* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Arabsat4A

Blobrana · L

T minus 5 minutes

All systems are nominal

Target Orbit at Separation:
Apogee: 35,786 km (22,236 miles)
Perigee: 3,150 km (1,957 miles)
Inclination: 14.2 degrees

Spacecraft Separation: Approximately 4 hours after liftoff

Blobrana · L

Weather conditions are cold but within rocket operational range.
Conditions are good

Blobrana · L

T minus 15 minutes

All systems nominal

ARABSAT 4A, a Eurostar 2000+ satellite, is designed to expand and optimise capacity for direct-to-home TV broadcasting, telephony and data transmission over a coverage zone encompassing North Africa, the Middle East and part of Western Europe.

Blobrana · L

T minus 20 minutes

Live streaming broadcast (windows media player)

Blobrana · L

Arabsat4A launch

Blobrana · L

RE: Arabsat4A

Blobrana · L

According to the Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos the preparations for the launch of the Arabsat-4A communication satellite by a Russian rocket were nearing the end.

The Proton vehicle with the Breeze M upper stage, carrying the satellite, set for lift off at 20:10 GMT on February 28, (2:10 a.m. on 1 March Baikonur time), has been transferred to a launch pad of the Baikonur space centre in the central asian republic of Kazakhstan.

Arabsat 4A is the first of two spacecraft built by EADS Astrium for Arabsat, the communications satellite operator based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Blobrana · L

The Proton launch vehicle will inject the ARABSAT 4A satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit, using a four-burn Breeze M mission design at 20:10 Feb. 28 GMT, from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan Launch Pad 39.
The first three stages of the Proton will use a standard ascent trajectory to place the Breeze M fourth stage, with the satellite, into a suborbital trajectory, from which the Breeze M will place itself and the spacecraft into a circular parking orbit of 173 km, inclined at 51.5 degrees. Then the satellite will be propelled to its transfer orbit by additional burns of the Breeze M. Following separation from the Breeze M, the spacecraft will perform a series of liquid apogee engine burns to raise perigee, lower inclination and circularise the orbit at the geostationary altitude of 35,786 km.

The Multipurpose communications satellite serving Arab countries and neighbouring regions will be positioned at 26 degrees East longitude and have an anticipated service life of 15 years.

Blobrana · L

The launch of the Proton-M Russian carrier rocket with the Arab communications satellite ArabSat 4A has been scheduled for February 28 at 8:10 p.m. GMT at the Baikonur Space Centre.

A Briz-M booster was delivered to Baikonur, which Russia leases from Kazakhstan on Monday.

"Work to prepare the booster starts February 7" - Russian Federal Space Agency.

Foreign experts are expected to finish the preparation of the Arabsat 4A this week.
The Arab Satellite Communications Organization was established in 1976 by member-states of the Arab League to serve the telecommunication, information, culture and education sectors.