Proton launches Intelsat 31
Posted: Sun, Jun 12, 2016, 1:06 PM ET (1706 GMT)
A Proton rocket successfully placed an Intelsat satellite into orbit Thursday despite an issue with the rocket. The Proton's Breeze-M upper stage released the Intelsat 31 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit late Thursday, more than 15 hours after a 3:10 am EDT (0710 GMT) liftoff from Baikonur. However, during the launch one lower stage engine shut down prematurely, causing it to underperform, although the Breeze-M was able to compensate during its series of burns. The launch was the first for the latest upgrade to the Proton, incorporating lighter-weight, but stronger, metallic structures and high-precision tooling that gives the vehicle an additional 150 kilograms of payload capacity for geostationary orbit missions. The satellite will be used to provide direct-to-home TV services for DIRECTV Latin America.
A Proton rocket successfully placed an Intelsat satellite into orbit Thursday despite an issue with the rocket. The Proton's Breeze-M upper stage released the Intelsat 31 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit late Thursday, more than 15 hours after a 3:10 am EDT (0710 GMT) liftoff from Baikonur. However, during the launch one lower stage engine shut down prematurely, causing it to underperform, although the Breeze-M was able to compensate during its series of burns. The launch was the first for the latest upgrade to the Proton, incorporating lighter-weight, but stronger, metallic structures and high-precision tooling that gives the vehicle an additional 150 kilograms of payload capacity for geostationary orbit missions. The satellite will be used to provide direct-to-home TV services for DIRECTV Latin America.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, September 11
The grief of a fandom: on Starship, Musk and losing the spark
Space News — 5:48 am ET (0948 GMT) Musk confident Starship will start launching 100 tons to orbit next year
Space News — 5:48 am ET (0948 GMT) Japan’s IHI expands constellation plans with SatVu thermal imaging partnership
Space News — 5:48 am ET (0948 GMT) How is the Space Force doing on getting the resources it needs?
Space News — 5:47 am ET (0947 GMT) SpaceX launches 21 satellites for Space Development Agency ‘Transport Layer’ military network
Space News — 5:47 am ET (0947 GMT) |
