Launch News Senary Globalstar-2 atop Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat on July 12/13, 2011

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The next Arianespace/Starsem Soyuz launch with Globalstar’s second-generation satellites is on schedule for a July 13 liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, as all six spacecraft have been fueled and integrated on their dispenser system.

This will be the second such mission conducted for Arianespace by its Starsem affiliate, and is to be followed by two more flights before year-end.

The second-generation Globalstar satellites were built by Thales Alenia Space and are trapezoidal in shape to allow their installation on the Soyuz’ conical-shaped dispenser.

Globalstar has contracted with Arianespace to conduct a series of four Soyuz launches, each of which will carry six of the second-generation satellites for a total of 24 spacecraft.

Once this new constellation is fully deployed, it will support Globalstar’s mobile satellite voice and data services for commercial and government customers in more than 120 countries.

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Launch location:

Baikonur Launch pad no. 31/6 45°59'46.16"N, 63°33'51.29"E

Launch dates and times:

Notice: The launch has been postponed for 1 day from July 11th to July 12th due to technical problems.

[table="head"]{colsp=5}Launch times
Time Zone|Australia - Sydney/AEST|Baikonur (UTC+6)|Moscow / MSKS (UTC+4)/|Universal / UTC|Washington / EDT

Launch time:|12:27:00 p.m.|8:27:00|6:27:00|2:27:00|10:27:00 p.m.

on:|July 13, 2011|July 13, 2011|July 13, 2011|July 13, 2011|July 12, 2011

{colsp=5}[highlight][eventTimer]2011-07-13 02:27:00?before|after;%dd% Days %hh% Hours %mm% Minutes %ss% Seconds %c%[/eventTimer] Senary Globalstar-2 Launch[/highlight][/table]

Live Coverage Of The Launch:

TSENKI video streams (Russian + English)
http://www.tsenki.com/broadcast/broadcast/

Arianespace Webcast
http://www.videocorner.tv/index.htm

Launch Press Kit:
http://www.arianespace.com/images/launch-kits/launch-kit-pdf-eng/Globalstar2-press-kit-GB.pdf

PAYLOAD


Six Globalstar-2 satellites.

Spacecraft Overview

The new Globalstar second-generation low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite is a three-axis stabilized spacecraft consisting of a trapezoidal main body with two solar arrays. In 2006 Globalstar contracted Thales Alenia Space for the design, manufacture and delivery of its second-generation constellation satellites. The first six satellites being launched were delivered to Globalstar in August of this year.

The new Globalstar spacecraft has a design life of 15 years or twice the design life of the first-generation Globalstar satellite. To help ensure the reliability of the design life, the second–generation robust architecture has placed particular emphasis on redundancy management and the radiation environment of the Globalstar operational orbit. In addition, each functional chain of the spacecraft was carefully analyzed for implementation of redundancies and tolerances to minimize single point failures.

Each second-generation Globalstar satellite weighs approximately 700 kg, offers power of 2.4 kW, is fitted with 16 transponders from C-to S-band, and 16 receivers from L- to C-band. The satellite's trapezoidal body is fabricated from rigid aluminum honeycomb panels. The trapezoidal shape was selected to conserve volume and to allow the mounting of multiple satellites under the launch vehicle's payload fairing.

The satellite operates in a body-stabilized, three-axis attitude control mode and uses sun sensors, Earth sensors, and a magnetic sensor to help maintain attitude. The satellite utilizes thrusters for orbit-raising, station-keeping maneuvers and attitude control. The spacecraft's thrusters are fueled from a single on-board propellant tank.

The two solar arrays provide the primary source of power for the Globalstar spacecraft, while batteries are used during eclipses and peak traffic periods. The solar panels automatically track the sun as the satellite orbits the Earth, providing maximum possible exposure to the sun's energy.

The heart of a Globalstar satellite is its communications systems. These systems are mounted on the Earth deck, which is the larger of the two rectangular faces on the satellite's body. There are C-band antennas for communications with Globalstar gateways, and L- and S-band antennas for communications with user terminals. Designed with the same frequencies and beam patterns which are compatible with existing gateway antenna and ground infrastructure, each second-generation satellite can be mixed seamlessly with Globalstar’s first-generation satellite operations.

Four launches of six satellites each will be conducted by Arianespace using the highly reliable Soyuz launch vehicle. The Soyuz has been used to successfully launch Globalstar satellites on nine previous occasions. Once the first six new Globalstar satellites are in operational orbit, the most immediate service improvement will benefit those customers who use the Company’s voice and Duplex data services. With each subsequent launch, these customers can expect a progressive return to the high reliability and service quality enjoyed before 2007.

The second-generation satellites are designed to support Globalstar’s current lineup of voice, Duplex and Simplex data products and services including the Company’s lineup of SPOT retail consumer products. Once the Company’s next-generation ground network is installed, the advanced constellation will also provide Globalstar customers with enhanced future services featuring increased data speeds of up to 256 kbps in a flexible Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) configuration. Products and services supported are expected to include: push-to-talk and multicasting, advanced messaging capabilities such as multimedia messaging or MMS, geo-location services, multi-band and multi-mode handsets, and data devices with GPS integration.

The payloads are built in Toulouse; the thermal subsystems and structures in Cannes; part of the side panels in Turin; several payload electronics units are developed and manufactured in L’Aquila and Madrid, which also produces passive microwave devices; the L-band antennas are produced in Rome and the onboard computer (OBPE) and part of the GPS receiver in Milan. Thales Alenia Space is also responsible for launch support services.

[table="head"]Characteristics|
Globalstar-2

Picture:​
|
globalstar-2__1.jpg


Customer:​
|
  • Globalstar Inc.
    logo.png

Prime contractor:​
|
  • Thales Alenia Space
    LogoThalesAleniaSpace400.gif

Mass at Separation:​
|
  • 693 kg

Stabilization:​
|
  • 3 axis stabilized

Dimensions:​
|
  • ?

Batteries:​
|
  • 1.7 kW at the end of service

Life time:​
|
  • 15 years

Transponders:​
|
  • 32

Bands:​
|
  • L-, S-, C-

Body:​
|
  • Aluminium frame, honeycomb panels

Propulsion:​
|
  • Single propellant engine (Hydrazine, 154 kg), with variable thrust (4:1), 4 RCS engines 1 N thrust each, Magnetic momentum engines.

Computers:​
|
  • ERC-32SC 32-bit RICS processor, 14 MIPS microprocessors, Memory: SRAM 512 kb, EEPROM 128 kb

LEO Navigation:​
|
  • Using GPS.


[/table]

Launch Vehicle:

[table="head"]{colsp=2}Characteristics

S-2.jpg
|[table="head"]{colsp=2}
Soyuz-2.1a

Prime contractor:​
|
  • Samara Space Sentre (Energia Holding enterprise)
    22460-1-.gif

GRAU Index:​
|
  • 14A14

Height:​
| 51.1 m

Diameter:​
| max 10.3 m

Liftoff mass:​
| 313 metric tonnes

Payload mass:​
| up to 6830 kg (a launch to LEO from Plesetsk)

1st stage (boosters B, V, G, D):​
|
  • 4 X RD-107 engines
  • Propellants (T-1 Kerosene and LOX)
  • Thrust/ISP in vacuum - / 320.2 s
  • Thrust/ISP at sea level 85.6 tonnes / 263.3 s

2nd stage (core A):​
|
  • 1 X RD-108 engine
  • Propellants (T-1 Kerosene and LOX)
  • Thrust/ISP in vacuum 94 tonnes / 320.6 s
  • Thrust/ISP at sea level 80.8 tonnes / 257.7 s

3rd stage (block I):​
|
  • 1 X RD-0110 engine
  • Propellants (T-1 Kerosene and LOX)
  • Thrust/ISP in vacuum 30.38 tonnes / 326 s

Upper Stage:​
|
fregat002.jpg

  • GRAU Index: -
  • Common Name: Fregat (meaning Frigate)
  • Designer & Manufacturer: Lavochkin Association (NPO)
  • Dimensions: Length 2.4 m, Diameter (max) 3.350 m
  • Empty Mass 930 kg
  • Propellants 5250 kg max

  • Main Engine: 1 X S5.92
  • Thrust in vacuum 2.0 tonnes of force (full power)
  • Thrust in vacuum 1.4 tonnes of force (small power)
  • ISP 333.2 s

Payload Fairing:​
|
  • Diameter 3.7 m
  • Length 7.7 m

[/table]
[/table]


Launch Profile

(NOT VALID, to be updated for Jul 13th)

[TABLE="head"]Time MSK|Time UTC|Event|Orbit reached
06:43:00|02:43:00|Launch|-
06:51:49|02:51:49|Upper composite separation|Suborbital trajectory 51.7°, 207.2 / -1009.7 km, T=76.5 min
06:52:49|02:52:49|230 s Fregat Burn|Transfer orbit 51.7°, 215.6 / 937.9 km, T=95.85 min
07:46:35|03:46:35|77 s Fregat Burn|Target orbit 51.99°, 920.6 / 933.1 км, T=103.35 min
08:21:40|04:21:40|First two satellites released|-
08:23:20|04:23:20|Next four satellites released|-
10:14:45|06:14:45|36 s Fregat Burn|Deposit orbit
[/TABLE]

Weather forecast for Baikonur, Kazakhstan for July 12, 2011 (9 a.m.)

Time|Temps|Wind Chill|Heat Index|UV Index|Dew Point|Relative Humidity|Precip|Snow|Clouds|Visibility|Wind|Weather
9 AM|+30°C|+30°C|+31°C|3 Moderate|+18°C|49%|0%|0%|14%|16KM|W 2.24 m/s|
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Sunny

Sunrise/Sunset and associated twilight times for Baikonur on Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Times are local.
Event|Time
Astronomical twilight begins|3:39
Nautical twilight begins|4:42
Civil twilight begins|5:31
Sunrise|6:06
Transit (sun is at its highest)|13:52
Sunset|21:37
Civil twilight ends|22:12
Nautical twilight ends|23:01
Astronomical twilight ends|0:04

Source References
http://www.starsem.com
http://www.globalstar.com
http://www.thalesgroup.com
http://www.federalspace.ru
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru
http://www.tvroscosmos.ru
http://www.tsenki.com
http://www.spacelaunchreport.com
http://www.intellicast.com/Local/Forecast.aspx
http://www.good-stuff.co.uk/suntimes/sunmap.php
 
Last edited:
Launch preparations history in pics

March, 15: Arrival of the six satellites at Baikonur

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Globalstar-2_004.JPG


April, 3

"The six Globalstar second-generation satellites to be orbited by Arianespace’s next Soyuz mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome are well advanced in their preparations as activities continue for the liftoff during May."

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On April 7th, a news message came that due to malfunctions found in 4 of the 6 satellites, the affected sats would be returned to the factory for repairs and the launch got to be postponed till summer.

On May 6th, an explanations from Thales was published:

http://www.spacenews.com/satellite_telecom/110506-globalstar-resets-launch-campaign.html

Fri, 6 May, 2011
Globalstar Resets Launch Campaign as Financing, Regulatory Deadlines Loom
By Peter B. de Selding

PARIS — Mobile communications satellite operator Globalstar on May 5 sought to reassure investors that a component failure aboard one of the six identical satellites launched last October will not recur on the other spacecraft and that the launch of the next 18 satellites should proceed starting in July.

But the company conceded it was facing deadlines to finance the ground segment planned to permit the spacecraft to work to full advantage, and other time limits on securing a permanent U.S. license to operate its second-generation constellation.

Globalstar Chairman Jay Monroe said in a May 5 interview that the company scrapped a planned May launch of a second batch of six second-generation satellites following the in-orbit failure of a momentum wheel on a satellite launched in October.

Momentum wheels maintain a satellite in stable position in orbit. Each 700-kilogram Globalstar second-generation spacecraft is equipped with four momentum wheels, but needs only three to function.

Monroe said the satellite in question is working well. After several weeks spent checking the manufacturing and testing history on the momentum wheels built for all 24 second-generation Globalstar spacecraft, the company has concluded that the defect is limited to the single wheel.

“We have identified what we think the problem is and it relates to assembly and testing. The problem is understood and at the moment we do not believe we will have issues on other satellites,” Monroe said. He said the suspect assembly and testing procedures were used on other momentum wheels, but that as chance would have it, all the others are still on the ground awaiting launch.

June 28, successful mating of the satellies to adapter, and everything together to Fregat:

IMG_1671.JPG


IMG_1688.JPG


IMG_1710.JPG


ST23-lg.jpg


July 1, Rocket integration

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July 8, Rolling out and erection

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Video:

 
Launch was aborted, right before ignition. Delayed for at least a day.
 
Well, thats a shame, lets hope for good luck Tuesday.

N.
 
Arianespace - Starsem Lancement ST 23
Soyuz-Fregat - Globalstar-2
Report de 24 heures

A la suite du dysfonctionnement d’un équipement du pas de tir Soyuz dans les dernières secondes de la chronologie finale du lancement Arianespace-Starsem ST 23, le lancement est reporté de 24 heures.

Le lanceur et les six satellites de la constellation Globalstar-2 ont été mis en attente et en conditions de sécurité maximales.

Une nouvelle tentative de lancement aura lieu le mardi 12 juillet à 08 heures 43, heure de Baikonur (02 heures 43, Temps Universel).



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Arianespace-Starsem Flight ST 23
Soyuz-Fregat – Globalstar-2
Launch postponed 24 hours

Baikonur, 11 July 2011 – Due to a malfunction of an equipment on the Soyuz launch pad during the last seconds of the Arianespace-Starsem ST-23 launch chronology, the launch has been postponed for 24 hours.

The launch vehicle and the six satellites of the Globalstar-2 constellation have been placed in stand-by mode and maintained in fully safe conditions.

A new launch attempt is slated for Tuesday, July 12 at 08:43 am Baikonur time (02:43 am UTC).
 
A failure with the LC31 ? :blink: This doesn't happen often...
 
I am holding a $2500 Thales F.L.I.R. Electronic circuit board in my hands as we speak at my work where.......we build them for Thales :cool:
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Arianespace : new launch date : 13 July 2:27am UTC

The launch is now scheduled for Wednesday, July 13

Baikonur, 12 July 2011

In order to complete the Soyuz launch system’s reconfiguration to a launch-ready mode, the Arianespace-Starsem ST-23 launch has again been postponed.

The mission is now slated for liftoff on Wednesday, July 13 at 8:27 a.m., local time at Baikonur Cosmodrome (2:27 a.m. UTC).
 
T-11 minutes and counting!

---------- Post added at 10:29 ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 ----------

Good launch! Now at T+3:30. The boosters have separated.

---------- Post added at 12:29 ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 ----------

S/C sep successful! Congratulations to all parties involved! :cheers:
 
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