Author Topic: Soyuz-2.1b - Lotos-S1 № 4 - Plesetsk 43/4 - 2 February 2021 (20:45 UTC)  (Read 12835 times)

Offline Stan Black

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14К159
Payload: Lotos-S 14Ф145 № 805 (part of Liana)
Rocket: Soyuz-2-1B 14А14-1Б
Launch site: Plesetsk 17П32-С4 (ПУ № 43/4)
Fairing: 14С741
Manufacturer: Machine-Building Plant Arsenal (prime), Rocket & Space Centre Progress (orbital module)
Mass: 6,000 kilogrammes
Orbit: 900 kilometres, 67° inclination
« Last Edit: 09/05/2021 08:07 pm by zubenelgenubi »

Offline zubenelgenubi

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Here's how the news has unfolded; cross-posts:
Cross-post:
Pion-NKS №901 - 02.02.2021

An interesting development!
If the launch is successful, this satellite should become Kosmos 2549.

2 февраля - Космос (14Ф139 Пион-НКС №901) - Союз-2-1Б - Плесецк 43/?

Februry 2 Kosmos 14F139 Pion NKS No. 901 - Soyuz 2-1B Plesetsk 43/?

https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?topic=16307.msg2117280#msg2117280

The source for this information appears to be a Plesetsk insider who posted on the NK forum yesterday that something is going to be launched from Plesetsk on February 2. He didn't give the name of the payload, saying only that it's "like a flower". "Pion" is the Russian word for a flower called "peony" and that apparently led to the conclusion that the payload must be Pion-NKS. He may also have been referring to the satellite's radar antennas, which look a bit like flowers. Anyway, it's an interesting scamgraphic way of revealing the nature of a military payload. 

Incidentally, Pion's sister satellite Lotos-S is also named after a flower ("lotus") (and "Liana", the overall project name, refers to the woody climbing plants that hang from trees). However, there doesn't seem to be another Lotos-S planned for the near future and Defense Minister Shoigu said last March that Pion-NKS was getting close to launch. This satellite has been grounded for many years due to technical issues, some of them most likely having to do with the Western sanctions that have hampered the import of electronic components.   

Responding to speculation that the payload is Pion-NKS, the Plesetsk insider is now saying on the NK forum that "they're training with another flower, one that's already been [flown]". That most likely means the payload is a Lotos-S1 ELINT satellite. Lotos (also named after a flower) uses the same bus as Pion-NKS, so what he probably means is that flying Lotos is a good dress rehearsal for flying Pion-NKS.

So far four Lotos satellites have been launched (serial nrs. 801, 802, 803, 804). A fifth satellite (14F145 nr. 805) is mentioned in some court documentation. It was ordered together with nr. 804 under a contract signed between the Ministry of Defense and the Arsenal Machine Building Factory on September 1, 2014. See for instance here:

https://kad.arbitr.ru/Document/Pdf/1ef5359a-af16-4f69-97e5-af41225bae90/3d30fa30-3f77-4cfc-bac3-ce75810d9d68/A56-99136-2019_20200228_Reshenie.pdf?isAddStamp=True

It looks very much like this is the satellite that will be going up next week.

Meanwhile, TASS has confirmed the February 2 launch date, adding that February 3 is the back-up launch date:
https://tass.ru/kosmos/10570665
***

Lotos-S no. 5 = Lotos-S1 no. 4

Launch threads:
Lotos-S no. 1 = Kosmos 2455
Lotos-S no. 2 = Kosmos 2502
Lotos-S no. 3 = Kosmos 2524
Lotos-S no. 4 = Kosmos 2528
« Last Edit: 01/29/2021 08:32 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Magic

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Online Alter Sachse

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The rocket should be on the launch pad.
One day you're a hero  next day you're a clown  there's nothing that is in between
        Jeff Lynne - "21century man"

Offline input~2

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Candidate NOTAMs for this launch, T0: ~2200UTC?

X0421/21 (Issued for UUYY USTV) - FLW ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD:
N746 DESEP - SUBEP   FL265-FL540,
T754 BILMI - GIGES   FL055-FL540,
T761 SUBEP - BILMI   FL275-FL540,
T765 LIDLA - DESEP   FL055-FL540,
T793 BILMI - ATGOR   FL055-FL365,
T821 BILMI - NAREK   FL245-FL540,
W152 BILMI - PERAG   FL055-FL325. FL055 - FL540, DAILY 2000-2359, 02 FEB 20:00
2021 UNTIL 03 FEB 23:59 2021. CREATED: 29 JAN 10:10 2021

X0416/21 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD:
M131 ROGIS - NAKIR  FL175-FL540,
P35  DIDAG - ABOKI  FL055-FL540,
T761 AMEDO - ROGIS  FL275-FL540. FL055 - FL540, DAILY 2000-2359, 02 FEB 20:00
2021 UNTIL 03 FEB 23:59 2021. CREATED: 29 JAN 08:42 2021

X0415/21 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD:
P988 LAPIG-RUPAD  FL165-FL540,
T825 GISUS-RUPAD  FL055-FL540,
W784 GENSU-TODSA  FL055-FL265,
W785 OTNUK-KUTOB  FL055-FL265. FL055 - FL540, DAILY 2000-2359, 02 FEB 20:00
2021 UNTIL 03 FEB 23:59 2021. CREATED: 29 JAN 08:36 2021
« Last Edit: 01/31/2021 04:59 pm by input~2 »

Offline Josh_from_Canada

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Candidate NOTAMs for this launch, T0: ~2200UTC?
A launch time then would put it in the same orbital plane as Kosmos 2502.
Launches Seen: Atlas V OA-7, Falcon 9 Starlink 6-4, Falcon 9 CRS-28,

Offline B. Hendrickx

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From the Plesetsk insider on the NK forum: launch time on February 2 is 20.45.28 UTC, launch time on the back-up date (February 3) is 20.31.57 UTC.

Offline russianhalo117

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From the Plesetsk insider on the NK forum: launch time on February 2 is 20.45.28 UTC, launch time on the back-up date (February 3) is 20.31.57 UTC.
Can you ask for which pad?

Offline B. Hendrickx

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From the Plesetsk insider on the NK forum: launch time on February 2 is 20.45.28 UTC, launch time on the back-up date (February 3) is 20.31.57 UTC.
Can you ask for which pad?

Someone already did, but no answer so far.

Offline B. Hendrickx

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The latest update from the Plesetsk insider on the NK forum (around 14.00 UTC) was that launch preparations were going well. Weather is not looking so good though. Not a threat to the launch (the Russians launch in any weather), but the rocket will probably disappear into the clouds soon after liftoff.

Offline Satori

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We are at launch time in Plesetsk. It will take 9 minutes to get into orbit, so starting to scan Russian news for updates on the launch if it goes on time.

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Liftoff confirmed.

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Exact liftoff time was 20.45.28.079 UTC. Snowfall at Plesetsk. Rocket disappeared into the clouds.

Offline Josh_from_Canada

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Exact liftoff time was 20.45.28.079 UTC. Snowfall at Plesetsk. Rocket disappeared into the clouds.
That launch time puts it into a new orbital plane not used by any of the other satellites.
Launches Seen: Atlas V OA-7, Falcon 9 Starlink 6-4, Falcon 9 CRS-28,

Offline Satori

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Well, it should be in orbit by now... if everything went well...
« Last Edit: 02/02/2021 08:02 pm by Satori »

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Plesetsk insider reports "it's been a good day", so apparently successful orbit insertion.

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Interfax-AVN confirms launch took place. Lifted off from Complex 43 pad 4.
https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=545157&lang=RU
(in Russian)

Offline B. Hendrickx

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https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=545161&lang=RU
And Interfax now also reports successful orbit insertion.

Offline Magic

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https://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=545161&lang=RU
And Interfax now also reports successful orbit insertion.
The Interfax dispatch ends with this remark:
 "According to specialized US resources, a reconnaissance satellite has been launched."
« Last Edit: 02/02/2021 08:21 pm by Magic »

Offline B. Hendrickx

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