SES-4 Launch Updates

Launch Success - Proton/Briz deliver SES-4 to Orbit

February 15, 2012

After two lengthy launch delays, the Proton-M Rocket carrying the SES-4 Communications Satellite finally lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, today at 19:36 GMT (2:36pm EST).
The Launch Vehicle blasted off after a nominal countdown which began with the approval of the State Commission that gave a GO for tanking. Fueling of the rocket started about six hours prior to launch. As all systems completed pre-launch checks as expected, teams pressed into final operations to configure the vehicle for liftoff. The Service Structure was retracted and the SES-4 Satellite’s batteries were charged for the long ride to orbit. Liftoff was on time and the three-stage Proton performed normally and delivered the upper portion of the vehicle consisting of the Briz-M Upper Stage and SES-4 to the proper position at which the Briz started controlling the flight. To place SES-4 in its desired Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit, the Upper Stage made several engine burns. All of them were completed successfully. The first burn gave the stack the necessary boost to enter a Low Earth Parking Orbit and the second Burn started a series of apogee raising maneuvers to make the orbit highly elliptical. The third burn began 3 hours and 28 minutes after launch. The burn had a duration of 11 minutes. After Shutdown, a Propellant Tank was jettisoned before the fourth Burn started just two minutes later. Burns 3&4 were completed successfully and APT - Tank Separation was nominal as well. The Vehicle then in its 430 x 35,807-Kilometer Transfer Orbit and in a ~5-hour Coast Phase before the final burn of the Upper Stage and subsequent Spacecraft Separation. 9 Hours and 12 Minutes after liftoff and five Briz-M Burns, the Payload was separated in Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit and SES-4 will be on its own starting its mission on orbit.

Photo: Roscosmos (www.federalspace.ru)

This Launch marked the 373rd launch of a Proton, the 70th Proton Flight operated by International Launch Services and the 20th Launch of an SES Satellite aboard a Proton.
For SES-4, a short period of checkouts and commissioning is on tap over the next several weeks before the Spacecraft can begin nominal operations. Also, it will use its own engines to adjust its orbit and enter its final Geosynchronous Orbit.
For more details on the Mission, refer to the Launch Information section below.

Launch Video

Satellite Information

SES-4 is an international communications satellite that is operated by the SES Company. It will be the 50th satellite in their fleet of Earth Orbiting Satellites. The Payload was designed and built by Space Systems/Loral based on the SS/L 1300 Platform. With a separated mass of 6,180 Kilograms, SES-4 is going to be the largest satellite in the fleet. SES-4 will be located at an orbital position of 338° East replacing the NSS-7 Satellite which is at the end of its life in orbit. The Satellite will provide high powered C-Band Coverage and incremental global capacity. Also, the spacecraft provides Ku-Band coverage for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Western Africa and Latin America. A global beam will support mobile customers and maritime customers. Four high-powered Ku-Band beams with extensive cross-strapping between C- and Ku-band transponders provide connectivity for chosen locations. A total of 52 C-Band transponders and 72 Ku-Band Transponders are installed on SES-4. The vehicle is planned to have a 15-year operational life in orbit.

Proton rolled out again - Undergoing final Launch Preparations

February 13, 2012

The International Launch Services Proton-M Rocket that will launch the SES-4 Communications Satellite has been rolled to the Launch Pad for the third time after it had to be rolled back twice due to technical issues. The first Launch Attempt in December 2011 was postponed due to a problem with the Briz-M Upper Stage. A second Rollback occurred in January when a problem with the first stage of the Proton Booster was discovered when the Vehicle was at the Launch Complex and undergoing nominal pre-launch checks. After Rollback, the faulty component was replaced by technicians. On February 11, the State Commission determined that the vehicle was in proper condition to roll to the pad once again for a launch attempt on February. The Proton Rocket is now set to launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, at 19:36:37 GMT (2:36:37pm EST). The Launch is operated by International Launch Services for the Customer and Satellite Operator SES. In charge of Launch Vehicle Construction and Management is the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center.

Photo: Roscosmos (www.federalspace.ru)

This Proton Launch will be the 70th Proton Launch for International Launch Services and the 20th SES Satellite to be orbited by ILS Proton Rockets.
Countdown operations will be underway tomorrow to prepare the Rocket for its mission and to conduct final checks in order to ensure that all problems have been sorted out.

Launch Information


Time	Event
T-0:00:02.5	Ignition Sequence Start
T-0:00:00.9	Stage 1 Ignition
T-0	LIFTOFF
T+0:01:02.0	Maximum Dynamic Pressure
T+0:02:00.0	Stage 1/2 Separation
T+0:05:27.0	Stage 2/3 Separation
T+0:05:47.0	Payload Fairing Separation
T+0:09:42.0	3rd Stage / Briz-M Separation
T+0:11:36.0	Briz-M First Ignition
	Burn Duration: 4m32s
T+0:16:08.0	Briz-M Shutdown
	Coast Phase
T+1:07:33.0	Briz-M Second Ignition
	Burn Duration: 17m44s
T+3:28:17.0	Briz-M Third Ignition
	Burn Duration: 11m03s
T+3:39:20.0	Briz-M Shutdown
T+3:40:10.0	APT Separation
T+3:41:37.0	Briz-M Fourth Ignition
	Burn Duration: 6m18s
T+3:47:55.0	Briz-M Shutdown
	Coast Phase
T+8:53:20.0	Briz-M Fifth Ignition
	Burn Duration: 5m50s
T+8:59:10.0	Briz-M Shutdown
T+9:12:00.0	Spacecraft Separation

Parking Orbit


Apogee	175km
Perigee	175km
Inclination	51.5°

Intermediate Orbit


Perigee	270km
Apogee	5,000km
Inclination	50.3°

Transfer Orbit


Perigee	430km
Apogee	35,807km
Inclination	49.1°

Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit


Perigee	3,714km
Apogee	35,786km
Inclination	24.6°

Data Source: ILS

Launch delayed for the second Time

January 28, 2012

The Launch of an ILS (International Launch Services) Proton Rocket with the SES-4 Communications Satellite has been delayed for the second time and has been postponed indefinitely.
The first delay occurred on December 26, after the Rocket was rolled out to its launch pad. This problem on the Briz-M Upper Stage caused the vehicle to be rolled back to the processing facility for replacement of the faulty equipment and further testing to evaluate the new components. It was announced that launch would occur in late January. The Upper composite had to be destacked to gain access to the avionics of the Briz-M. In January, the Upper composite was re-assembled and the booster was readied for launch once again. Rollout was performed in the early hours (local time) of Wednesday, January 25, 2012. After being put into its erect launch position, testing started and revealed another problem with the Booster. According to Russian Sources, an unspecified problem on the first stage of the Proton was discovered. It was determined that this issue can not be fixed on the launch pad and required more extensive work to resolve. On January 27, the Rocket was rolled back once again to its processing facility. A new launch date will be announced as repairs progress, but liftoff is now expected to occur no earlier than mid-February.

Photo: Roscosmos/ILS

Satellite Information

ILS