Preparations for the launch of the “Proton-M” launch vehicle with the “Breeze-M” upper stage, the Eutelsat 5 West B telecommunication satellite and the technological satellite Mission Extension Vehicle-1, which is scheduled for October 9, 2019 at 13:17:56 (Moscow time), are ongoing at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
Today morning, on October 5, in accordance with the work schedule, transportation of a space rocket from a technological gas station to the launch pad of the launch site № 200 was completed.
After verticalization of the rocket was completed, a service unit was brought to it, and specialists from Roscosmos enterprises began work on the schedule of the first launch day.
Eutelsat 5 West B is a Ku-band satellite, that will be located at 5 degrees west longitude and will primarily target the markets of France, Italy and Algeria.
Northrop Grumman company manufactured the Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1) spacecraft, which for the first time will provide satellite extension services, provided by SpaceLogistics LLC, a 100% subsidiary.
It is assumed, that MEV-1 will dock to client satellites in geosynchronous near-Earth orbit, using the existing capabilities of satellites in terms of controlling the height and orientation of the spacecrafts.
During its 15-year life, MEV-1 will be able to dock and undock several times, which will make it possible to serve several client spacecraft.
