Proton Launch in 20 minutes (17:20 EST)

[Kerbal01]

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36689.40 boring communication satellite, but proton is funny to watch as it explodes often.

[Hysterrics]

5 minutes ago, DarthVader said:

boring communication satellite, but proton is funny to watch as it explodes often.

Summery of every Proton mission.

[Delta_8930]

Awesome. You might want to check out this mod; it adds a really good proton replica. 

Fun fact: the satellite being launched (Eutelsat 9B) will carry an ultra-fast laser communications payload to collect data from satellites like Europe's Sentinel series of satellites. 

Also Proton dosen't explode THAT often; its mostly the third stage or the Breeze-M shutting down early, or Breeze-M stages exploding after spacecraft separation, as shown here:

http://spaceflight101.com/re-entry/2015-075b-briz-m-break-up/

 

Edited January 29, 2016 by Delta_8930

[Kerbal01]

I love that mod, bit OP.

[Slam_Jones]

Where's the actual link to the stream?  I see tons of links, but none of them seem to take me to it...

 

Edit:  Here we go http://eutelsat9b.imgondemand.com/

Edited January 29, 2016 by Slam_Jones

[InsaneDruid]

20 hours ago, Sequinox said:

Summery of every Proton mission.

Nine Salyut and Almaz space stations, eight TKS spacecraft, three Almaz radar imaging satellites, six modules for the Mir space station and two for the ISS, as well as the Proton 4 astronomical satellite, and the 82-EV test flight.

Forty launches, used the Blok D upper stage, all of which were probes to the Moon, Mars and Venus, or tests in support of the manned lunar programme. The Blok D-1 was used carrying six Venera probes to Venus, the two Vega probes to Venus and Halley’s Comet, and the Astron and Granat observatories. The Blok D-2 was used to launch the two Fobos missions to Mars’ moon Phobos in 1988, and the failed Mars 96 mission in 1996.

Without this venom-spitting beauty we would miss a bit more than "boring comm sats".

(text snippets originated from http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/03/russian-proton-k-rocket-launch-us-kmo/ as i am lazy right now^^)

[batman78781]

On 1/29/2016 at 2:08 PM, Delta_8930 said:

Also Proton dosen't explode THAT often; its mostly the third stage or the Breeze-M shutting down early, or Breeze-M stages exploding after spacecraft separation, as shown here:

Yeah, they don't explode off the pad too much. However, I think the most recent pad explosion was this one, couple of seconds after launch. Nobody got hurt, but I think this stuff happens because of the fuel, its not RP1 or hydrogen.

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/07/proton-m-launch-three-glonass/

[Hysterrics]

4 hours ago, InsaneDruid said:

Nine Salyut and Almaz space stations, eight TKS spacecraft, three Almaz radar imaging satellites, six modules for the Mir space station and two for the ISS, as well as the Proton 4 astronomical satellite, and the 82-EV test flight.

 

Forty launches, used the Blok D upper stage, all of which were probes to the Moon, Mars and Venus, or tests in support of the manned lunar programme. The Blok D-1 was used carrying six Venera probes to Venus, the two Vega probes to Venus and Halley’s Comet, and the Astron and Granat observatories. The Blok D-2 was used to launch the two Fobos missions to Mars’ moon Phobos in 1988, and the failed Mars 96 mission in 1996.

 

 

Without this venom-spitting beauty we would miss a bit more than "boring comm sats".

(text snippets originated from http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/03/russian-proton-k-rocket-launch-us-kmo/ as i am lazy right now^^)

I mean, Protons have done plenty of good work before. But it's usually used when other private companies want something launched into space for cheap. The rocket is cheap and unreliable.

Other than that, it's just good ol' "Ahh those crazy Russians!" talk.

[InsaneDruid]

Thats not because of the fuel, it was a falsy wired (or installed, cont remember that correctly) attitude sensor. Basically it was "steering the wrong way" and it wobbled itself to desctruction in a very kerbal way. But: no "pad explosion". Just not beeing able to steer.

Btw: the fuel, while beeing toxic can be nicely stored and the launchpad is designed so that the fuel lines decouple after the engines ighnite and are tested. So it can be untanked without anyone moving in if the computers sense a malfunction engine.

Since 2010 there where only two problems with the booster. The crash shown above and a third stage malfunction. Rest where 4 upper stage problems. Last problem with the booster was in 2007 when s1 and s2 failed to separate. Between 1990 and 2007 where 4 malfunctions on the booster vehicle.So since 1990 7 failures of the actual proton. Especially given the hard economic times back than this is better as the misconception of the "unstable trap". And as for the early launches back in the 60ties: its like the N1 and even the not ultra-reliable sojus: russian rockets where mostly designed and tested "on the go" instead of ultra-hard trials of every part in some test benches. If it works, it works, kinda.

 

Edit: have a look at Appendix.6:  FAILURES CAUSES AND CORRECTIVE ACTION of the Proton Launch System Mission Planner’s Guide. Its really intersting.

Edited January 30, 2016 by InsaneDruid