Prisma Satellites - Transport to launch site

transport to launch

Around 6 tonnes (the two satellites and equipment) will be transported to the launch site in Yasny, Russia. The satellites Mango and Tango are packed in special containers with shock damping and shock recorders.

The transport is planned in the following way:

Day 1: Transport by truck from SSC to Örebro airport. Loading on a dedicated cargo aircraft, an Antonov 12 (above)

Day 1-2: Overnight flight to Ulyanovsk, Russia. Two team members accompany the transport.

Day 2: Customs clearance and overnight stay in Ulyanovsk

Day 3: Short flight to Orsk. Reloading to trucks. Ground transport convoy to Yasny, approximately 110 km, which might take up to 6 hours due to very bad road conditions.

See reports below!

Reports:

Arrival

Prisma has arrived in Yasny.
We are now unpacking and make preparations for tomorrow.
Lets just hope that the satellites have survived the terrible road from Orsk.

Krister and Prisma containers

Written by

Staffan Persson

2010-05-20 / 20:03:30

Rough roads

Two thirds through our bumpy road to Yasny. Picture of our truck convoy driving at 40 km/h.

Prisma - Truck convoy

Written by

Staffan Persson

2010-05-20 / 15:27:04

From Orsk by truck

Prisma has landed in Orsk after a quite nice flight, and I had a short session at the stick. Offloading and a long truck transport is ahead of us.

offloading-in-orsk-100520-350
Offloading in Orsk

Written by

Staffan Persson

2010-05-20 / 09:17:26

On our way to Orsk!

On the "road" again. We and the flight crew enter our fine An-12, we are scheduled for liftoff at 08:00 lokal time, and a 1.5 hour flight to Orsk.

Jonas happy to be let onboard again

Written by

Staffan Persson

2010-05-20 / 05:36:00

Yes!

Finally cleared through customs. Liftoff from Ulyanovsk is scheduled at 08:00 tomorrow (well, today actually, we are past midnight).

Written by

Staffan Persson

2010-05-20 / 00:12:00

Tough delay

For different bureaucratical reasons, we are still stuck in the Russian customs in Ulyanovsk. We cannot hope for a flight to Orsk tonight, so we have to face a 24 h delay. Will be difficult to catch up.

Written by

Staffan Persson

2010-05-19 / 18:04:00

Waiting for go-ahead

Things are moving but very slowly. Still waiting for customs goahead, right now inspection of the airplane and the cargo. Hopefully we get started to Orsk in a couple of hours.

Cargo inspection

Written by

Staffan Persson

2010-05-19 / 12:58:06

Still in Ulyanovsk

The customs clearance yesterday was not completely finalized. We had to write some clarifications late last evening, and this morning we are back in the customs office for some other formality. The flight to Orsk is delayed until further notice.

Ulyanovsk
Customs building in Ulyanvosk

Written by

Staffan Persson

2010-05-19 / 06:15:00

On Russian ground

We have landed in Ulyanovsk after a smooth 4.5 h flight and a very smooth landing.
Customs procedures will take the whole day.
Short flight to Orsk tomorrow.

Written by

Staffan Persson

2010-05-18 / 09:18:00

Taking off from Örebro...

After a long day of loading on trucks, offloading at Örebro airport, and waiting, Prisma is now loaded on the Russian An-12 cargo aircraft (with very little room to spare). The engines are starting up......

Written by

Staffan Persson

2010-05-18 / 02:09:00

The journey has started

It is finally happening! Prisma is officially on its way to the launch site at Yasny. Two trucks showed up at the back side of our office building this morning, and the valuable cargo was rolled onboard. At 12.03 local time the trucks started the 200 km transport to Örebro Airport. From there, an Antonov 12 aircraft will take the two satellites, test equipment and two SSC engineers on a nighttime eastward journey.
Two other SSC engineers will follow on a scheduled airline flight on Wednesday and are counting on catching up by the time the satellites reach Yasny.
Wishing all involved the best of luck!

P1050826-227-b

Written by

Annika Benson

2010-05-17 / 15:33:00