Intelsat New Dawn Powers Up for Lift-Off at 5:45 pm EDT

The Intelsat New Dawn satellite is now in launch configuration. The only only exception that it is getting a power source from the ground through the launch vehicle umbilical harness.

At 13 minutes before the scheduled lift-off (6:32pm local Kourou time), the power will switch from ground to satellite battery. At that time the satellite will be totally autonomous and ready for launch. At seven minutes before launch (6:38pm), the launch vehicle will switch to "Synchronized Sequence". At that point, all actions are performed automatically by the launch vehicle with no ground intervention. If there is a hold ("red") during the synchronized sequence (the last seven minutes), the countdown will be stopped. Once the technical team understands the reason for the hold, it might authorize the synchronized sequence to restart. It will not pick up from where the hold occurred, but will go back to H0-7 minutes.


Contributor: Jean-Luc Froeliger, Senior Director, Space System Acquisition

Launch Window for Intelsat New Dawn Lift-Off Opens at 5:45 pm EDT

A launch can only occur during a certain window of time - the daily "launch window". The launch window varies from launch to launch and is defined by the satellite need for a given position of the sun with respect to orbit. That sun position is directly tied to the "Lift-Off Time" (also called H0 in space jargon).

For a dual launch (as is the case today), the launch window is the intersection of each of the two satellite launch windows. For example, if Intelsat New Dawn had to be launched between 2 pm and 4 pm and Yahsat 1A between 3 pm and 5 pm, the combined launch window would be between 3 pm and 4 pm. The launch window is unique for every launch and also depends on the launch date.

For today's launch on 30th March, the combined New Dawn/Yahsat 1A launch window opens at 6:45 pm and closes at 7:57 pm local time in French Guiana. This means that the earliest that the Lift-Off (H0) can occur is at 6:45 pm (launch window opening). The latest that the lift-off can occur is 7:57 pm (launch window closing).

Launch windows for commercial satellites are typically between one and two hours long. The longer the launch window, the greater the chance that lift-off can occur on a given day as it gives the team more time to correct a technical issue or to wait for better weather. If the launch cannot take place today, it is likely that another attempt be made tomorrow. In that case, the launch window would open at 6:39pm with the same closing time.

Contributor: Jean-Luc Froeliger, Senior Director, Space Systems Acquisition

Real-Time Launch Updates on Twitter

Brian Sing, Mission Director, Intelsat New Dawn is providing real-time updates on the historic launch on his Twitter site @briansing1 which will be retweeted on our company site @intelsat.

Read Brian's interview on the Arianespace site.

(Photo shows Brian Sing with Intelsat New Dawn at the Final Assembly Buiding at the Kourou, Guiana Space Center last Thursday)

Weather Criteria: Intelsat New Dawn a "GO" for Launch at 5:45 pm EDT Today

For the launch to be a "GO", all systems have to be green. That includes the status of both satellites, the launch vehicle, the launch base, the ground stations that are used to capture launch vehicle telemetry … and the weather. While we can fix any technical issue related to the above, there is not much we can do about the weather.

There are three weather-related launch criteria that have to be "green" before the launch can take place. The first is that ground winds that have to be below 10 m/sec in the direction normal to the beach. This is to protect against a launch failure where one of the spacecraft tanks ruptures over the ocean and the toxic fumes blow toward the city.

The second is related to altitude winds that have to be below a certain value to protect against destruction of the launch vehicle in flight where debris could fall on the local population. If the launch vehicle deviates from its nominal trajectory, an on-board system automatically "destroys" the launch vehicle and debris will fall in the ocean.

The third weather criterion is related to thunder. If there is a risk of thunder as the launch vehicle goes through the clouds, the launch will not take place. To monitor the weather, weather balloons are sent at regular intervals to measure the atmospheric environment.

The latest balloon, sent at 8 hours before the launch, confirmed that all weather conditions were green. This has allowed the launch vehicle activities to proceed as planned with the chilling of the main stage lines.

Contributor: Jean-Luc Froeliger, Senior Director, Space Systems Acquisition

Intelsat New Dawn Rolled out to Launch Pad at L-1

We are at L-1 day from launch. Under picture-perfect conditions, the Ariane 5 rocket, carrying the Yahsat Y1 and Intelsat New Dawn satellites, was rolled out from the Final Assembly Building to the Launch Zone.

As the mobile launch pad rolled past us at about 2 km/hour, we got a great view of the Ariane 5 launcher which will undertake Flight #201. It was a proud moment for the launch teams at this final phase of the adventure!

Contributor: Brian Sing, Satellite Mission Director, Intelsat New Dawn

A Visit to the Soyuz Launch Site in French Guiana

This week, Jean-Luc and I visited the Soyuz launch site, which is about 20 km from the Ariane 5 launch site. The Soyuz, which has existed for over 50 years, is the most reliable and only man-rated (built with the highest quality to fly humans as well as satellites) launch vehicle in the world, not counting the soon-to-be-retired shuttle. In fact, Galaxy 14 was launched on a Soyuz out of Baikonur - home of the Russian Space port - in 2005.

Soyuz in French Guiana, which will be marketed and managed by Arianespace, will be operational in 4Q 2011. What you see here today is the flame trench, where all the exhaust will flow out during the main engine ignition. Unlike most other launch vehicle systems, the Soyuz does not use a water deluge system (the dumping of tens of thousands of gallons of water at the base of the main engines prior to engine firing) to suppress the acoustic vibrations that typically occur on other launch vehicles at main engine start (i.e. Ariane 5).

When visiting the pad and infrastructure, we do a site survey to evaluate the readiness of the Soyuz. Once the pad becomes operational, the Soyuz will be part of the standard offerings by Arianespace and could be launching an Intelsat satellite in the future.

Contributor: Brian Sing, Satellite Mission Director, Intelsat New Dawn

Intelsat New Dawn and Co-Passenger Positioned for Lift-Off

One of the interesting things about launching on Ariane is that this is the only vehicle where we get to launch two satellites at a time. That means that Intelsat has a "roommate". The pairing is done by Arianespace about six months before launch. Arianespace ensures the two roommates are "compatible". There is usually the "small" roommate who is in the lower position, and the "bigger" roommates who "bunks" on top.

For this mission, Intelsat New Dawn has the lower position, as is typical for the smaller OSC satellites. For our last Ariane 5 launch in November 2010, Intelsat 17 (built by SSL) had the top position. As we don’t get to chose, we end up with a variety of roommates: Australian (Optus) for Intelsat 11; African (Rascom) for Horizons 2; British (Hylas) for Intelsat 17; and now United Arab Emirates (Yahsat) for Intelsat New Dawn.

Launching satellites is a true international endeavor!

Contributor: Jean-Luc Froeliger, Senior Director, Space Systems Acquisition

Dress Rehearsal for Intelsat New Dawn Launch

With L-4 days to launch (excluding the weekend), Jean-Luc Froeliger and I are in a full dress rehearsal at the Jupiter 2 building, where the Ariane 5 Launch Control Center is located. The rehearsal includes practicing talking on the headsets and reviewing the entire launch script communications protocol to ensure we operate smoothly as a team on launch day. Each seat in the Jupiter 2 floor will have an operational representative for every discipline related to launch.

Each discipline has a "Go/NoGo" authority to stop the launch if their system is not "green". These disciplines include weather, tracking, voice communications, networks, range, safety and payload (Intelsat and our co-passenger, Yahsat). Intelsat is integral to the launch process as both satellites must be fully configured for flight and on internal power. Throughout the countdown, the respective satellite mission directors (DMS) will report to the Arianespace Mission Director that we are "GO for Launch".

Behind us, blocked by a full glass partition, is the VIP auditorium, where CEOs, heads of state, and other dignitaries can observe us and the giant screen showing "Go/NoGo" conditions of the various disciplines. They are seated about one hour before launch. At approximately L-30 seconds, they exit to either end of the building to exterior balconies to witness the launch.

Contributor: Brian Sing, Satellite Mission Director, Intelsat New Dawn

Training in Final Assembly Building Begins at One-Week Countdown to Launch

I arrived in Kourou, French Guiana yesterday and went straight to a meeting in the Jupiter building, where I will be on launch day.
Today, I went through BAF training. BAF is a French acronym for ‘Batiment d’Assemblage Finale’ – or Final Assembly Building. That is where the launch vehicle currently stands until it is moved to the launch pad.

Part of BAF training includes wearing a gas mask and going down a three-story high escape chute, with a fireman waiting to catch you at the bottom. The escape chute is used in case of an emergency at the BAF, where one needs to evacuate the building as quickly as possible if there is a hazardous condition. We mortals only go through a relatively short drill (30 feet). Firemen have to go through the real drill once a year, which is going down the escape chute from a height of 200 feet, roughly the height of the Ariane 5 rocket on its stand.

Contributor: Jean-Luc Froeliger, Senior Director, Space Systems Acquisition

Intelsat New Dawn Fairing Bolted to Launcher

The Arianespace technician is finalizing the seam between the fairing and the Ariane 5 launcher.

This interface is composed of 420 bolts which hold the fairing onto the launcher.

Once the launcher reaches an altitude where the air density will not damage the satellite, the fairing is separated longitudinally along the slice line.

This splice line has an explosive device that allows the fairing to "peel away" as the launcher approaches the frontier of space.


Contributor: Brian Sing, Satellite Mission Director, Intelsat New Dawn

Up, Up and Away! Intelsat New Dawn Attaches to Ariane 5 Launch Rocket

Early this morning, Orbital Sciences Corporation technicians attached the satellite lift sling to Intelsat New Dawn and handed over the crane operations to Arianespace. They lifted the satellite over 100 feet in the air and attached it to the top of the Ariane 5 launcher. Once the satellite was secured onto the adapter, the Orbital technicians powered up the satellite to verify its health. Everything is right on schedule and the satellite is healthy.

In another area of the assembly building, the technicians are working on Yahsat, our co-passenger. Yahsat, which is now inside the Ariane 5 fairing, is being prepped for tomorrow's activity to lower the satellite on top of Intelsat New Dawn. When this picture was taken, they were just getting ready for the final activity, putting on our logo

Contributor:
Brian Sing, Mission Satellite Director, Intelsat New Dawn

Intelsat New Dawn "Cocooned" and Ready to Meet Ariane 5 Rocket

Today, the Intelsat New Dawn satellite was readied for transport from the Payload Processing Facility (PPF). The satellite is loaded onto the transportation container, which is comprised of two half shells, shown here with the satellite.

This "cocoon" will protect the satellite from rain, humidity, and other contamination. Arianespace will transport the cocoon to the Final Assembly Building tonight. This building is like a smaller version of the Space Shuttle Vertical Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Starting on Monday, we'll open up the container and take the SC out. Then, a giant crane will lift Intelsat New Dawn and place it on top of the Ariane 5 launcher.

In parallel activities in another building, our co-passenger, Yahsat is being encapsulated today. The fully-fueled Yahsat satellite sits on top of a protective "inner fairing" called a Système de Lancement Double Ariane (SYLDA). The Ariane fairing (the one you see on launch day with the logo) is then lowered over the whole ensemble.

Once Intelsat New Dawn is installed on the Ariane 5 launcher on Monday, the fairing, Yahsat satellite, and SYLDA will be raised to the top of the Ariane 5 launcher and lowered over Intelsat New Dawn.


Contributor: Brian Sing, Satellite Mission Director, Intelsat New Dawn

Intelsat New Dawn Mated to Launch Vehicle Adapter

Today was a hazardous operation day and everyone was required to carry their own gas mask (notice everyone is carrying a orange-colored fanny pack). In the unlikely event of any minor fuel leaks, detectors in the room sound off requiring everyone to don their masks. Working around a fully-fuelled satellite is a dangerous activity, but the Arianespace Team ensures all the Orbital and Intelsat personnel are well-trained and well-protected in case of any mishaps.


The big event of the day was moving the fully-fuelled Intelsat New Dawn satellite and mating it to the Launch Vehicle Adapter (LVA). This LVA is a metal, conical-shaped ring which is the interface between the satellite and the Ariane 5 launcher. This LVA interface holds the satellite securely in place during liftoff. Once the Ariane 5 rocket reaches the drop-off orbit, the adapter has explosive bolts that release a Marman clamp (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marman_clamp). From there, the satellite is gradually pushed away from the launcher with a mechanical spring. From there, the satellite will complete its orbit-raising to a geosynchronous orbit using its own satellite fuel.

Contributor:
Brian Sing, Satellite Mission Director, Intelsat New Dawn

Team Spirit as Fuel Operations Completed

The Intelsat New Dawn satellite successfully completed all the fueling operations today and will be getting ready to start the combined operations. The satellite weighed in at a trim and fit 3000.0 Kilograms, just as Orbital Sciences Corporation (OSC) had predicted.


Yahsat, our co-passenger, will be in the upper position and will be deployed first once we reach our target orbit. Intelsat New Dawn will deploy a few minutes later. We will be spending the next few weeks with the Yahsat team as we are now in joint operations and anything that happens will affect both spacecraft schedules.


Contributor:
Brian Sing, Satellite Mission Director, Intelsat New Dawn

Fueling Intelsat New Dawn in a Self-Contained Suit

Today's fueling operations began with the Orbital team suiting up in their Self -Contained Atmospheric Protective Ensemble (SCAPE) suits to protect themselves from the dangers of the satellite fuel.

The SCAPE suits protect the Orbital propulsion engineers when loading the oxidizer as part of fueling operations. The oxidizer, nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4), is similar to nitric acid and is commonly used in satellites to combust with the hydrazine (the fuel) to provide orbit raising. N2O4 is extremely hazardous so the suits are designed to protect them from inhalation of any vapors or burns from the liquid. A few molecules of the stuff can make you sick and any liquid on your skin will instantaneously burn. As the name suggests, SCAPE provides complete protection from any vapors and liquids that might leak during the fueling operations.

As you can see, the SCAPE suit is almost like a space suit; it provides cool air for comfort and closed circuit breathing air. Suiting up is done in a remote area, and the team is then transported to the Hazardous Processing Facilities (HPF) to conduct the operations. The operations typically take up to eight hours. Once they are complete, all the personnel are deluged with water to make sure all residual fuel is removed from their suits. After that, they are moved by van back to the dressing rooms to remove their suits. Needless to say, being in those suits for 8-10 hours is a grueling and difficult work.

Contributer:
Brian Sing, Satellite Mission Director, Intelsat New Dawn

Safety Training as Intelsat New Dawn and Co-Passenger Countdown to Launch

I attended a series of mandatory safety training sessions at the French Guiana Spaceport (CSG) yesterday including an emergency evacuation from the Ariane 5 Launch Assembly building. In case of an extreme emergency (explosion, fuel leak), you have to jump from 150 feet down an emergency vertical suit. The practice chute is only 30 feet tall. Needless to say, if you were to really jump in an emergency from the top of the tower and went down 150 feet, you will get extreme skin burns not to mention the next guy landing on your top of your head. We had our first combined operations meeting with our co-passenger, Yahsat and will meet daily until the launch to ensure that our co-passenger and Intelsat New Dawn are closely in sync.

Contributor:
Brian Sing, Satellite Mission Director, Intelsat New Dawn

Intelsat New Dawn Testing Begins at Guiana Space Center

The Intelsat New Dawn satellite left Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C., at 9 pm EST on Monday, 28 February, aboard Antonov, the largest transport aircraft in the world. After a six-hour flight, the airplane arrived at Rochambeau airport in Cayenne, French Guiana at 5 am local time on Tuesday, 1 March.

After settling down in the tarmac, the Antonov dramatically flipped up its nose, revealing the shipping container with Intelsat New Dawn inside. A rail system slid the shipping container out of the Antonov and a specially-designed crane loaded it onto a flat bed truck. The loading went smoothly and the spacecraft was ready to be transported to the Guiana Space Center (CSG) around 9 am. Darkness and occasional heavy rain made taking photos and travel a real challenge. The journey of approximately 60 miles took about 2 hours.

The shipping container arrived at building S5 of CSG around 11 am and was moved to the air lock. The spacecraft was removed from the shipping container and lifted to the integration dolly. Orbital began testing at the launch site on Tuesday, 1 March. The Launch Integrated Systems Test (LIST) was conducted to check the health of the spacecraft, beginning with tests on the command and data handling subsystem (C & DH 01).

Contributor: Lam Tang, Senior Manager, Intelsat Spacecraft Program Office, Dulles