Cancelled: Cyclone 4 from Alcantara

[russianhalo117]

Even if they have signed the agreement with Arianespace for Soyuz launch, it is not that easy to install final platform on the launch vehicle. Due to the enormous size, launching Soyuz with the QB50 platform only, will be far more expensive than the project budget can handle. Thus, I believe it shall be much much smaller and less expensive launch vehicle, that is capable of handling such structure on board.

I don't think, it will be on a dedicated Soyuz launcher - this would be overkill . I guess, QB50 will be a secondary payload. The 13 quadpacks should fit on an ASAP-S secondary launch structure. The Sentinel-1B mission could have enough spare capacity.

Ive heard that too. Read online that we could have an announcement at the earliest during the 15 April Arianespace Webcast.

[osiossim]

VonKarman said;

"Consequently, the contract was signed at the von Karman Institute the 27th of January 2014, just one day ahead of the 7th QB50 Workshop. It sets the main launch parameters such as the orbit being ~98 degrees and a 380 km altitude, and also the targeted launch date January 2016."

@ https://www.qb50.eu/index.php/project-description-obj/launch-vehicle

While Sentinel-1 is SAR satellite and will be launched to 690 km altitude;

"Sentinel-1B is a C-band radar observation satellite, using SAR (synthetic aperture radar) technology. It will be placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 690 km..."

@ http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2014/7-17-2014-Sentinel-1B.asp

Can someone update us, if Soyuz can release different playloads on different altitudes, like Dnepr? I don't think QB50 consortium will be ready to release the satellites at 690 km, while the satellite design is according to 380 km, and life time is lasting only couple of days after launch...

[Galactic Penguin SST]

VonKarman said;

"Consequently, the contract was signed at the von Karman Institute the 27th of January 2014, just one day ahead of the 7th QB50 Workshop. It sets the main launch parameters such as the orbit being ~98 degrees and a 380 km altitude, and also the targeted launch date January 2016."

@ https://www.qb50.eu/index.php/project-description-obj/launch-vehicle

While Sentinel-1 is SAR satellite and will be launched to 690 km altitude;

"Sentinel-1B is a C-band radar observation satellite, using SAR (synthetic aperture radar) technology. It will be placed in a Sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of about 690 km..."

@ http://www.arianespace.com/news-press-release/2014/7-17-2014-Sentinel-1B.asp

Can someone update us, if Soyuz can release different playloads on different altitudes, like Dnepr? I don't think QB50 consortium will be ready to release the satellites at 690 km, while the satellite design is according to 380 km.

Fregat can easily go down to that orbit after deploying the main payload.

[osiossim]

The rough Soyuz launch service cost from CSG is about 86 M € per SSO launch. If ESA does not subsidize QB50, VonKarman can hardly bear the cost of launch with Soyuz.

[Skyrocket]

The rough Soyuz launch service cost from CSG is about 86 M € per launch. If ESA does not subsidize QB50, VonKarman can hardly bear the cost of launch with Soyuz.

They do not need a dedicated Soyuz, they will fly as a secondary payload.

[osiossim]

The rough Soyuz launch service cost from CSG is about 86 M € per launch. If ESA does not subsidize QB50, VonKarman can hardly bear the cost of launch with Soyuz.

They do not need a dedicated Soyuz, they will fly as a secondary payload.

That's for sure. But even secondary passenger seat cost would be enormous for VK's 50 satellites.

[Danderman]

For an ESA sponsored Soyuz launch, the cost of a secondary payload with a mass of less than 100 kg might be nominal - the CubeSATs might be used to balance the payload by arrangement on the launch adapter, and the vehicle might have sufficient performance that the the primary payload needs ballast to maintain launch vehicle drop zones.

[Olaf]

More news
http://spacenews.com/brazil-pulling-out-of-ukrainian-launcher-project/

[Soheil]

So ?

[ChamberPressure]

Here's a week old update from Yuzhnoye itself: http://www.yuzhnoye.com/en/press-center/pressrelises/pressrelis-copy_39.html

Looks like they're considering launching from North America, partnering up with whoever is willing to take on the construction costs for the launch site.

[Sam Ho]

Here's a week old update from Yuzhnoye itself: http://www.yuzhnoye.com/en/press-center/pressrelises/pressrelis-copy_39.html

Looks like they're considering launching from North America, partnering up with whoever is willing to take on the construction costs for the launch site.

It's being discussed in the thread below.

Interesting presser just turned up from Yuzhnoye!

[Danderman]

The recent release from Yuzhnoye admits that they had problems getting parts for Cyclone 4 from Russia for many years.