Rokot launch with two Gonets-M, Kosmos-2481 and MiR satellites - July 28, 2012

[Olaf]

The launch is planned at 01:35:00 UTC on July 28th, as per Roskosmos.

According to http://ria.ru/science/20120728/711123495.html the launch occured as planned.

[Artyom.]

According to Roscosmos, the  satellites put into orbit  .

[Nicolas PILLET]

Military satellite officially named Cosmos 2481.

http://structure.mil.ru/structure/forces/cosmic/news/more.htm?id=11266924@egNews

[input~2]

Russia Launches Cluster of Four Satellites

[input~2]

http://www.itar-tass.com/c1/482833.html (in Russian)

[input~2]

5 objects have been catalogued by USSTRATCOM:

2012-041A / 38733 in 1474.5 x 1508.7km x 82.49°

2012-041B / 38734 in 1481.9 x 1506.5km x 82.47°

2012-041C / 38735 in 1485.2 x 1505.6km x 82.47°

2012-041D / 38736 in 1483.7 x 1506.9km x 82.47°

2012-041E / 38737 in 1165.0 x 1503.8km x 82.48° (Briz-KM?)

[Star One]

Is there any particular reason why this launcher is so little used, is it down to its two past failures or does it just serve an area of the market where there is little demand for flights or where there is heavy competition from other launchers? 

[Salo Ukr]

Video:
http://tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201207281325-xo0z.htm
http://www.vesti.ru/only_video.html?vid=435392

[sammie]

Is there any particular reason why this launcher is so little used, is it down to its two past failures or does it just serve an area of the market where there is little demand for flights or where there is heavy competition from other launchers?

First, because it flies from Plestek, mostly to SSO and Molinya orbit. There is just less demand for this type of orbit then for GTO or LEO.

They started out with this rocket in '95. But only when they had moved to Plestek in 2000 the whole process was ready for commercial payloads. But getting the whole erector and vertical integration process perfected took a long time. The Briz KM upper-stage made it more expensive then it's direct competitors such as the Cosmos 3M and Dnepr. The 2005 failure with Cryosat didn't help either, being the first major ESA probe to use this LV.

And when the Rockot finally emerged from this failure there was a shortage of S5.92 engines that are shared between the Breeze M and Fregat upper stages. They could only produce 10 or so of these engines a year, and with the other launch vehicles bringing in more cash, Rokot was pretty much grounded again.

Now it's finally getting it's stride back. Russia has finally retired the Cosmos 3M and it's associated payloads, Angara is still far away and Ukrainian Dnepr keeps getting tangled up in dropzone conflicts. So Rokot has become the small launcher of choice for Russia. However with Vega finally flying all the juice ESA contracts will probably be given to Arianespace. Such is politics

[Nicolas PILLET]

Someone (Jonathan ?) knows the number of Briz-KM burns ?

[Nicolas PILLET]

Do we know which Gonets satellites are the ones still operating?

If I have understood correctly, three Gonets-D1 satellites (No. 13, 14, 15), which were launched in 1996, and Gonets-M (No. 12), which was launched in 2010.

The ISS journal n°310 (here) says that :

- Presently (7th july 2012), there is only one Goniets-M in orbit.
- Satellites n°14, 16 and 17 are being prepared in ISS company.
- Satellites n°13 and 15 are the ones launched on 28th july.

[jcm]

Someone (Jonathan ?) knows the number of Briz-KM burns ?

Based on previous launches I would assume
Burn 1 from  (-4000? x 200?) to  100? x 1500?
Burn 2 from 100? x 1500?  to 1480 x 1510
Burn 3 from 1480 x 1510   to 1164 x 1504

[Star One]

Is there any particular reason why this launcher is so little used, is it down to its two past failures or does it just serve an area of the market where there is little demand for flights or where there is heavy competition from other launchers?

First, because it flies from Plestek, mostly to SSO and Molinya orbit. There is just less demand for this type of orbit then for GTO or LEO.

They started out with this rocket in '95. But only when they had moved to Plestek in 2000 the whole process was ready for commercial payloads. But getting the whole erector and vertical integration process perfected took a long time. The Briz KM upper-stage made it more expensive then it's direct competitors such as the Cosmos 3M and Dnepr. The 2005 failure with Cryosat didn't help either, being the first major ESA probe to use this LV.

And when the Rockot finally emerged from this failure there was a shortage of S5.92 engines that are shared between the Breeze M and Fregat upper stages. They could only produce 10 or so of these engines a year, and with the other launch vehicles bringing in more cash, Rokot was pretty much grounded again.

Now it's finally getting it's stride back. Russia has finally retired the Cosmos 3M and it's associated payloads, Angara is still far away and Ukrainian Dnepr keeps getting tangled up in dropzone conflicts. So Rokot has become the small launcher of choice for Russia. However with Vega finally flying all the juice ESA contracts will probably be given to Arianespace. Such is politics

Thanks. That's certainly a very full reason and I can see why now that it hasn't be used as much. Has it got got many payloads booked for launch? 

[sammie]

The near future will see a couple of launches, although looking further ahead then 2 years is rather useless with smaller LV.

I think there's at least 3 ESA payload launches planned. Only when Vega dissapoints or fails this number will be increased. If Vega turns out to be a safe rocket, all Europeans payloads will have to fly Vega, regardless of price.

For now the number of Russian payloads on Rockot seem to be about 2 a year, mostly Gonets and Strela payloads. Additional Russian payloads could happen if smaller versions of Angara and Soyuz are delayed some more.

Most other foreign commercial payloads seem to prefer Dnepr, for reasons of price and achievable orbit.

So I think we'll see 2 to 3 Rockot launches a year for another 5 years. Basically until the feedstock of ICBM's dries up completely or if there's another high profile failure due to the age of the used ICBMs.

[anik]

According to http://www.gonets.ru/showNews10.html, two Gonets-D1 and three Gonets-M satellites are currently working in Gonets-D1M communication system.

Three Gonets-M satellites (12, 13, 15) were launched into one orbital plane. The next three Gonets-M satellites (14, 16, 17) will be launched into another orbital plane. At first, there will be four orbital planes in Gonets-D1M system with three satellites in each.

[anik]

According to http://www.rosles-re.ru/files/file/120730_pusk_Rokot_Gontsi_17F13.pdf, Kosmos-2481 is 17F13 (or Strela-3) satellite.

[Star One]

According to http://www.rosles-re.ru/files/file/120730_pusk_Rokot_Gontsi_17F13.pdf, Kosmos-2481 is 17F13 (or Strela-3) satellite.

So in this generation these are now singular satellites rather than clusters?

[Danderman]

First off, a photogallery of the launch site:

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/photogallery/gallery_241/index.shtml

Secondly, the upper stage is referred to as: "Бриз-МД" (Briz-MD), so I would imagine that there was something different about this one.

[Stan Black]

First off, a photogallery of the launch site:

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/photogallery/gallery_241/index.shtml

Secondly, the upper stage is referred to as: "Бриз-МД" (Briz-MD), so I would imagine that there was something different about this one.

A ground test article?

[russianhalo117]

First off, a photogallery of the launch site:

http://www.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/content/photogallery/gallery_241/index.shtml

Secondly, the upper stage is referred to as: "Бриз-МД" (Briz-MD), so I would imagine that there was something different about this one.

A ground test article?

Mr. Zak is under the impression that this Briz-MD US may be a flight test article carrying upgraded avionics and systems being planned for Angara LV family since Briz-KS has been developed for Rockot and a new customized version is planned for Angara 1.2 (lite) to increase fuel efficiency and reduce US mass. A similar modernization project is expected for Briz-M for Angara A3, A5, and possibly A7 (if ever developed beyond paper).