Astra 2E launch may be delayed (Proton M Launch Failure: Merged)

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From the Russian Interfax news agency:

The July 2 crash of a Proton-M launch vehicle at the Baikonur Space Center occurred due to the fact that three angular rate sensors had been installed incorrectly while the rocket was being assembled, the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) said in a report.

"The space rocket's failed launch was due to an error during installation of three yaw-axis angular rate sensors on the Proton-M rocket by the Khrunichev State Space Research and Production Center," an interagency commission investigating the crash said in a report posted on the Roscosmos website on Thursday.

Control methods currently used during the rocket's ground preparations and tests make it impossible to detect the incorrect installation of the sensors, the report said. "The error was committed during the production stage and became apparent during flight," the document says.

The commission determined that the liftoff switch was activated 0.4 seconds before the rocket actually separated from the launch pad.

_http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=431318
 
If that really was the entire issue then maybe they will restart flights earlier then later - however the results seem very fast to me to be conclusive and comprehensive and hint just a little of being able to give a quick explanation in order to regain customer confidence. If it was not possible to test devices are installed correctly as stated then a whole new procedures needs to be devised, tested and proven. I still think there maybe need for more work on this investigation and we could be in for more of a wait. At the end of the day, another failed launch would possibly spell the end for Proton - and the knock on for Astra 2E would be disastrous.
 
joddle said:
If that really was the entire issue then maybe they will restart flights earlier then later
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I don't think it is that simple. Another launch failure would be a disaster for future confidence. So they need to go over the entire vehicle with a fine-toothed-comb and find anything that could cause a further failure. Just correcting the sensor problem is not going to ensure success on future launches, it would just ensure this particular failure doesn't happen again, and that is if you really believe this was the problem.
 
Thanks solly. I know your source is reliable.


Brown Trouser time for SES ................... !!
 
Every delay with Astra 2E is music to the ears of us living on the fringe reception area
 
And yet the music is shortly to be silenced :mad:
 
Splendid!
 
Huevos said:
I don't think it is that simple. Another launch failure would be a disaster for future confidence. So they need to go over the entire vehicle with a fine-toothed-comb and find anything that could cause a further failure. Just correcting the sensor problem is not going to ensure success on future launches, it would just ensure this particular failure doesn't happen again, and that is if you really believe this was the problem.
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I totally agree. I think there will be a launch reasonably soon - but not with an expensive payload. They have to prove everything is sorted - not just by a physical demonstration but by a report of every minute detail examined and reviewed and fully explained or no-one is gong to trust their £multi billion projects to that particular launch vehicle. It really is make or break time for Proton - they can't afford to get it wrong again.
 
I believe there's another Russian satellite in the launch queue after 2E, commercial clients like SES may demand reliablility proof by seeing this launch before they allow 2E to go up.
 
skomedal said:
Every delay with Astra 2E is music to the ears of us living on the fringe reception area
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Not at all, at least for us. I understand that You are concerned with the possibility of ongoing reception from temporary located satellites' beams at this orbital position, but, instead, we are anxiously looking forward to seeing more french-, spanish- and german- speaking channels transmitted via ASTRA 1N than the british ones broadcasted from ASTRA sat cluster at 28.2E. So we count the days when ASTRA 1N will be finally moved to its permanent home along with updated and significantly shifted coverage zones and takes over currently heavily overloaded ASTRA 1M europe beam transponders and not only.
By the way, it seems that SES-ASTRA intentionally refrains itself from disclosing any kind of details of transponder switching/distribution between the new 2F and 2E, so that ordinary people aren't able to identify which one is transmited via given satellite.
 
M60 said:
I believe there's another Russian satellite in the launch queue after 2E, commercial clients like SES may demand reliablility proof by seeing this launch before they allow 2E to go up.
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Not sure if that will be possible but not a bad idea -i.e. let them test their vehicle on one of their own sats!! - but of course its not as simple as that, all these elements are different companies with differing objectives and responsibilities. Its just a waiting game now to see what happens!
 
Your probably right, it was a suggestion I read by someone over on the nasa space forums regarding the Proton launches following the accident. I guess the relevant Proton vehicle has to be available too, they can't just stick any satellite on-board any launch vehicle and up it goes! 2E certainly is next in the queue so if that is the one to go up then it will be a brown underpants job for SES.
 
According to Advanced Television website, Astra 2E is to be launched is September:

_advanced-television.com/2013/07/26/ses-steady-as-she-goes/

"He added that three new satellites are waiting to be launched, and unfortunately each of them is now launching later than planned. This will cost SES an estimated €18 million in this full year. Consequently, SES anticipated financial profits and guidance for the year is also suffering, and the financial markets might not care for this ‘jam tomorrow’ promise.
The new launch dates are:
• Astra 2E Was June, now September on Proton
• SES-8 Was June, now October on Falon-9
• Astra 5B Was September, now December on Ariane"
 
Baxter Boy said:
The new launch dates are:
• Astra 2E Was June, now September on Proton
• SES-8 Was June, now October on Falon-9
• Astra 5B Was September, now December on Ariane"
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Hmm - I'll believe it when it happens - My guess it it will be later than that and that SES are simply citing the earliest possible slot to keep certain people happy but that date of course may then be subject to "further delays for technical reasons"!
 
Seems about right to me. There has to be an element of residual risk whenever the launch were to be rescheduled and a balance has to be struck between practicality, risk, profit/loss, knock-on effects to others in the queue etc. etc.
 
SES will be incredibly lucky to get 2E in the air in September

The Russian FROB (Failure Review Oversight Board) wont sit until early August

http://www.ilslaunch.com/updates-failure-glonass-july-2013

with results expected mid August.

That only leaves a handful of weeks to rectify the problems which include the premature liftoff of the Proton

Astra 2E Campaign Status, Return to Flight and Proton Manifest
The Astra 2E team will resume campaign operations after the Russian State Commission and ILS FROB complete their work on root cause and required corrective actions and all parties agree to re-start the campaign.
The schedule for the return to flight and subsequent missions will be determined once the Russian State Commission and ILS FROB complete their efforts and the required corrective actions have been implemented.
Click to expand...
 
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