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Preparations for the XM-Radio-4 mission started in September 2006.
The launch is aimed at bringing up a 5.193 t spacecraft to a GEO transfer target orbit with an inclination of 0°, estimated perigee altitude of 1239 km and apogee altitude of 36057 km.
This is the fourth spacecraft of this series, three previous satellites were launched by the Sea Launch Complex in March 2001, May 2001 and February 2005.
The spacecraft provides a digital wire broadcasting over the US and Canada.
Getting readied for the XM-Radio-4 launch were the launch vehicle Zenit-2S šSL22 and upper stage DM-SL š24L. Preprocessed as "donors" were the launch vehicle Zenit-2S šSL24.
CHRONOLOGY OF ACTIVITIES
September 2 October 11, 2006 |
Home Port activities:
- Tests on LV Zenit-2S šSL22;
- Work on LV Zenit-2S šSL24 (donor);
- Tests, filling the upper stage DM-SL š24L with
high-boiling propellants;
- The spacecraft processing;
- Integrated rehearsal #1 with simulations of processing
contingencies;
- ILV integration and tests;
- ILV "dry roll-out" (installation on the launch
pad and critical launch readiness checklist);
- Loading propellant components and compressed gases
onto the vessels.
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October 12-24, 2006
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Sea transit of the launch platform and the assembly
and command ship to the launch site. Activities during
sea transit:
- Integrated rehearsal #2;
- Integrated rehearsal #3 with comprehensive involvement
of all the personnel and virtually all the standard
and borrowed launch support and tracking assets.
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| October 24-29, 2006 |
Launch site activities:
- Getting rocket segment systems ready for the launch
site activities;
- ILV processing;
- Launch measurement system activities;
- Integrated tests of the upper stage automated flight
control system;
- Preparing ILV for the roll-out;
- Bringing the launch platform into the launch position;
- Bringing the assembly and command ship into the
launch position;
- ILV roll-out and erection on the launch pad;
- ILV electrical checkout;
- Critical launch readiness checklist;
- Operations with SC and PLU after performing protective
operations on the ILV;
- Testing communications links;
- On October 26 during the automatic prelaunch processing operations 1 min 59 sec before the lift-off, the launch was automatically cancelled on the basis of "Failed automatic mating of filling lines at the prescribed time";
- Brining ILV into a safe condition, propellant drain in the launch platform tanks;
- Analyzing causes of off-nominal situation, replacing faulty oxidizer filling valve;
- Brining the Complex systems into initial conditions;
- Repeating operations at L-3 and L-2 days.
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| October 30, 2006 |
At 15 hours 49 minutes Pacific Time (on October 31 at 2 hours 49 min Moscow Time) ILV Zenit-3SL šSL22 carrying XM Radio-4 spacecraft was launched.
All the flight operations have been completed normally with minimal deviations
from the schedule. The spacecraft has been put into its target orbit.
After completing final operations, the vessels set
out for the Home Port. |
LAUNCH RESULTS
The XM Radio-4 spacecraft has been injected
into the calculated orbit:
Perigee altitude,
km |
Apogee
altitude,
km |
Inclination,
deg. |
1239 |
36059 |
0 |
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