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Update from ISC Kosmotras
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Delivered by First Deputy Director General
At approximately 21:00 UTC, at Baikonur Base, Kazakhstan
"The State Launch Committee continues their work to investigate what happened. We have some preliminary information of the cause [of the failure]. They have an idea of what might have happened. They know the location of where the rocket fell. They are performing the debris recovery plan. [They] always have that plan for such cases. As soon as tomorrow morning, the rescue team will be in the debris area... We will have more feedback from [them], but I'm not sure that it will be at exactly 10 o'clock [Thursday morning] when they'll tell us something. We'll do our best to keep you updated as much as possible as soon as possible. As soon as we have any specific information of when the debriefing will take place, we will inform you immediately. All we can say right now is that it's a pity, and we're really sorry. "
July 26, 2006 Launch Day...
Still awaiting more information on launch failure. Video clip of the launch is available here. Telecon conversation is available here
20:04 UTC
Launch was unsuccessful, updates as soon as we get them
19:58 UTC
Simulated deployment of all satellites completed, awaiting confirmation of deployment
19:46 UTC
Successful first stage separation.
19:43 UTC
LIFTOFF! All vehicle parameters are normal.
19:38 UTC
Vehicle has been cleared for launch, health status of all satellites is good.
19:06 UTC
All pre-ops complete, all personnel have been evacuated
18:55 UTC
Transfer to onboard power, silo doors open
The launch date is finally here! Many of you have been curious about the flow of information, so here is a breakdown of today's events:
- 19:43:00 UTC - Dnepr vehicle liftoff
- +15 minutes - P-POD deployment command sent from launch vehicle
- +25 minutes - Confirmation of P-POD door opening received
- +1 hour - Confirmation of exact deployment times
- +8 hours - Confirmation of exact orbital elements
July 25, 2006
Ahhh, finally, back to work! Today we spent the morning at the integration facility repacking our hardware for the trip home. We reviewed our packing list with a customs agent to ensure that everything was in order. Then we sealed the container carrying our ground support equipment (GSE) and the spare P-POD. After returning to the hotel, we grabbed a quick lunch and took care of some errands. Then we were off to the airport to meet our customers traveling to Baikonur to watch the launch. After checking everyone in to the hotel, there was a security briefing. Officials from Kosmotras explained the do's and don'ts of Baikonur (those invaluable tips that make your stay that much easier). Shortly thereafter, everyone sat in on a Launch Readiness Review with Kosmotras. One after another, the participants of the launch confirmed the readiness of their spacecraft for launch. After concluding this meeting, the teams split up for dinner. The CubeSat delegation decided that it would be a good idea to go for a swim after dinner, and enjoyed lounging around the same pool that Yuri Gagarin and many other cosmonauts swam in before their trip to outer space. Finally, everyone went to bed to prepare for the big day tomorrow!
July 24, 2006
Today we took a walking tour of Baikonur and saw a number of monuments dedicated to space and the Russian military. Among the sites were an SS-17 rocket, a Soyuz rocket, and a couple of different types of airplanes. Although, Baikonur has a population of 100,000 people the city is quite small. We were able to walk across town in only a couple of hours. It is quite impressive to see these engineering achievements displayed publicly for everyone to see. We spent a lot of time exploring these sites, especially the Soyuz rocket.
July 23, 2006
Project BBQ! With all of our work completed, and most of the logistics for the launch taken care of, we decided to see if we could pull off a BBQ at the hotel. We searched around the Bazaar for a while, trying to find all the necessary supplies. In the end, it was a success, although it did require some help from our friends at Kosmotras. There were various meats on skewers, vodka in hand, and good times shared by all.
July 22, 2006
Today was a day of preparation. We spent the day running around town preparing for the arrival of our customers to the town of Baikonur. We spent the morning confirming the logistics with Kosmotras, and felt comfortable that our guests were safely enroute to Baikonur Cosmodrome. In the afternoon, we went to the Bazaar to stock up on supplies and food. We found some really cool knives that had "Baikonur" engraved on the blade. They came in handy later for our snack of cheese, tomatoes, and bread.
July 21, 2006
In case you're wondering, the reason we keep posting random pictures of Baikonur instead of juicy pictures of the satellites and Dnepr rocket is because Kosmotras is still in the process of obtaining the proper clearances to publish the integration photos. Stay tuned though, because we'll start posting pictures (and there are plenty of good ones) as soon as we have the go ahead. So for now, here is the most technical looking thing we could find in town.
July 20, 2006
All spacecraft pre-launch operations have been completed, and with the Dnepr Space Head Module (SHM) integrated, the Cal Poly team enjoyed a much-needed day of rest. After catching up on emails, we explored the city of Baikonur. Space is kind of a big deal here. Everywhere you go, there are monuments and murals commemorating the history of space travel. We visited a statue of Gagarin, a model of the Soyuz rocket, and some other random monuments.
July 19th, 2006
In the morning, we repacked all the GSE and the spare P-POD into the cargo container and began preparations to ship the container back to CalPoly. We spent the afternoon in the cleanroom, where we watched Kosmotras personnel move the integrated SHM into the transporter. This process consisted of moving the SHM in the high bay with an enormous crane onto a cart. This cart was then moved to a suitable position to be loaded into the transporter/erector truck. We received word that the SHM was transported to the launch silo that evening with no problems to report. Later that evening, we made the trek out to the observation post, but the Soyuz launch we have been trying to observe was delayed for the third time. While we were there, we tested communications between the observation post and CalPoly. We had a crystal clear, $5 per minute signal. Also, a successful test was conducted of the live video feed for our launch.
July 18th, 2006
Day Off. Tomorrow, all ground support equipment and the spare P-POD will be repacked into the cargo container to be shipped back to CalPoly. Additionally, the space head module will be moved to the launch site.
July 17th, 2006
The three platforms of the space head module were integrated with no problem.
July 16th, 2006
Today, integration of the Italian and Boumanets satellites with platform A was completed nominally.
July 15th, 2006
All five P-PODs, and BelKA have been successfully integrated onto platform B of the space head module.
July 14th, 2006
The deployment test of the back-up P-POD was successfully completed and integration preparations began.
July 13th, 2006
Pre launch operations continued today. One by one, we unpacked the P-PODs and began inspection and check out of the hardware. Testing of the hardware will continue until July 15th when the P-PODs will be integrated into the space head module (SHM). Tomorrow, we will perform a deployment test of the backup P-POD unit as verification that the P-PODs are in good health and were not adversely affected by the shipping environment. So far, all pre-launch operations are progressing nominally with no problems to report.
July 12th, 2006
The Cal Poly integration team has landed in Baikonur Cosmodrome and preparations have begun for the July 26th launch. Today, we unpacked the crate containing the five flight P-PODs, one backup P-POD and 14 CubeSats. The crate was in good physical condition, as were the contents.
July 9th, 2006
The Cal Poly Integration Team left San Luis Obispo early this morning headed for Moscow. From Moscow, the team will travel to Baikonur on July 11. Pre launch operations of the P-PODs will begin on July 12.
June 15th, 2006
Kosmotras announces a launch delay from June 28th date to a July 26th date. The delay is due to a "technical problem with the specific launch vehicle." Kosmotras initiated the standard procedure of preparing a new vehicle for launch.
June 2nd, 2006
All 14 CubeSats in 5 P-PODs were loaded into their shipping container this week and are currently on their way to Baikonur Cosmodrome. The Cal Poly integration team will meet up with the hardware at the launch site next week (due to a launch delay, the team left at a later date) and begin integration of the P-PODs onto the Dnepr launch vehicle.
