Interesting picture of the communication package for a satellite. Looks like a typical satellite with two receive dishes and two transmit dishes. I am a little confused about the testing being performed because of all the acoustic absorber tiles because any acoustic loading on the satellite is during launch and the dishes aren't in their deployed position during launch so I am assuming they are doing RF testing and using the absorber tiles to absorb RF as well. There is a lot of ground support structure for the dishes since the flight structure is not designed to support the deployed dishes in a 1 g environment. Obviously the solar array hardware is not attached because the large support structure with the Loral log is where the one solar array would be attached. It appears that the large support structure has a mechanism to rotate the entire communication package in order to test the limits of the alignment of the receive dishes.
Quetzsat 1 Successfully Launched!
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Interesting picture of the communication package for a satellite. Looks like a typical satellite with two receive dishes and two transmit dishes. I am a little confused about the testing being performed because of all the acoustic absorber tiles because any acoustic loading on the satellite is during launch and the dishes aren't in their deployed position during launch so I am assuming they are doing RF testing and using the absorber tiles to absorb RF as well. There is a lot of ground support structure for the dishes since the flight structure is not designed to support the deployed dishes in a 1 g environment. Obviously the solar array hardware is not attached because the large support structure with the Loral log is where the one solar array would be attached. It appears that the large support structure has a mechanism to rotate the entire communication package in order to test the limits of the alignment of the receive dishes.
Sound absorption is to kill the ambient noise for the test. That way test instruments won't pick up harmonics at high SPL. The RF is done at a high SPL and the harmonics would be royal PITA.
The Russians are launching a Proton/Breeze military satellite in the next hour. Hope it goes well and they have truely corrected the problem. Much better than having Quetzsat be the goat.
I'd bet there are a lot of people at WildBlue who are breathing a little bit easier now.
Russian Space Agency is still showing Sept 29 launch date on their web site but Anik reports "rumor" of Sept 30 (very reliable source)
Questzat and Viasat assembly photo
International Launch Services has posted the Media Advisory
Launch Date:
30 Sept 2011, Baikonur
Launch Time:
00:32 Baikonur
20:32 Luxembourg, 29 Sept
18:32 GMT, 29 Sept
14:32 EDT, 29 Sept
23:32 PDT, 29 Sept **** 11:32 PDT
Media Advisory | QuetzSat-1 | Proton Rocket | Commercial Launch | International Launch Services
Launch Date:
30 Sept 2011, Baikonur
Launch Time:
00:32 Baikonur
20:32 Luxembourg, 29 Sept
18:32 GMT, 29 Sept
14:32 EDT, 29 Sept
23:32 PDT, 29 Sept **** 11:32 PDT
Media Advisory | QuetzSat-1 | Proton Rocket | Commercial Launch | International Launch Services
Last edited:
Baikonur launch campaign continues on the program"KvettsSat-1"
:: 09/23/2011
Baikonur continues preparationsfor the launch of space rocket "Proton-M" with a telecommunicationsatellite communications "KvetSat-1» («QuetzSat-1").
September 22 in theassembly and testing facility 92A-50 specialists Khrunichev Khrunichevimplement an assembly space rocket (ILV), "Proton-M": was performeddocking space head part (in the upper block "Breeze-M" andspacecraft) in the third stage carrier rocket "Proton-M", carried outelectrical checks "assemblies" at the head of the rocket is puttermochehol.
Today experts overload ILV"Proton-M" on the transport and installation unit, will boost thelaunch vehicle tanks with compressed air to provide conditions for transport tothe launch site.
The rocket carrier"Proton-M" spacecraft with "KvetsSat-1" is scheduled forSeptember 29 from Launch Complex pl.200 Baikonur.
Press Service of theRussian Space Agency
Neat. They fill the Proton tanks with compressed air to maintain structural stability during transport.
Quetzsat 1 on Launch Pad
Photos courtesy of Russia Federal Space Agency - Sept 26 2011:
Quetzsat 1 in Transit to Launch Pad
Quetzsat 1 on Launch Pad
Photos courtesy of Russia Federal Space Agency - Sept 26 2011:
Quetzsat 1 in Transit to Launch Pad
Quetzsat 1 on Launch Pad
That is an amazing looking site.
I have done lots of things in the satellite industry but never to a launch of one of these things. Man I would love that!
I have done lots of things in the satellite industry but never to a launch of one of these things. Man I would love that!
Well, I'm kind of shocked at the train car rolling through countryside with dirt everywhere. Seems to me like a little wind would pick up that dirt and put it everywhere.
And what's with all that ugly stitching on the nosecone? Are those thermal blankets? I can't imagine they would stay in place through a launch.
And what's with all that ugly stitching on the nosecone? Are those thermal blankets? I can't imagine they would stay in place through a launch.
I believe everything is sealed up except for that access panel opening in the payload fairing near the bottom facing the railroad car i.e., the red and white section. This isn't a concern because if you notice the duct work hooked up to the payload fairing that is blowing dry air/nitrogen into the payload fairing and out this access panel so no dirt can come in. It is quite an experience standing out on the launch pad and touching the outside of a rocket that will be launched in a couple of days or being out at the Shuttle pad with the payload bay doors open looking at a satellite you've worked on for a few years.
The blankets will be removed before it goes up. I think they are only there now to help to reduce all cooling necessary to keep the payload cool.
If things go as scheduled, it will start testing at 67.1W on Oct 11. Give them a couple weeks to check it out and then another couple to move it on to 77W.
So, a fair guess would start around mid November. Could take less time, could take more time.
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