world, climbing into orbit from the Guiana Space Center positioned on the northeastern shore of South America.

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The Russian-made rocket lifted off at 1710:06 GMT (12:10:06 p.m. EST; 2:10:06 p.m. French Guiana time) Friday after a 33-minute hold to wait for improved weather conditions.

The Soyuz rocket's engines, fed by kerosene and liquid oxygen, steered the booster east from the European-run spaceport in South America, guiding it on a trajectory over the Atlantic Ocean as it soared into space with four O3b broadband communications satellites.

Friday's launch was the 18th flight of a Soyuz rocket from the Guiana Space Center under the auspices of a Russian-European partnership with oversight from Arianespace, the commercial company which manages, operates and markets Ariane 5, Soyuz and Vega launches from French Guiana.

Read our full story (https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/09/four-o3b-satellites-launched-to-beam-internet-to-developing-world/) for details on the mission.

The video and images below show the Soyuz rocket's liftoff from French Guiana with the fourth quartet of O3b broadband satellites for SES.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjFTRxlUeZs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjFTRxlUeZs)
(video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjFTRxlUeZs) 0:57)

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144102.jpg)
Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144099.jpg)
Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – S. Martin

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144100.jpg)
Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – S. Martin

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144101.jpg)
Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – S. Martin

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/144078.jpg)
Credit: ESA/CNES/Arianespace – Photo Optique Video du CSG – G. Barbaste

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ЦитироватьArianespace Flight VS18/ Behind the Scenes of the Dream

(https://img.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/220938.jpg) (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)  arianespace (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRn9F2D9j-t4A-HgudM7aLQ)

Опубликовано: 18 мар. 2018 г.

ЦитироватьO3b Satellites Now Ready to Provide More Fibre-like Connectivity
Written on 01 Jun 2018

New MEO satellites augment constellation to deliver much-needed high performance bandwidth

Luxembourg, 1 June 2018 – SES announced today that it is now ready to offer increased capacity across the globe through the expanded O3b Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) constellation.

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The constellation of Ka-band satellites orbits at approximately 8,000 km from Earth – four times closer to the planet than geostationary (GEO) satellites, delivering connectivity with low latency and fibre-like performance for data services virtually anywhere on the planet. The O3b fleet is the only non-geostationary (NGSO) system delivering fibre-like broadband services today.

The expanded satellite constellation enables SES Networks to bring 38% more capacity, enhancing coverage and increasing performance to market, while continuing to drive digital equality to support digital transformation worldwide. The additional capacity will also cater to the growing consumption of bandwidth in the fixed data, mobility and government markets.

"Our customers have been waiting patiently for the new satellites to enter service. As the only company operating a successful non-geostationary broadband system, we are thrilled that these new satellites will be able to connect underserved communities and to transform lives through improved broadband access, as well as be part of the enhanced connectivity experience we deliver to ships, planes and government platforms," said John-Paul Hemingway, Chief Executive Officer at SES Networks.

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The four new O3b satellites were successfully launched by an Arianespace Soyuz rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana on 9 March 2018, bringing the total number of MEO satellites in the O3b fleet to 16. Four more O3b satellites are scheduled for launch in H1 2019.

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The next generation of O3b satellites, O3b mPOWER, are scheduled for launch in 2021 and will bring massive scale and flexibility to the proven O3b model. The seven super-powered MEO satellites will have more than 30,000 dynamic, electronically-generated fully-shapeable and steerable beams that can be shifted and switched in real time. It will provide coverage to an area of nearly 400 million square kilometres and will be scalable to multiple terabits of throughput globally.

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