21:03 GMT (4:03 pm EST): End of the Breeze M first burn. The ASTRA 1M – Breeze M combination is now in a parking orbit. Four more burns of the Breeze M are now required until satellite separation in 8 hours and 53 minutes.
20:56 GMT (3:56 pm EST): First firing of the Breeze M upper stage.
20:54 GMT (3:54 pm EST): Successful shutdown of the third stage. The primary launch phase of the Proton is concluded. The satellite is now in a suborbital trajectory together with the Breeze M fourth stage, that will fire several times over the next 9 hours to achieve the correct orbit.
20:50 GMT (3:50 pm EST): The payload fairing has been jettisoned.
20:49 GMT (3:49 pm EST): Shutdown of the second stage and ignition of the third stage after 332 seconds of flight.
20:46 GMT (3:46 pm EST): First stage shutdown and stage separation. Successful ignition of the second stage. The rocket passed 40 kilometers altitude.
20:45 GMT (3:45 pm EST): The Proton passed the maximum dynamic pressure, Max-Q.
20:44 GMT (3:44 pm EST): Liftoff of the Proton M rocket with the ASTRA 1M satellite.
20:43 GMT (3:43 pm EST): One minute until launch. The main engines will be ignited 2.5 seconds before liftoff to ensure proper operation.
20:39 GMT (3:39 pm EST): 5 minutes remaining on the countdown. Start of the synchronized launch sequence. Launch control is switched to computers and power is transferring to internal sources.
20:34 GMT (3:34 pm EST): 10 minutes until launch. Everything looks good so far.
15:44 GMT (10:44 am EST): We are 5 hours away from the launch of the telecommunications satellite ASTRA 1M on an International Launch Services’ Proton M rocket from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The final countdown activities commenced.
7:44 GMT (2:44 a.m. EST): 13 hours until the launch of ASTRA 1M. We will provide you with a live coverage during the launch countdown and launch.
November 5, 2008
November 4, 2008: The Proton M rocket stands ready on the launch pad for the launch. It will be the fifth flight for ILS in 2008.
Background:
The Proton M launch vehicle, utilizing a 5-burn Breeze M mission design, will lift off from Pad 39 at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, with the ASTRA 1M satellite on board. The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the ASTRA 1M satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M will perform planned mission maneuvers to advance the orbital unit first to a circular parking orbit, then to an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Separation of the ASTRA 1M satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours, 12 minutes after liftoff.
ASTRA 1M is a telecommunications satellite for SES ASTRA, Luxembourg. It is manufactured by EADS Astrium based on the Eurostar E3000 bus. It weighs approximately 5,320 kilograms at liftoff and will deliver various telecommunications services for at least 15 years. It has 36 transponders covering the FSS and BSS frequency bands.
The liftoff is scheduled for 20:44 GMT (3:44 pm EST) on November 5, 2008.
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