Launch News (Failure) Phobos-Grunt and YingHuo-1 atop Zenit-2 on November 8/9, 2011

[SiberianTiger]

The service train has departed...

 

[Alfastar]

My heart rate go,s higher and higher, unit now every thing go,s good

 

[SiberianTiger]

T-1!

 

[anemazoso]

Launched looked great! How is the second stage going?

 

[Codz]

Perfect takeoff so far!

 

[N_Molson]

Normalno, normalny, normalnya, seems good :thumbup:

 

[SiberianTiger]

T+690!

There's second stage shutdown and spacecraft separation!

Phobos-Grunt is in the parking orbit! :thumbup:

 

[N_Molson]

Good thing, but the trip isn't over yet

 

[Napalm42]

Does that mean Hail Probe now has an actual probe to hail?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Russia is on its way to Mars once again! Congratulations! :thumbup:

 

[orb]

Replay of the launch

SPACE.com: Russia Launches Spacecraft to Grab Pieces of Mars' Moon Phobos

RIA Novosti: Russia launches probe to Mars moon

 

[N_Molson]

Next step : "heavy" Fregat (or MDU) ignition in roughly 2 hours.

T+02:39:45 MDU First Ignition
The spacecraft's main propulsion unit, or MDU, ignites at 2255 GMT (5:55 p.m. EST) for a burn lasting nine-and-a-half minutes to raise the apogee, or high point, of its orbit to an altitude of more than 2,500 miles.

T+02:48:15 MDU First Shutdown
The hydrazine-fueled MDU shuts down at 2305 GMT (6:05 p.m. EST) after reaching a higher orbit.

T+02:50:14 Jettison Tanks
Auxiliary propellant tanks are jettisoned from the Phobos-Grunt propulsion unit.

T+04:46:45 MDU Second Ignition
After coasting through space for two hours, Phobos-Grunt's MDU ignites again at 0102 GMT Wednesday (8:02 p.m. EST Tuesday) to accelerate the spacecraft on an escape trajectory toward Mars.

T+05:04:07 MDU Second Shutdown
Phobos-Grunt reaches an interplanetary trajectory at 0120 GMT Wednesday (8:20 p.m. EST Tuesday) following the second burn of the main propulsion unit. The probe will reach orbit at Mars in October 2012.

 

[SiberianTiger]

The parking orbit according to the pre-published TLE...

 

[SiberianTiger]

Does that mean Hail Probe now has an actual probe to hail?

No, you shall not make for yourself an idol! :lol:

 

[N_Molson]

No, you shall not make for yourself an idol! :lol:

Unless you're an orthodox probe follower :lol:. In which case don't forget you have 2 manifestations of the Probe to hail !

 

[SiberianTiger]

I meant the True Probe should not be confused with its holy retinue.

 

[SiberianTiger]

No new information, just a confirmation of a successful initial orbit:
http://ria.ru/science/20111109/484313095.html

 

[N_Molson]

Come on Fregat-MT, blast off to Mars, we don't want another Kosmos-XYZ !

 

[SiberianTiger]

There's an information that some navgation camera aboard the F-G will be used to take footage of the propulsion stage action during boost phases.

PS: sadly, I must go to bed. Happy watching the mission!

 

[Codz]

There's an information that some navgation camera aboard the F-G will be used to take footage of the propulsion stage action during boost phases.

PS: sadly, I must go to bed. Happy watching the mission!

Thanks for all the helpful updates.