Luch 5B

Spacecraft nr:

Russian spacecraft nr:

Launch data: Designation  38977 / 12061A Launch date  02 Nov 2012 - 21:04 UT Launch site  Baik., LC-81/24 Launch vehicle  Proton-M Briz-M Mission  Government: Communication / Relay Geostationary orbit: Perigee / Apogee  35772 x 35801 km Eccentricity  3,44E-04 Inclination  0.22 deg Period  1436.09 min

Description:

• LUCH 5B will relay data, voice and video communications between the ground and the Russian segment of the International Space Station, satellites, and rockets in flight. The new craft is the second in a new generation of Luch data relay satellites. Russia launched the Luch 5A spacecraft in December 2011. The Luch system is Russia's counterpart to NASA's Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, a network of spacecraft linking mission controllers with the space station, scientific satellites and rockets. Luch 5B weighed 2,513 pounds (1,140 kg) at launch and will operate for 10 years at 16 degrees west longitude over the Atlantic Ocean. Luch 5A covers the Indian Ocean.
• S- and Ku-band data relay channels of each satellite will be linked with receive/transmit points via satellite communications links.
• Each data relay satellite is capable of orienting its high-precision antennas towards low-flying space objects so as to "catch" and "track" them along their trajectories. Moreover, each of the two user antennas is capable of tracking its "own" low-flying space object. One antenna will operate in the Ku-band, the other in the S-band, with the Ku-band channel capacity at 150 Mbit/s and the S-band channel capacity at up to 5 Mbit/s.
• Relay commands and data. Provide secure communication links, command relay to spacecraft, and communication with ISS. Time correctoin for GLONASS.

Mission details:

• Russia's Proton orbited a pair of communications satellites on Nov 2, 2012 both built by ISS Reshetnev. Luch-5B uses an Ekspress-1000A bus and is the second of a pair of data relay satellites and will provide communications support to the Station. Yamal-300K is an Ekspress-1000HTA with C and Ku band payload for Gazprom Space Systems, part of the massive Russian Gazprom energy company.
• The Briz-M upper stage reached a 388 x 35735 km x 48.7 deg transfer orbit and ejected the DTB drop tank, which is being tracked. Khrunichev reported that the stage then made a circularization burn and relesed the satellites in near-synchronous orbit.
  On Nov 17, over two weeks later, the US appears only to be tracking the drop tank and not the payloads.
• As of Dec 8, 2012 Yamal-300K is on station at 90.8E while Luch-5B is still drifting west over 13W.