Chronus core launched

[IronRain]

This is an HASA special update.

On March 25th 2011, at 18:00 UTC, a Proton was launched from Baikonur with the Chronus core as payload. This core will be used as main module for the new Chronus space station in Low Earth Orbit, or LEO. After a smooth launch, the core was inserted in an orbit with a PeA of 130 km and an ApA of 322 km. Later, when the core reached its ApA, the PeA was raised to 200 km. In the next few weeks, the orbit will be raised to about 350 km. This will be done by the main engines of ATV-1.


Everything going smooth


Service gantry backing away


Service gantry removed


ignition!


Chronus on its way to space


standing by for staging


Staging confirmed


Burn to raise PeA to 200 km

The first expedition to Chronus is scheduled to launch on March 27th. Launch time is 17:39 utc. This expedition will be carried out by a Soyuz TMA with the following crew:
Flight Commander (FC): Tarasov
Flight Engineer 1 (FE1): Nikitin
Flight Engineer 2 (FE2): Andreeva

 

[IronRain]

Flight path of the Proton launcher:

 

[Stevodoran]

Nice

 

[IronRain]

Thanks :tiphat:

 

[Mojave]

Nice pix :thumbup:

 

[Scruce]

Ditto

 

[IronRain]

Thanks!

 

[IronRain]

Launch of expedition 1 is postponed due to the bad weather at the launch site. New launch time is set for March 28th, 18:39 UTC.

 

[IronRain]

Launch again postponed. Launch was aborted moment before lift-off. New launch atempt tomorrow

 

[IronRain]

Launch time for tonights attempt is 17:45 UTC. Roscosmos ran some symstem tests and everything is in great shape for tonights launch!