Anomalie de fonctionnement de la fusée Proton

ILS Proton-M launch with Yamal-402 suffers Briz-M anomaly

December 8th, 2012 by Chris Bergin

The Proton’s Briz-M (Breeze-M) Upper Stage suffered an anomaly during its fourth and final burn, deploying the Yamal-402 communications satellite in an area outside of its desired orbit.

The Proton vehicle has a heritage of nearly 400 launches since 1965 and is built by Khrunichev Research and State Production Center, one of the pillars of the global space industry and the majority owner of ILS.

 The Proton M launch vehicle successfully carried out the departure from Earth, prior to the utilization of a four-burn Breeze-M mission design.

The first three stages of the Proton used a standard ascent profile to place the orbital unit (Breeze M upper stage and the Yamal 402 satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. From this point in the mission, the Breeze M performed 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 geostationary transfer orbit.

“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,” noted an ILS release.

“Preliminary flight information indicates that the fourth and final burn of the Breeze M engine ended about four minutes early and subsequently separated the spacecraft.”

The satellite does have its own propulsion systems that may allow it to eventually find an operational orbit.

“Thales Alenia Space is recalculating all the Launch Early Orbit Phase (LEOP) parameters in order to propose the possible recovery plans to Gazprom Space Systems,” added the release.

“A Russian State Commission will begin the process of determining the reasons for the anomaly.
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This was ILS’ third mission since the Proton workhorse returned to flight, following the Russian Federal Telkom-3/Express MD-2 mission failure – also caused by the Briz-M upper stage  - that occurred on August 7.

The Yamal 402 communications satellite – providing it can be rescured from its current situation – is set to operate at 55 degrees east longitude and provide services to Russia, CIS countries, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. It is expected to have a service life of 15 years.

The all Ku-band satellite sports 66 equivalent 36 MHz transponders, which will compose four fixed beams (Russian, Northern, European, Southern) and one steerable beam.

JSC Gazprom Space Systems has ensured the development of the ground infrastructure based on ground stations and technical control means provided by Thales Alenia Space. With the addition of the Yamal 402 JSC Gazprom Space Services will strengthen their position in the global satellite industry.

Overall, this was the eighth ILS Proton launch in 2012, 77th ILS Proton launch, the first for Gazprom Space Systems Satellite launched on ILS Proton, and the eighth Thales Alenia Space Satellite Launched on ILS Proton. One more launch is scheduled for 2012, although this is now likely to be delayed until 2013, pending the time and findings of the investigation boards.