Into the home stretch...

The news at breakfast today was that problem-solving efforts with the batteries met with continued success last night, and that the launch is... on! As of 2:47 pm, the Khrunichev team has begun "irreversible" operations with the launch vehicle. (As I understand them, these ops are not really irreversible, in the sense that the vehicle undergoes some fundamentally irrevocable physical change, but we're told you don't initiate these operations with a Proton-M launch vehicle unless you're seriously intending to follow through with a launch.)

The State Commission that is to give the green light for propellant loading is to meet tonight at 8 pm. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

* * *Yesterday, most of the launch team visited the pad to participate in the traditional "signing" of the corporate logo that's plastered on the side of the payload fairing. Everyone gets to go up on the tower (Level 7) and actually put their hands on the launch vehicle. If I ever find my camera again (long story), I'll post a picture of the festivities, including my handwritten contribution, dedicating this campaign and launch to Huntür. Being away from home for so long is a grind, and I've been thinking about the family a lot.

ILS management arranged a little soireé for the interpretation and office staff last night. It took place in the Fili "mini-bar," which is simply a small room with a dry serving bar installed in a back corner. The whole crew (I estimate about 18 people: 5 interpreters, 3 office staffers, and the rest associated with ILS) crowded into the room to basically share a dinner, complete with toasts.

Pretty much everyone got up to say something. When my turn came, I noted that it had always been my professional goal to do interesting things with fascinating people, and that as far as this campaign was concerned, I'd hit the jackpot. I think my remarks were received well.

* * *I tweaked the broadcast script earlier in the afternoon and read through it once, to make sure it sounded okay. As I understand, I'll be reporting to the comm center at 2 am (for a 4:27 am launch), so I'll probably have to hit the hay early this evening. I figure if I get 4 hours between 8 pm and 1 am, I'll probably be recharged enough to work through the night.

Given the time difference between Baikonur and the US (an even 12 hours to Mountain time, for example), most interested folks can watch the webcast of the launch without having to burn the midnight oil.

Recharged. Heh. I think I have batteries on the brain, the same way everyone else around here does.

Cheers...

A loud roar hereabouts...

That's what's expected to happen in about another 6 hours (at 4:27 am local time, on the dot).

I was asleep until someone called on the phone (my bad for leaving it connected). As I moved back toward the bed, I just knew that sleep was not going to come again easily, so I decided to process yesterday's photos. (Yes, what was lost has been found.)

Recall that yesterday, the team went out to the launch pad to sign the payload fairing. As everyone got off the bus, they were greeted by what seems to be a mad jumble of pipes, ducts, trusses, and other heavy iron that make up the Mobile Service Tower, about which I've written previously. One thing I don't think I mentioned was how claustrophobic the spaces on the tower become once the launch vehicle is nestled within the "arms" of the tower.



What I found particularly interesting is how the structure has been modified, and modified, and modified yet again over the years (the original structure was built in the late 60s/early 70s). There are cables everywhere, most of them encased in metal braid, and nearly all of them fairly thick and terminating in connectors the size of a small coffee can. There are also a number of clever mechanical devices all over the place, the better to deal with things such as propellant lines, air conditioning ducts, instrumentation racks, and what have you.

Here's another shot of the tower, from what I think of as the "front." You can see the "arms" of the tower pretty clearly in this shot, where they are closed around the launch vehicle.



The group rode the elevators (occupancy limit, 5 people plus the operator) up to Level 7, where the Intelsat corporate logo was located on the payload fairing. The festivities were started by the senior Intelsat representative, who signed the upper left hand corner of the logo. ILS management then took its turn, after which the event turned into a sort of orderly free-for-all for the rest of the team.

Some dedications were humorous, but many more expressed best wishes or dedications to various people. Mine fell into the latter category, as shown in the following photo:



Here it is, nearly 10:30 pm and I'm not tired at all. Rats.

I shall lie down and close my eyes... maybe some form of unconsciousness will develop that will qualify as a nap before I have to report for work at 2 am.

Cheers...