Posted on March 7, 2013, at 5:36 am .
Technicians work on a fit check for the first Angara launch. (Credit: Khrunichev)
MOSCOW (Khrunichev PR) — The Khrunichev Space Center continues to work on the Angara 1.2ML booster (ML stands for “Maiden Launch”). Last week Khrunichev specialists conducted Angara 1.2ML PLF and Ascent Unit fit check at Space Rocket Plant.
Also completed are the assembly and standalone tests of Stage 2 pneumatic and hydraulic system (PHS).
Electrical checkouts at the Integrated System Test Console (ISTC) will be the final phase of Stage 1 and 2 manufacturing process.
Angara 1.2ML Stage 1 is currently in storage, ready for ISTC testing.
Testing completed, Angara 1.2ML will be shipped to Plesetsk.
Concurrently, work is in full swing at KhSC on the heavy-lift Angara-?5. At this time the PHS assembly is in progress in the tanks and dry bays of the launch vehicle stages.
Posted on January 14, 2013, at 5:30 am .
Buran shuttle and Energia rocket.
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
With America (or, at least its esteemed Congress, gentlemen engineers all) determined to build the heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS) regardless of the cost to the national treasury or the damage done to far more pressing priorities (like getting our astronauts back into orbit on U.S. vehicles), the Russians have begun dusting off old proposals for super boosters of their own.
In this case, the Russian need to emulate the Americans is somewhat less blatant than the follow-the-leader cloning process that resulted Soviet Union’s ill-fated, single flight Buran space shuttle of the 1980′s. However, it does involves much of the same launch vehicle hardware, which should set off plenty of alarm bells right there.
Yes, the Soviet Empire may have died and, with it, the mighty space program that had once sent shudders of fear through the West. But, the individual initiatives of that era continue to live on, although in somewhat altered states and, unfortunately, possessing many of the same problems.
Continue reading ‘Russia Plays Follow the Leader on Heavy-Lift Vehicles’
Posted on December 15, 2012, at 2:02 pm .
Proton rocket
Thales Alenia Space engineers have placed the Yamal-402 communications satellite in its proper geosynchronous orbit after a botched launch by Russia’s Proton launch vehicle.
The recovery effort involved four firings of the satellite’s on-board propulsion system. Media reports indicate that this will reduce the spacecraft’s on-orbit lifetime from 15 to 11 years.
Thales Alenia Space built the Yamal-402 satellite for Gazprom Space Systems.
Meanwhile, an investigation has begun into the failure of the Proton rocket’s Breeze-M upper stage, which stopped firing earlier than planned during its final burn.
Continue reading ‘Errant Satellite Reaches Intended Orbit as Investigation Begins’
Posted on December 9, 2012, at 5:26 pm .
Proton rocket
BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan (ILS/Khrunichev PR) -– 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.
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.
Continue reading ‘Russian Satellite Launch Goes Awry, Recovering Likely’
Posted on December 8, 2012, at 5:44 am .
Multifunctional Laboratory Module (Credit: Khrunichev)
MOSCOW (Khunichev/Roscosmos PR) — Khrunichev has completed the fabrication and assembly of the flight product multifunctional Laboratory Module (MLM) for the International Space Station (ISS).
During the night of December 6-7, the module was sent to the RSC Energia for further electrical testing of the on-board systems.
The MLM provides the following functions for the Russian segment of the ISS:
- Provide docking ports for transport ships and research units (transport manned spacecraft “Soyuz-TMA” and cargo spacecraft “Progress M” and their modifications) and research modules in automatic mode or in manual docking;
- Transit fuel THC “Progress” in the tanks of the SM and FGB;
- Management of ISS via bank with its engine;
- Provision of storage capacity;
- Maintain partial life-support functions;
- Organize the European arm and its functioning;
- Placement and operation of scientific equipment.
Khrunichev is responsible for MLM’s hull, propulsion, thermal control system and fire detection and suppression system. Khrunichev will launch the module aboard its Proton rocket.
Posted on December 2, 2012, at 4:46 pm .
ILS, the U.S.-based company that markets Khrunichev’s Proton launch vehicle, has charged that former Chief Technical Officer (CTO) bilked the company by funneling funds meant for safety analysis work through two fictitious companies he co-owned with an accomplice.
Reston, Va.-based ILS is further alleging that the actions of the former employee, James M. Bonner, violated the U.S. Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a federal law commonly used to prosecute organized crime.
In documents submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, ILS says Bonner, who was fired in August, conspired with a friend, Thomas J. Dwyer, to create two fictitious companies that billed ILS for safety-related analysis.
Continue reading ‘ILS Alleges Former CTO Defrauded Company With Shell Companies’
Posted on November 29, 2012, at 10:21 am .
KSLV-1 first stage booster. (Credit: Khrunichev)
South Korea once again aborted the planned launch of the KSLV-1 rocket due to a problem with the domestically-built upper stage, according to media reports. This will likely delay the launch into next year.
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) said that it will determine the next launch date after a thorough inspection of the KSLV-1, but it is unlikely that the liftoff will take place this year as the current launch deadline is scheduled to end on Dec. 5. Engineers say it will take at least four to five days to figure out what went wrong and fix it.
Continue reading ‘KSLV-1 Launch Scrubbed’
Posted on November 19, 2012, at 5:10 pm .
KSLV-1 first stage booster. (Credit: Khrunichev)
South Korea could attempt a launch of the delayed Naro-1 (KSLV-1) rocket on November 29 after a replacement part for the launch vehicle’s Russian supplied first stage was delivered to the Naro Launch Center, ITAR-TASS reports.
The replacement part, which is a rubber seal in the connector between the Russian-build first-stage rocket of Naro-1 and the launch pad, was delivered to South Korea on Saturday and is already at the Naro space complex in the south of the Korean Peninsula (480 km south of Seoul).
Engineers later confirmed the damage to the seal had been caused by what they called a “gap” between the seal and the connector’s steel component, forcing them to replace not only the damaged seal, but also the defective part of the connector.
Engineers will replace the defective part and within several days will complete the check of the rocket’s systems.
The damaged seal forced officials to scrub a planned launch on Oct. 26. The first stage is built by the Russian company Khrunichev.
This is the third and final attempt to launch the rocket, which is fitted with a South Korean-built second stage and a research satellite. The first two launch attempts failed.
Read the full story.
Posted on September 13, 2012, at 1:27 pm .
Proton rocket
Wednesday, September 12, 2012 (ILS PR) — The Failure Review Oversight Board (FROB) concluded the review of the Russian State Commission report on September 11 concerning the root cause of the Russian Federal Telkom-3/Express MD-2 mission failure which occurred on August 7.
The FROB agreed with the Russian State Commission that the root cause of the failure was due to a component of the pressurization system that was not manufactured to specifications. This caused a shutdown of the Breeze M Main engine by the Breeze M flight control system 7 seconds into the planned 18 minute and 5 second 3rd burn.
The corrective action plan for all Breeze M upper stages that was established by the Russian State Commission and Khrunichev State Research and Space Production Center (KhSC) was also approved by the FROB. This includes stringent quality oversight of all rework procedures, testing, support equipment, and personnel, both at the KhSC production facilities and in Baikonur. In addition, ILS and KhSC will develop specific initiatives to enhance the unified Quality Management System (QMS) that is installed and operating at all KhSC production facilities.
Continue reading ‘Failure Board Identifies Cause of Proton Launch Failure’
Posted on September 7, 2012, at 6:32 am .
MOSCOW (Khrunichev PR) — Head of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) has appointed, by his Executive Order, Vasily Nikolaevich Sychyov Executive General Director, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, the appointment to remain valid until General Director is appointed in accordance with the applicable procedure.
Vladimir Evgenievich Nesterov was relieved of his duties as Khrunichev General Director by the Presidential Edict of 31 August. New General Director will be appointed based on the results of the vacancy competition to be announced by Roscosmos.
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