The Intelsat 18 satellite completed fueling operations on September 19, 2011 here in at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Everything went as planned and we are on schedule with our October 4 launch.
The satellite is transferred from the satellite test processing facility, where it was examined to ensure there were no issues after it left the Orbital factory. It then went to the hazardous processing facility via a rail system. Here in Baikonur, all transfers are done with rail cars and locomotives. This legacy system, from the Soviet times, is the preferred method for transferring rockets and satellites between facilities. Every processing facility in Baikonur has indoor rails that allow the space products to be parked right into the building.
In the first picture, you see the green locomotive, the blue thermal car (provides clean, conditioned air to the satellite container) and the grey satellite container in the background. This container, known as the interfaculty trailer provides environmental protection as the satellite is moved from the testing facility to the fueling facility.
In the second picture, the satellite is being lowered onto a stand inside a tented facility to begin fueling operations. The room is specifically designed to accommodate fueling of the satellite, which is an extremely hazardous operation.
Personnel will don environmental suits with an external air supply, as shown in the third photo.
Combined Operations: This is where the satellite comes together with the booster, the Block DM-SLB. The Intelsat 18 satellite will be mounted on top of the upper stage followed by encapsulation with the fairing.
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