Astra 2G Launch Delay?

Hooded Claw · 29/04/14 - 09:40

The current goings on in Russia and Ukraine have many knock-on effects.

For the purposes of Freesat etc., the final new craft destined for the 28E slot, Astra 2G, is likely to be delayed and there is a potential crisis for Satellite Operators in the offing.

http://advanced-television.com/2014/04/28/us-bans-ses-satellite-launch-by-russia/

Humid · 29/04/14 - 12:58

Hooded Claw wrote: »

The current goings on in Russia and Ukraine have many knock-on effects.

For the purposes of Freesat etc., the final new craft destined for the 28E slot, Astra 2G, is likely to be delayed and there is a potential crisis for Satellite Operators in the offing.

http://advanced-television.com/2014/04/28/us-bans-ses-satellite-launch-by-russia/

Wonder how the US are going to get their Astronauts back from the Space Station.

Hooded Claw · 29/04/14 - 13:03

Oven Gloves and Parachutes

jthspace · 29/04/14 - 13:08

There may be a lot of sabre rattling, but the "space" newsletters are showing that US/European/Russian space missions are continuing as normal. One Canadian Military launch has been delayed, but that is the only one to-date.

Quote

M3M satellite launch to be rescheduled

COM DEV International Ltd. announced that the Government of Canada has decided to not proceed with the planned Russian Soyuz launch of M3M, which was scheduled for June this year.

The M3M satellite was constructed by COM DEV under contract from the Canadian Space Agency/Public Works Government Services Canada, for the Department of National Defense and was also subject to a commercial data sharing license with exactEarth . Both COM DEV and exactEarth made significant investments in the development of the satellite, and in upgrading its capabilities. COM DEV has received an indication that the Canadian Space Agency will support COM DEV's efforts to secure a new launch.

"Recognising the current events in the Ukraine, we had been engaged in discussions with the Government of Canada with respect to a potential delay of the launch of M3M, and plans to mitigate the impact of any delay," said Mike Pley, CEO of COM DEV International. "We are confident that the mitigations will be in place prior to the originally planned M3M in-service date of September 2014 ."

Source: COM DEV PR

Mickey_T · 29/04/14 - 13:14

Think this discussion would be better off in the Non Platform Specific Satellite TV section.

It's really nothing to do with the Freesat service itself, but covers all satellite tv.

Hooded Claw · 29/04/14 - 13:26

jthspace wrote: »

There may be a lot of sabre rattling, but the "space" newsletters are showing that US/European/Russian space missions are continuing as normal. One Canadian Military launch has been delayed, but that is the only one to-date.

Quote

M3M satellite launch to be rescheduled

COM DEV International Ltd. announced that the Government of Canada has decided to not proceed with the planned Russian Soyuz launch of M3M, which was scheduled for June this year.

The M3M satellite was constructed by COM DEV under contract from the Canadian Space Agency/Public Works Government Services Canada, for the Department of National Defense and was also subject to a commercial data sharing license with exactEarth . Both COM DEV and exactEarth made significant investments in the development of the satellite, and in upgrading its capabilities. COM DEV has received an indication that the Canadian Space Agency will support COM DEV's efforts to secure a new launch.

"Recognising the current events in the Ukraine, we had been engaged in discussions with the Government of Canada with respect to a potential delay of the launch of M3M, and plans to mitigate the impact of any delay," said Mike Pley, CEO of COM DEV International. "We are confident that the mitigations will be in place prior to the originally planned M3M in-service date of September 2014 ."

Source: COM DEV PR

Glad to hear it, but a healthy does of scepticism will mean there are no surprises if matters escalate.

2G was originally due for launch in May, but IIRC that's already delayed for other reasons.

She has, like 2E and 2F, a highly focussed UK Beam (as well as Pan-European & West Africa Beams) so no doubt that will carry some Freesat capacity in due course.

While we wait, it will be most interesting to see what specific Channel shifting occurs from next week when Astra 2C takes up residence at 28E.

M60 · 29/04/14 - 19:07

Whilst the sanctions will be most stringent against export licenses being issued for specific military satellites (in this case a Canadian one), it could be that on a case by case basis the US will allocate export licenses to Inmarsat and SES as the sanctions could harm theirs, and other operators, businesses and it's the Russian economy that the US is targeting.

What is of interest is things like the ISS where the US and Russian Space Agencies work together, what is going to happen there if tensions escalate?? Considering Russia is one notch above 'junk' status from some Credit Rating Agencies then I do think the Russians will be back around the table for discussions sooner rather than later as economically it's starting to bite.

Meanwhile Advanced Television have released this statement and ILS have had the opportunity to respond saying all is well, supposedly for now anyway:
http://advanced-television.com/2014/04/29/confusion-over-banned-satellite-launches/

It will be interesting with 2C back at 28E if we'll see some further shuffling or whether she'll simply be sitting there dormant as a backup, primarily for 2A? Maybe 2A's traffic will all migrate to 2C and 2A sent off on her mission to 23.5E? Would have thought 2G would arrive before this happens though?

Night Watchman · 30/04/14 - 09:58

What is symbolic is that early this morning Arianespace successfully launched a satellite from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in Kourou for the Government of Kazakhstan. It is the first satellite to be owned and operated by the Republic of Kazakhstan. You would have thought they would have used facilities on their own territory. :cool:
For those who didn't watch and may be interested there is video footage (in HD) at: http://www.arianespace.tv/

M60 · 30/04/14 - 18:07

Night Watchman wrote: »

What is symbolic is that early this morning Arianespace successfully launched a satellite from the Guiana Space Center (CSG) in Kourou for the Government of Kazakhstan. It is the first satellite to be owned and operated by the Republic of Kazakhstan. You would have thought they would have used facilities on their own territory. :cool:
For those who didn't watch and may be interested there is video footage (in HD) at: http://www.arianespace.tv/

Maybe the Russians wanted too much or slots were scarce? Baikonur Cosmodrome is leased to the Russians by the Kazakhs so technically not theirs!

Cheers for the link, looked a good lift-off.

[Deleted User] · 02/05/14 - 21:51

the launch of astra 2g will be use proton end of august

M60 · 02/05/14 - 22:17

belson wrote: »

the launch of astra 2g will be use proton end of august

Have you a source for the date? Thought it was going up late Sept, early October?

Night Watchman · 03/05/14 - 11:26

NasaSpaceflight.com are quoting August 29 [29 августа ;-) ] (info updated May 2)
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26990.555

However SES are still stating Q2 2014:
http://www.ses.com/4233127/upcoming-launches
and Russian Space Web is stating September:
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2014.html

Notwithstanding this information, the US State Department issued the following (edited) statement on April 28:

“Effective immediately, the Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) will deny pending applications for export or re-export of any high technology defense article or services regulated under the U.S. Munitions List to Russia or occupied Crimea that contribute to Russia’s military capabilities.

“In addition, the Department is taking action to revoke any existing export licenses which meet these conditions. All other pending applications and existing licenses will receive a case-by-case evaluation to determine their contribution to Russia’s military capabilities.”

The following is a Google translation of an announcement on the website Interfax:
http://www.interfax.ru/world/374025

Moscow. April 28. INTERFAX.RU - U.S. Department of Commerce has banned the supply to Russian spacecraft, which uses the American "stuffing." Because of this launch is blocked several European satellites.

March 27 the U.S. State Department has suspended the issuance of licenses for export to Russia of goods and services for defense purposes, which fall under the components for spacecraft.

According to the U.S. expert Peter de Seldinga under sanctions, in particular, were telecommunications spacecraft Astra 2G Luxembourg company SES, which is scheduled for launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in June with the help of carrier rocket "Proton-M"; telecommunications Inmarsat 5 F2, which is also planned to launch "Proton" this year; Turkish satellite Turksat 4B to launch in the summer term 2014.

In addition, the sanctions affected companies that intend to run their vehicles on a contract with International Launch Services (owner - Space Center. Khrunichev), as well as machines that run as concurrent load rocket "Soyuz" and "Dnepr".

Previously, NASA ceased cooperation with Russia because of the situation in Eastern Ukraine and Crimea. In early April, NASA employees have banned travel to Russia without a special order, write emails and hold video conferences with local partners, as well as to meet with them at international events.

When this ban has not spread to cooperation on the International Space Station.

In another report SES is stated as saying the following (again excuses for the Google translation):

BRUSSELS, April 30 - Luxembourg company SES plans in normal mode to launch a telecommunications satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, SES spokesman Yves Feltes (Media Relations) told RIA Novosti
"At the moment we have schedule changes Astra 2G run in connection with the situation," - Feltes said. According to the official website of the SES, the satellite launch is scheduled for the second quarter of this year. According to Felt, SES is closely monitoring the situation and, as necessary, the company is ready to "actively cooperate with relevant parties to properly understand it." consisting Russian s

This seems to have been taken from an interview as there is of yet no official press release from SES on the situation.

See also: http://www.voltairenet.org/article183541.html

So we will just have to wait and see.

M60 · 04/05/14 - 00:03

Cheers for the info Night Watchman, sounds like there's conflicting information from different sources. I hope 2G's launch isn't affected but we'll have to wait and see.

[Deleted User] · 04/05/14 - 06:07

we can astra 2g wil be stay for now end of august
let see no more delay

Night Watchman · 16/05/14 - 23:07

Another Proton-M payload lost on launch from Baikonur tonight

It was the second failure of a Russian Proton-M rocket in less than a year. The event occured at a height of 160 km 9 minutes after lift-off so no debris on ground this time. The rocket now has a 7% failure rate.
So apart from the political issues in the region there is the prospect of a delay to the launch of 2G whilst enquiries are carried out.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/16/us-russia-rocket-idUSKBN0DW0PD20140516

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2630514/Russian-space-disaster-hi-tech-rocket-explodes-just-taking-losing-satellite-bring-internet-remotest-parts-country.html

[Deleted User] · 29/05/14 - 20:46

will be launch september this year
q4

M60 · 29/05/14 - 21:01

belson wrote: »

will be launch september this year
q4

Can you provide a source for this?

Hooded Claw · 29/05/14 - 21:13

29 August, from Baikonur, seems to be the buzz elsewhere.

Night Watchman · 30/05/14 - 07:40

August 29 was the planned date until the destruction of the last Proton Breeze-M less than 10 minutes after lift-off a couple of weeks ago. The anomaly occurred during the firing of the Proton LV's third stage. Unlike the previous accident there was no damage on the ground at Baikonur so no major delay is anticipated however there is an on-going enquiry to establish the cause and issue corrective recommendations.
This reliable site has recently moved 2G to a TBD (to be determined) date. They are currently showing it in an open September slot in their listings.

http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

M60 · 30/05/14 - 11:05

Cheers Nightwatchman and Hooded Claw, you are always good reliable sources of reference in relation to launches, lets hope there's nothing else that postpones the launch now, either political or otherwise!

What else is due to launch from Baikonur over the summer prior to 2G going up?

Hooded Claw · 30/05/14 - 12:24

M60 wrote: »

What else is due to launch from Baikonur over the summer prior to 2G going up?

A Roman Candle and three Catherine Wheels!

FRENCH SKY · 30/05/14 - 16:34

Why are candles called Roman and why are wheels Catherine. Is that a bit off topic?

Hooded Claw · 30/05/14 - 17:08

They are common names for certain types of Firework >> So most definitely not Off Topic given the recent history of launches at Baikonur Cosmodrome!

FRENCH SKY · 30/05/14 - 17:36

I KNOW their fireworks, are my posts really that stupid>:(. I was curious why those particular names

Hooded Claw · 30/05/14 - 17:42

They're the only ones I can remember ............................

And I've no idea whatsoever how their names came about.

gianni · 30/05/14 - 17:57

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Alexandria

Hey there!

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Astra 2G Launch Delay?

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