Russian Rocket Launches New Communications Satellite

by Stephen Clark

Date: 03 April 2009 Time: 04:10 PM ET

A Proton rocket blasted off from Kazakhstan Friday, beginning a more than nine-hour mission to deposit a versatile European communications satellite into a high-altitude geosynchronous transfer orbit.

The 191-foot-tall rocket left the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 1624 GMT (12:24 p.m. EDT), turning northeast from the launch pad and tearing through the night sky on the power of six first stage RD-276 engines.

Eutelsat's W2A spacecraft is bolted atop the rocket, beginning a mission to deliver a variety of communications services to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and parts of South America and India.

The Proton dropped the first stage about two minutes after liftoff, giving way to the booster's second stage for a burn lasting about three-and-a-half minutes.

The third stage ignited and jettisoned the second stage five-and-a-half minutes into the mission. The Proton next released the payload fairing, which protected the W2A satellite during the first few minutes of the flight.

After emptying its fuel tanks, the third stage main engine shut down and separated from the Breeze M upper stage nine-and-a-half minutes after launch.

The Breeze M stage, fueled by an explosive mix of hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellants, took over the launch and ignited for its first burn 11 minutes and 39 seconds after liftoff.

The burn injected the stage and the 13,000-pound W2A spacecraft into a temporary low-altitude parking orbit, according to International Launch Services, the U.S.-based firm that markets the Proton rocket to commercial customers.

The Breeze M will fire four more times to gradually raise its altitude and reduce its orbital inclination.

Plans call for the rocket to reach an orbit with a high point of 22,118 miles and a low point of 3,113 miles. The targeted inclination is 20.7 degrees, according to ILS.

Spacecraft separation is scheduled at 0134 GMT Saturday (9:34 p.m. EDT Friday), ending the launch phase of W2A's anticipated 15-year mission.

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