Sea Launch Project
High Spots
Eutelsat 3B Launch
SC EUTELSAT-3B is the communication satellite manufactured by EADS Astrium Company based on Astrium Eurostar E-3000 platform and its actual mass is 5898 kg.
Parameters of the calculated target injection orbit are: Íπ=385.0km, Íα=35636.0km, i=0.00.
The EUTELSAT-3B mission was prepared at the Home Port from February 21 to May 10, 2014.
LV Zenit-2S No SL37 and Block DM-SL ¹36L were used to launch the EUTELSAT-3B SC.
Chronology of activities (Moscow Time)
February 21 - May 10,
2014 |
Home Port activities:
- Block DM-SL ¹36L electropneumatic tests;
- Block DM-SL ¹36L integrated tests under the injection program;
- LV Zenit-2S No SL37 electropneumatic tests;
- LV Zenit-2S No SL37 under the injection program;
- Filling of Block DM-SL No 36L TCS with coolant;
- Filling of Block DM-SL No 36L with kerosene, NT and UDMH and gases;
- Integrated rehearsal No 1 with the off-nominal situation simulation during the processing;
- SC processing activities;
- SC filling;
- Rocket Segment systems and equipment processing;
- Loading propellant components and compressed gases into ships. Kerosine preparation operations;
- ILV assembly and testing;
- ILV reloading from ACS to LP;
- ILV dry roll-out (during dry roll-out when ILV was being installed on the launch pad a discrepancy in the nominal process of LV side plate and cable mast plate movement was found which resulted in mechanical damage to side plate of LV Zenit-2S No SL37. It was decided to stop further dry roll-out operations and conduct activities for ILV evacuation to LP hangar with a subsequent ILV reloading from LP to ACS);
- ILV reloading from LP to ACS;
- ILV disassembly on ACS (PLU unmating from Block DM-SL No 36L, unmating of Block DM-SL No 36L from LV Zenit-2S No SL37);
- Conduct of repair/maintenance work on LV Zenit-2S No SL37 (installation of newly-made load-carrying structure of LV plate, assembly of cables and pneumatic rods checked at manufacturing plant);
- Conduct of repair/maintenance work for spring thrusters of cable mast connectors assembly on LP;
- Recovery of nominal configuration of ground processing equipment to continue the EUTELSAT-3B mission - related activities;
- Repeated tests of Block DM-SL No 36L;
- Performance of shortened cycle of ILV Zenit-3SL assembly and tests;
- Repeated reloading of ILV from ACS to LP;
- Repeated dry roll-out of ILV (with its installation on the launch pad and Critical launch readiness checklist).
Additional activities:
- Conduct of scheduled annual maintenance of Block DM-SL No 37L in the timeframe from March 13 to 25, 2014.
|
May 11 - 23,
2014 |
Launch Platform and Assembly-Command Ship passage to the launch area. Activities in the sea passage phase:
- Integrated rehearsal No 2 with the ONS simulation during the processing;
- Integrated rehearsal No 3 with comprehensive involvement of all the personnel and practically all standard and borrowed launch support and flight tracking facilities;
- Daily parameter control of Block DM-SL;
- Status monitoring and daily maintenance of RS systems during the sea passage.
|
May 23 - 26,
2014. |
Launch site activities:
- Transfer of the Rocket Segment systems and equipment from the state of readiness for the sea passage to the state of readiness for ILV PLP and launch;
- Assessment of oceanographic conditions;
- ILV preparation for roll-out and erection on the launch pad;
- US processing (within ILV);
- Operations for LP LMC transfer to readiness for the sensor data acquisition and transmission during the launch operations;
- Integrated checks of the Upper Stage automated flight control system;
- OSC of processing equipment complex (PEC) and prelaunch processing systems (PLPS) under the control of LP ACC;
- Kerosine preparation for ILV filling;
- Search for the Launch Platform optimal orientation;
- Bringing the Launch Platform in the launch position;
- Bringing the Assembly-Command Ship in the launch position;
- ILV roll-out and erection on the launch pad;
- ILV electrical checks;
- Critical launch readiness checklist;
- SC and PLU launch rehearsal;
- Checks of communication channels;
- Personnels evacuation from LP to ACS;
- PLP, including ILV fueling.
|
| May 27, 2014 |
At 01 hr 09 min 55 sec, Moscow Time, on May 27, 2014 (at 14 hr 09 min 55 sec on May 26, 2014, Pacific Daylight Time) ILV Zenit-3SL No SL37 with EUTELSAT-3B spacecraft was launched. All flight operations were performed normally. EUTELSAT-3B SC was injected in the design target orbit.
|
May 27 - 28,
2014 |
- Bringing the equipment in the initial state after ILV launch;
- Return of the "red team" onboard the LP and the incoming inspection of the Launch Platform;
- Bringing the equipment in the state of readiness to the sea passage.
|
May 28 - June 13,
2014 |
The Launch Platform and the Assembly-Command Ship passage from the launch area to the Home Port. |
LAUNCH RESULTS
Based on TMI data, the EUTELSAT-3B spacecraft has been injected into orbit with the following parameters (the first apogee passage):
Perigee altitude,
km |
Apogee altitude,
km |
Inclination,
deg |
385.0 |
35 649.1 |
0.0 |
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