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Proton launches Inmarsat-5 F1 satellite

A Russian Proton rocket launched the first Inmarsat-5F satellites on December 8, during its ninth mission in 2013.

Ground track

Profile

Above: Ground track and mission profile of the Proton launch to deliver Inmarsat-5 F1. Credit: GKNPTs Khrunichev

Previous Proton mission: Astra-2E

A Proton-M rocket with a Briz-M upper stage lifted off from Baikonur Cosmodrome's Pad 39 at Site 200 on Dec. 8, 2013, at 16:11:59 Moscow Time (12:12 GMT, 7:12 a.m. EST). The rocket was carrying the 6,100-kilogram Inmarsat-5 F1 satellite for the Inmarsat organization based in London, UK.

During the launch of Inmarsat-5 F1, the first, second and third stages of the Proton rocket followed a standard ascent profile to place the payload section (Briz-M upper stage and the satellite) into a sub-orbital trajectory. The upper stage with the satellite separated from the third stage of the launch vehicle at 16:21 Moscow Time (7:21 a.m. EST) or nine minutes 42 seconds after liftoff.

From this point in the mission, the Briz-M was to perform five orbital maneuvers to enter first a circular parking orbit, then an intermediate orbit, followed by a transfer orbit, and finally a supersynchronous transfer orbit The separation of the satellite from the upper stage was scheduled for 07:43 Moscow Time on Dec. 9, 2013, (10:43 p.m. EST on December 8) or 15 hours 31 minutes after the liftoff.

The spacecraft was to use its own propulsion system to enter an operational geostationary orbit, 63 degrees East longitude over the Equator.

Inmarsat-5 F1 mission history

The Inmarsat-5 F1 satellite and three of its successors are built by Boeing's Space and Intelligence Systems in California, US. The agreement to launch a trio of Inmarsat-5 satellites on three Proton rockets in 2013-2014 was announced on Aug. 1, 2011. In October 2013, Inmarsat exercised the option to order one more 702HP spacecraft.

Based on the 702HP Ka-band satellite built by Boeing, Inmarsat-5 was conceived to form the constellation to support Inmarsat’s Global Xpress network. Global Xpress was designed to offer seamless global coverage and deliver unprecedented mobile broadband speeds of up to 50MB/s for users in the government, maritime, enterprise, energy and aeronautical sectors. Inmarsat promised to invest an estimated amount of $1.2 billion in the Global Xpress program, which includes launch costs.

The launch of Inmarsat-5 F1 was initially expected in the first half of 2013 and in October 2013, the mission was scheduled for December 8. The spacecraft was delivered to Baikonur on Nov. 11, 2013.

Inmarsat-5 series

According to Boeing, Inmarsat-5 satellites would join fleet of 10 geostationary satellites that provide a wide range of voice and data services through an established global network of distributors and service providers for Inmarsat organization.

Each Inmarsat-5 satellite was to carry 89 Ka-band beams that would operate in geosynchronous orbit with flexible global coverage. The satellites are designed to generate approximately 15 kilowatts of power at the start of service and approximately 13.8 kilowatts at the end of their 15-year design life. To generate such high power, each spacecraft's two solar wings employ five panels each of ultra triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells. The Boeing 702HP carries the xenon ion propulsion system, XIPS, for all on-orbit maneuvering. When operational, the Inmarsat-5 satellites would provide Inmarsat with a comprehensive range of global mobile satellite services, including mobile broadband communications for deep-sea vessels, in-flight connectivity for airline passengers and streaming high-resolution video, voice and data.

In a separate arrangement, Boeing also entered into a distribution partnership with Inmarsat to provide L- and Ka-band capacity services to key users within the U.S. government. Leveraging Boeing's expertise in government environments and applications, the Inmarsat-5 satellites were to provide Inmarsat's customers with an array of secure voice and high-speed communications applications between land, sea and air services, and multinational coalition. The Inmarsat-5 spacecraft was designed to be compatible with the Ariane, Sea Launch, Proton and Atlas launch vehicles, Boeing said.

APPENDIX

Inmarsat-5 F1 mission timeline on Dec. 8, 2013:

Timeline

Event	Moscow time	EST	Scheduled elapsed time	Factual elapsed time	Deviation
Liftoff	16:11:59	7:11 a.m.	0 seconds	-	0
Stage I separation	-	-	120 seconds	120 seconds	0
Stage II separation	-	-	327 seconds	328 seconds	1 second
Payload fairing separation	-	-	345 seconds	345 seconds	0
Stage III separation	16:21	7:21 a.m.	582 seconds	582 seconds	0
Briz-M firing 1 starts	-	-	676 seconds	677 seconds	1 second
Briz-M firing 1 ends	-	-	943 seconds	936 seconds	-7 seconds
Briz-M firing 2 starts	-	-	6,630 seconds	6,630 seconds	0
Briz-M firing 2 ends	-	-	7,804 seconds	7,783 seconds	-21 seconds
Briz-M firing 3 starts	-	-	15,829 seconds	15,829 seconds	0
Briz-M firing 3 ends	-	-	16,393 seconds	16,387 seconds	-6 seconds
Briz-M jettisons its external tank	-	-	16,443 seconds	16,437 seconds	-6 seconds
Briz-M firing 4 starts	-	-	16,530 seconds	16,530 seconds	0
Briz-M firing 4 ends	-	-	17,037 seconds	17,028 seconds	-9 seconds
Briz-M firing 5 starts	-	-	54,905 seconds	54,905 seconds	0
Briz-M firing 5 ends	-	-	55,114 seconds	55,111 seconds	-3 seconds
Spacecraft separation	07:43*	10:43 p.m.	55,860 seconds	55,841 seconds	-19 seconds

*December 9

Next chapter: Planned Proton missions in 2013

Page author: Anatoly Zak; Last update: January 29, 2015

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Artist rendering of Inmarsat-5 F1 satellite. Credit: Boeing

Processing

Inmarsat-5 satellite during pre-launch processing. Credit: Boeing

Proton with Inmarsat-5 F1 satellite on the launch pad shortly before liftoff. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos

Proton lifts off with Inmarsat-5 F1 satellite on Dec. 8, 2013. Click to enlarge. Credit: Roskosmos