ILS FROB Concludes the Yamal 402 Proton Launch Anomaly Investigation
The International Launch Services (ILS) Failure Review Oversight Board (FROB) concluded its review on February 7, concurring on the most probable root cause and the associated corrective action plan of the December 8, 2012 anomaly of the Yamal 402 Proton launch. The FROB analysed the findings and recommendations of the Russian working group, which included participation from experts from TsNIIMash (Central Scientific Research Institute of Machine Building), M.V. Keldysh Research Centre and Khrunichev State Research and Space Production Centre (Khrunichev). Read more
Investigation into Proton Launch Anomaly Continues as Root Cause is being Evaluted
The Russian Commission, convened by Khrunichev, continues its investigation and is preparing a report concerning the root cause of the December 8th ILS Proton launch anomaly with the Yamal 402 satellite. Various root cause scenarios are being evaluated prior to the issuance of a final conclusive report. The anomaly occurred during the 4th and final burn of the Breeze M engine during a planned 9 hour and 15 minute mission. The 4th burn ended about four minutes early and the spacecraft was subsequently separated. The spacecraft, built by Thales Alenia Space for Russian satellite operator, Gazprom Space Systems, was successfully manoeuvred to its orbital position and has started in-orbit tests. Read more
Thales Alenia Space (Cannes, France), the manufacturer of the Yamal-402 satellite for Gazprom Space Systems, has carried out the fourth and the final manoeuvre to place the satellite into a planned geostationary orbit, Gazprom Space Systems told Interfax-AVN on Saturday. Read more
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center (Khrunichev) and International Launch Services (ILS) regret to announce an anomaly during the launch of the Yamal 402 satellite. The satellite had been built by Thales Alenia Space for Russian satellite operator, Gazprom Space Systems. The Proton Breeze M rocket lifted off at 7:13 p.m. today local time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, carrying the Yamal 402 satellite. Preliminary flight information indicates that the 4th and final burn of the Breeze M engine ended about four minutes early and subsequently separated the spacecraft. Read more
Russian Rocket Fails to Put Satellite in Right Orbit
For the second time in five months, a malfunctioning Russian Proton rocket has failed to place a large communications satellite into the proper orbit. Read more
Russia Fails To Insert Yamal-402 Satellite Into Desired Orbit
Russia has failed to put the Yamal-402 communications satellite in the desired orbit as it separated from the upper stage four minutes prior to the calculated time, Russias Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said on Sunday. Read more
An ILS Proton rocket is scheduled to launch the Yamal 402 communications satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, at 13:13 UT, 8th December, 2012.
Arianespace has been chosen to launch the two communications satellites, Yamal-401 and Yamal-402 within the scope of a contract between Thales Alenia Space and Russian operator Gazprom. The launch contract was signed yesterday in Moscow, following the contract signed by Thales Alenia Space and Gazprom for the in-orbit delivery of the satellites Yamal-401 and Yamal-402.