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Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 3 2009, 12:23 PM

http://www.newsinfo.ru/news/2008-12-15/sputnik/174938

Russia will launch a new spacecraft to study the Sun - Koronas-Foton (or Coronas-Photon). Launch is scheduled to occur on 29th of jan 2009.

This is supposed to be the last launch of a Tsyklon rocket.

Once launched Koronas-Photon will be placed into a cirtular orbit 500kms above the Earth. Orbital inclination - 82.5 deg.

Posted by: Hungry4info Jan 4 2009, 04:42 AM

Well that was rather sudden...

Posted by: mchan Jan 4 2009, 06:59 AM

I don't see the reference to the Tsyklon launcher in the Google translation. Was that mentioned in a separate reference?

Thanks.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 4 2009, 09:01 AM

Yes, it was - there was a Roscosmos link, but the website is currently closed due to technical problems.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 22 2009, 11:13 PM

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5225
http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/z22.01.09.shtml

Tests have nown been completed successfully. Launch is scheduled to occur on time.

Image of the satellite : http://www.roscosmos.ru/PictFiles/8/2009_01_20_1.JPG

It's a beautiful bird

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 27 2009, 10:22 AM

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5277

All preparations for launch have been completed.

Launch time: 29-01-08 | 16:30 Moscow time; 13:30 GMT

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 29 2009, 08:54 AM

http://www.vesti.ru/doc.html?id=247070&cid=10

Roscosmos plans to launch today. Russian scientists thing big again - they say the "highest priority" of the mission is to answer the question how to avoid Solar radiation during trips to Mars.


EDIT : Launch postponed for a day.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 30 2009, 01:40 PM

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5303

I can confirm launch!!!

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 30 2009, 02:25 PM

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/project_diary.html

They confirm that the first and the second stages of the rocket have worked. We don't have confirmation that the third stage has worked. The first radiosignal of the spacecraft should be received at 18:02 Moscow time. This means yet another 40 minutes of tense waiting.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 30 2009, 03:23 PM

LAUNCH SUCCESS:

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5304
http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/project_diary.html

Spacecraft successfully inserted into the desired orbit. Solar panels have opened! Congratulations to all!

Posted by: ngunn Jan 30 2009, 04:10 PM

Great! Thanks for keeping us updated with events.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 30 2009, 05:34 PM

What surprised me most is that the Russian space program is very open and they share a lot of information with us. The former Soviet space program was very secretive.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 30 2009, 05:46 PM

http://iaf.mephi.ru/

We have information that the second set of telemetric data has been received successfully. The spacecraft reports that the temperature and pressure is normal.

Posted by: maschnitz Jan 30 2009, 09:00 PM

For us non-Russian-speakers out there: you can follow the http://66.102.7.100/translate_c?hl=en&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/project_diary.html&prev=_t&usg=ALkJrhgVDLovdeQskpdSW5u7g7H580bUcA.

The http://csp.res.in/rt2-main.html also has information, in English, but not a lot.

Posted by: Sunspot Jan 31 2009, 01:32 PM

Spaceflight Now article on the launch http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0901/30tsyklon/

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 31 2009, 02:33 PM

http://zvezdanews.ru/video/day_events/0026033/ - LAUNCH VIDEO!

Posted by: lyford Jan 31 2009, 04:31 PM

Thanks for this - very cool.

As someone raised on watching launches at Cape Canaveral, it's really a treat to see SNOW on the ground! (other than the frost from the LOX and such)

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 31 2009, 04:47 PM

I also wonder how they are able to launch in such conditions.

Posted by: ugordan Jan 31 2009, 04:57 PM

Why shouldn't they be able? The rocket was derived from an ICBM, it would be surprising if a little snow bothered it.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Feb 20 2009, 10:28 AM

Roscosmos announces that the team has started switching on the scientific instruments. Everything is proceeding smoothly. There are no problems being reported.

Posted by: Sunspot Feb 20 2009, 10:44 AM

Are we likely to see any data/images from this mission?

Posted by: Zvezdichko Feb 20 2009, 10:49 AM

I think it's very, very likely - especially from TESIS.

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/

Posted by: tedstryk Feb 21 2009, 03:37 AM

It is likely, based on Coronas-I and Coronas-F. http://coronas.izmiran.rssi.ru/

Posted by: Zvezdichko Feb 27 2009, 10:10 AM

FIRST IMAGES!!!!

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5535

Yeah Yeah!!!

Posted by: Sunspot Feb 27 2009, 12:10 PM

WOW... that was quick

Posted by: Dominik Feb 27 2009, 12:32 PM

Awesome images! I always love to view the newest SOHO Images, but these pictures are even better .

Posted by: Zvezdichko Mar 3 2009, 11:49 AM

http://tesis.lebedev.ru/project_diary.html

A whole lot of new images were published!!!

Plus Google translation of the publication:

Posted by: ustrax Mar 4 2009, 07:48 PM

Look ma, no show off!
Just love the russian sobriety...
There they are, staring at the sun, and we almost missed the whole thing if it weren't for Zvezdichko...

When we'll check the next time we'll have a Dmitri's footprint on martian ground...

Posted by: lyford Mar 5 2009, 02:33 AM

Second that thought -

Zvezdichko , I really appreciate your efforts! Thanks!

Posted by: Zvezdichko Mar 5 2009, 10:34 AM

Thanks, folks!

More news coming:

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_centering.php

Centering the telescope.

Translated version of the page:

http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tesis.lebedev.ru%2Finfo%2Ftesis_centering.php&sl=auto&tl=en

Posted by: Juramike Mar 5 2009, 01:10 PM

Wow. These are beautiful. Is this going to be the main page for daily updated imaages?

Posted by: Zvezdichko Mar 5 2009, 01:12 PM

I think so.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Mar 14 2009, 10:13 PM

http://tesis.lebedev.ru/gallery/image_of_day.php?id=1

What do you think this is supposed to be?

Hint: It's a famous planet

Posted by: ugordan Mar 14 2009, 10:34 PM

A star scanner image with Earth in the FOV?

Posted by: Zvezdichko Mar 14 2009, 10:41 PM

ugordan: Bingo!

Posted by: ugordan Mar 14 2009, 10:45 PM

I'm still having trouble figuring out the geometry - is this a limb shot and if so, what's the discrete "haze" layer to the right?

Posted by: Hungry4info Mar 15 2009, 01:49 AM

I would guess the haze is a cloud.

Posted by: ynyralmaen Mar 15 2009, 12:38 PM

The http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=1094?

Posted by: Zvezdichko Apr 1 2009, 09:22 AM

According to Roscosmos:

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=5834

Koronas-Foton made its first scientific discovery. New belts of activity have formed across the Sun. These belts are symmetrical and are in the Northern and Southern Solar hemispheres.

Posted by: Zvezdichko May 23 2009, 12:52 PM

Koronas-Foton photographs solar flares:

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6310

Posted by: nprev May 23 2009, 06:45 PM

Ooo...COOL shot, thanks for posting the link, Z! Are those flares, actually, or are they solar spicules? If the latter, lots more detail than I've seen before.

Posted by: Zvezdichko May 23 2009, 09:16 PM

I believe these are flares.

Btw there's a very cool video made by Koronas-Foton here:

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/movie/ActiveRegionsMay2009.wmv

Posted by: Zvezdichko May 29 2009, 01:14 PM

An update:

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_20090527.php

Koronas-Foton observes the creation of a Southern belt of activity ...

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jun 8 2009, 05:32 PM

Yet another update (Is anybody interested in the mission ) :

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_20090604.php

Koronas-Foton photographs the biggest group of solar spots this year!

Posted by: Sunspot Jun 8 2009, 06:08 PM

Of course,

although my Russian isn't very good lol

Posted by: lyford Jun 8 2009, 08:44 PM

Keep the updates coming! I shared some of these images and videos with our 6th grade science class

I too depend upon you since my Russian is lacking.

Posted by: imipak Jun 9 2009, 07:33 AM

The Google translation app is getting pretty good these days: http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=n&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tesis.lebedev.ru%2Finfo%2Ftesis_20090604.php&sl=ru&tl=en&history_state0=

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jun 19 2009, 09:42 AM

A new update:

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/mass_ejection_20090614.php

Koronas-Foton registered new major release of substances from the Sun

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jul 6 2009, 12:03 PM

NEW IMAGE:

http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=6669

A huge solar flare has been photographed

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jul 23 2009, 05:57 PM

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_20090722.php

Koronas-Foton successfully photographs the Solar eclipse.

This mission is wonderful!

PS: There are also several video files published

Posted by: ugordan Jul 23 2009, 06:30 PM

I like how the targeting system tries to keep the center of the bright surface at the detector center. Once the Moon bites out a bit the "average" center starts to shift

Posted by: nprev Jul 23 2009, 11:52 PM

Cool indeed! The slewing adds an odd sort of immediacy. Wish I could read Russian to fully enjoy the site.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jul 24 2009, 09:41 AM

OK, I will try to help you (Russian is close to Bulgarian and I almost have no problems):

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_20090723.php

According to this publication the culmination of the Solar Eclipse occurred together with the strongest magnetic storm in the past 7 months.

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/upload/files/kp_20090722.png

The green color on the chart means normal magnetosphere, orange - excited magnetosphere, red color - magnetic storm.

G1 is a very weak storm G2 - average storm, G3 - strong storm G4 - very strong storm G5 - extreme storm.

So according to the chart the storm during the Solar eclipse is close to G2 = average storm.

I'm also able to read: The storm was unexpected. The Sun is very calm now and there are no spots on the surface. In the last few days there were no coronal mass ejections detected.

Posted by: nprev Jul 24 2009, 05:43 PM

Thank you very much, Z! Looks like the Sun is showing signs of coming out of this prolonged minimum, finally.

Posted by: tedstryk Jul 26 2009, 12:40 PM

So great that they are releasing nice images and movies. When Coronas-F imaged an eclipse, images were next to impossible to come by.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 1 2009, 09:03 AM

And there's more! Looks like we have a LIVE IMAGE page entitled "Solnce Segodnya" which means "The Sun Now" in Russian:

Here it is:

http://tesis.lebedev.ru/sun_pictures.html

Several hints:

изображение фотосферы = image of the photosphere.

изображение магнитного поля = image of the magnetic field

изображение короны = image of the corona

изображение солнечного ветра = image of the solar wind.

изображение переходного слоя = ?? (don't know how to translate it properly)...

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 1 2009, 09:15 AM

http://tesis.lebedev.ru/

I noticed that the main page has several important additions. The first one is "Прогноз космической погоды" which means "Space Weather Forecast"... There's information about
'Магнитные бури в последние 24 часа" which means "Magnetic Storms in the past 24 hours". If you see something like: "Не наблюдались", this means that there are no Magnetic storms observed. "Магнитные бури в ближайшие 24 часа" is a forecast for the next 24 hours. If you see "Не ожидаются" or something like that - it means that no Storms are expected.

This is the current forecast for tomorrow.

"Текущая активность Солнца" shows the current activities of the Sun. "Поток радиоизлучения" means "A stream of electromagnetic radiation" or something like that. The next two fields mean "Average planetary A-index" and "Average planetary Kr-index". I really don't know what this means. Maybe you will help me?

The next addition is "Группы пятен и активные области" - This shows the current status of the solar spots and areas of activities. If you read "Нет активных областей" this means there are no active areas observed.

Posted by: Sunspot Aug 1 2009, 10:15 AM

But aren't those SOHO images?

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 1 2009, 10:19 AM

Looks like the currently images are of SOHO. Not sure if this is temporary, but I hope so! They are very, very, very outdated compared to the images published on the official website of SOHO.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 17 2009, 07:05 PM

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_20090811.php

A summer without activities... This is the headline I may try to translate later

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 24 2009, 02:33 PM

http://www.izvestia.ru/science/article3132137/

VERY INTERESTING! Koronas-Foton may be used for EARTHQUAKE FORECASTS!

http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.izvestia.ru%2Fscience%2Farticle3132137%2F&sl=auto&tl=en&history_state0=

Google translate - don't have time to check for accuracy - following a shuttle misison.

Special thanks to a friend of mine on my own board!

Posted by: imipak Aug 24 2009, 08:31 PM

Mildly interesting, but there've been many stories over the years about amazing breakthrough discoveries in earthquake prediction.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Aug 25 2009, 06:21 AM

This is what I'm going to ask - is this serious or it's a topic brought out by the woewoes?

Posted by: Hungry4info Aug 25 2009, 09:27 AM

Well, if it isn't repeatable, it isn't science.
Let's see if they can reproduce these results. Better yet, let's see if they can issue an earthquake warning before a quake.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Sep 30 2009, 07:01 PM

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_20090927.php

The instrument TESIS aboard Koronas-Foton photographed a huge solar flare. This is a spectacular image.

Posted by: Stu Sep 30 2009, 07:12 PM

Wow, that's some image, great catch!

Posted by: PDP8E Sep 30 2009, 08:07 PM

That is a great image, and a little way into the story there is a link to a 20 second movie from where that image originates.

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/movie/Tesis_20090927.wmv

(good catch Zvezdichko! and thanks)

Cheers

Posted by: nprev Sep 30 2009, 11:49 PM

Oh, wow...first Stu's great HiRISE colorization, now this!!! That's a really stunning image!

Posted by: Zvezdichko Nov 6 2009, 11:48 AM

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_20091104.php

TESIS observes active field 1029. This is how the field formed:

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_20091104_gallery1.php

A second gallery is here:

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_20091104_gallery2.php

Google translate here:

http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=bg&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tesis.lebedev.ru%2Finfo%2Ftesis_20091104.php&sl=ru&tl=en&history_state0=

Posted by: Zvezdichko Dec 11 2009, 01:10 PM

BAD NEWS - Koronas-Foton is in Safe mode due to a problem with power supply

http://lenta.ru/news/2009/12/11/tesis/

GOOGLE TRANSLATE:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Flenta.ru%2Fnews%2F2009%2F12%2F11%2Ftesis%2F

I also have information that engineers are trying to restore power supply and turn on the scientific instruments, but these attempts aren't successful.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Dec 13 2009, 10:07 AM

Yesterday I googled the Russian Google and came across this article:

http://www.rian.ru/science/20091211/198635487.html

They say there is hope, but all attempts to restore the spacecraft have been unsuccessful. The situation is very serious and the outcome isn't clear. Degradation started gradually.

Posted by: Sunspot Dec 13 2009, 10:17 AM

This is disappointing .

Posted by: Zvezdichko Dec 13 2009, 11:16 AM

Yes, it is. It's not a typical safe mode, but we have a known technical issue standing behind it, which is quite serious.

I remind you that the expected lifespan of the spacecraft was supposed to be about 3 years.

There's an interesting discussing going at novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru forum. As we already know: We have faulty chemical batteries, but the scientific instruments and the other components are healthy. Standart questions are being asked: Who is the contractor responsible for the batteries? Why did they allow the satellite to fly with such faulty batteries? Who is to blame? After all, a reader says, SOHO was launched in 1996 and still works, it's the same situation with STEREO and HINODE.

There is a possibility, another reader says, that the batteries are OK, but a sensor has faltered.

Another reader offers that a system should be built so we could collect faulty satellites and return them to the Earth Why not on-orbit repair, I should ask

Very, very interesting forum, too bad my spoken Russian isn't fluent

Posted by: Zvezdichko Dec 18 2009, 12:32 PM

Russia loses contact with Koronas-Foton


http://tesis.lebedev.ru/status.html

Russia has announced that Koronas-Foton no longer communicates with Earth since 11th December.

Engineers will try to communicate with the satellite on Monday because the solar batteries will be well lit then.

http://www.sat-nd.com/

Koronas-Foton silent after problems with power supply
13 Dec 2009 - The scientific payload aboard Russia's solar research satellite Koronas-Foton was switched off owing to power supply problems on 1 December, Novosti news agency reported. Contact with the spacecraft was subsequently lost, and chances of a recovery are said to be slim

Posted by: Hungry4info Dec 18 2009, 04:56 PM

This is terrible to hear.
Of curiosity, does Koronas-Foton have anything in common with Fobos-Grunt? Any similar systems that could need to be checked as a result of this?

Posted by: Zvezdichko Dec 18 2009, 05:47 PM

I can't confirm that the chemical batteries are made by the same manifacturer. True or false, they should be checked and tested before launching PG

Posted by: nprev Dec 18 2009, 05:58 PM

Terrible news.

Posted by: Sunspot Dec 18 2009, 06:26 PM

awwwww bad news

We still have SDO launching in a couple of months as long as it doesn't get delayed again.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Dec 18 2009, 06:30 PM

SDO has a very friendly Facebook chatter and IIRC according to him it is probably going to be the last delay. We have the rocket.

Posted by: mchan Dec 19 2009, 01:50 AM

That is unfortunate. I am reminded of a similar mission ending failure on Seasat after a few months operation some 30 years ago. It was also a power system problem. Space is hard and unforgiving of mistakes.

Posted by: Big_Gazza Dec 19 2009, 08:52 AM

I'm still having problems coming to terms with this failure. How depressing that the (apparent) loss of this fine instrument is due to the use of dodgy batteries, a well-established technology that should by now be rock-solid and present a near-zero risk.

I hope they pin-point the fault, then nail the guilty party (sub-contractor). Hang 'em high and let them serve as a lesson to others

Posted by: nprev Dec 19 2009, 09:20 AM

To give the KF team their due: Project management/complex product development is very difficult. Spaceflight is an order of magnitude or more so. Sometimes the miracle is that it ever worked at all; sometimes the real payoff is the lessons learned.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Dec 19 2009, 09:43 AM

I have my explaination why this happened, but I'm not sure this is the right place to share (involves political and economy issues).

Anyway, I'm giving a facebook account if anybody wants to go into a detailed discussion with me: www.facebook.com/svetoslav

After all, I'm again disturbed by the fact that Roscosmos and most of the official several sites are silent - just like after the delay of Phobos-Grunt.

Posted by: djellison Dec 19 2009, 10:56 AM

You're not sure if you should mention politics. Really?

Posted by: Zvezdichko Dec 29 2009, 03:59 PM

Koronas-Foton returns to life!

http://www.izvestia.ru/news/news226795

Anatoly Perminov cautiously announces that we finally have information (this probably means a signal) from Koronas-Foton. It's too early to talk about restoration of the scientific mission because the batteries need to be charged. According to plans the scientific instruments should be turned on during the first days of January.

Fingers crossed, Koronas-Foton! If true, this is a true miracle!

Posted by: Sunspot Dec 29 2009, 05:56 PM

That's incredible news

Posted by: Zvezdichko Dec 29 2009, 05:58 PM

I'd like to advice you to wait for an official confirmation - TESIS website announced earlier today that there's still no communication. I'm not sure if IZVESTIA is a credible source.

Posted by: djellison Dec 29 2009, 06:14 PM

Which is why you posted to the forum with the headline 'Koronas-Foton returns to life!'

You should take your own advice.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Dec 29 2009, 06:42 PM

Yes, you are right, I should check my sources when I post. However I was too excited, forgive me

But... no matter what happened, I'm even more excited now... Because we have official confirmation!

http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=8777

Roscosmos officially announces that there is communication with Koronas-Foton!

Posted by: tedstryk Dec 31 2009, 04:50 PM

Great news!

Posted by: nprev Dec 31 2009, 07:28 PM

Great news indeed! Will be interesting to see the details of the recovery & fault analysis.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 2 2010, 10:18 AM

Doh! Look what I found out here:

http://www.tesis.lebedev.ru/status.html

30th december 2009

Today we had the last meeting of the GOGU (Which is the Lead Operation Team). According to them they couldn't confirm yesterday's announce of Roscosmos about the restoration of Koronas-Foton. The satellite continues being in its previous state and the last contact occured on 10th of december.

Log of the events (English, Google translate):

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=bg&sl=ru&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tesis.lebedev.ru%2Fstatus.html

Posted by: imipak Jan 2 2010, 05:36 PM

How utterly bizarre. Does this mean Roscosmos should no longer be considered a credible source?

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 3 2010, 05:07 PM

I really don't know how to comment this. My personal opinion is that there is some kind of miscommunication between Koronas-Foton engineering team and Perminov.

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 18 2010, 01:43 PM

http://tesis.lebedev.ru/info/tesis_20100118.php

Koronas-Foton entered the orbit with a maximum illumination, but engineers were unable to restore the performance of the spacecraft. TESIS team confirms that there is no radio link with the spacecraft since December 11th 2009. Actually, they are not talking about "restoring the science program". They are talking about obtaining a radio signal from the spacecraft. Koronas-Foton is silent.

There's still no explaination why Roscosmos (specifically its head Anatoly Perminov) told us that engineers have restored the functionality of Koronas-Foton and there is a radio link between the spacecraft and Earth controllers.

Posted by: mps Jan 18 2010, 05:15 PM

I also don't have any good explanation.
But think about: when was the last time you heard any bad news from official Roscosmos sources?

Posted by: Zvezdichko Jan 18 2010, 06:23 PM

The answer to your question is: When Phonos-Grunt got delayed for two years. It wasn't announced on the front page, but it's still on the website of Roscosmos - though on a well hidden page.