The spacecraft arrived at Baikonur on December 1.Is that MIK-90 (i.e. the old Tsyklon HIF) in the photo? If not, where is that?
The deal is thought to be worth RAND1 billion (US$89.5 million).
The Kondor-E satellite has been transferred to the launchpad
And now for the obligatory "Any chance of a webcast for this one"?
Is this one set to launch from silo 59 at site 175?
Ok, so looking for launch confirmation!
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/18/2014 03:54 amOk, so looking for launch confirmation!Apparently launch scrubbed for today - next attempt tomorrow: http://itar-tass.com/kosmos/1655258
HYDROPAC 3741/14 [1 of 1][[WWNWSFOLDER]]EASTERN SOUTH PACIFIC.SPACE DEBRIS.DNC 06.1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 0430Z TO 0600Z DAILY18 THRU 21 DEC WITHIN 162 MILES OF24-43S 136-53W.2. CANCEL THIS MSG 210700Z DEC 14.//Authority: NAVAREA XIV 97/14 132050Z DEC 14.Date:Cancel: 21070000 Dec 14
L-12 Minutes. Here's an TASS news article.http://itar-tass.com/en/non-political/767884
Launched according to ITAR-TASS.
Launch photo from http://itar-tass.com/kosmos/1658816"It is planned that in the 07:48 MSK from the rocket will separate distillation step, and in the 08:08 MSK-the satellite."Separation should be in one minute.
Launch photo from http://itar-tass.com/kosmos/1658816
According to http://www.zenite.nu/orbita/strela-lanca-kondor-e-para-a-africa-do-sul/ Strela serial number is 6309793560.
Can anyone confirm whether the Kondor-E launched today was the SAR variant or the optical variant?
радиолокационным спутником "Кондор-Э"
As far as I can see the Russian language stories don't mention this launch as being for a foreign customer (unlike the English one), although they do make the more general statement that the Kondor series is designed for both Min of Def. and foreign customers.
Orbit has been published. 499km x 502km @ 74.75deg.
Quote from: darrenolivier on 12/19/2014 12:52 pmCan anyone confirm whether the Kondor-E launched today was the SAR variant or the optical variant?Apparently the SAR variant according to TASS article already quotedhttp://itar-tass.com/kosmos/1658816Quoteрадиолокационным спутником "Кондор-Э"
Quote from: jcm on 12/19/2014 05:24 amAs far as I can see the Russian language stories don't mention this launch as being for a foreign customer (unlike the English one), although they do make the more general statement that the Kondor series is designed for both Min of Def. and foreign customers.True. Sources in russian language doesn't mention foreign customer. Propaganda...
Looking at another forum post (http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26990.msg1108073#msg1108073) it looks like the SAR and EO variants will be launched in alternate years.I thought the 'Kondor-E' was specifically for export, 'Кондор-Э' meaning 'Kondor-Экспорт' or 'Kondor-Export'?
It is stated previously that there will be to Kondor Series SC's launched this year as well as two per year minimum one for Russia one for CIS Export Launch years will alternate between Radar, Optical, and electro optical based instruments with only the SC's SM identical which is used for all payloads. This years two payloads are confirmed via Mr. Zaks source to be identical versions except that the second one is designed for export requirements..
Yes, assuming the first Kondor launch was of the SAR variant. That seems likely, but I'm not sure if Roscosmos or NPO Mash have ever confirmed it.
The participants of the Conference greeted with enthusiasm the announcement of the June 27 launch of the small spacecraft "Kondor-E" with S-band radar
Is Strela 15A30, or 15A35, or 14A036 ?
Is Strela 15А30, or 15А35, or 14А036 ?
3.5.2. Установка и стыковка НТПК и АПБ 14С425 с блоком С300 в ШПУ.НТПК – надставка транспортно-пускового контейнера.АПБ – агрегатно-приборный блок.ШПУ – шахтная пусковая установка.
It was confirmed at a conference in Ulan-Ude about SAR remote sensing in late June 2013:http://www.ntsomz.ru/news/news_center/international_conference_remote_sensing_of_earth_covers_using_sar_ulan-ude_2013_finalQuoteThe participants of the Conference greeted with enthusiasm the announcement of the June 27 launch of the small spacecraft "Kondor-E" with S-band radar
South Africa: Was Defence Intelligence's Secret R1.4 Billion Russian Kondor-E 'Spy Satellite' Launched This Morning in Kazakhstan?
Quote from: input~2 on 12/20/2014 08:06 amSouth Africa: Was Defence Intelligence's Secret R1.4 Billion Russian Kondor-E 'Spy Satellite' Launched This Morning in Kazakhstan?We now have the answer: Yes.In footnote 2 on page 5 of the attached document,Russia officially acknowledges that it belongs to S Africa.I think this is the first official admission, right? http://www.unoosa.org/res/osoindex/data/documents/ru/st/stsgser_e746_html/V1507589.pdf
I noticed that future Condor satellites are supposed to be launched on Soyuz, why the change?
Quote from: Danderman on 01/22/2016 04:44 pmI noticed that future Condor satellites are supposed to be launched on Soyuz, why the change?well Partly having to deal with the constant delays caused by Kazakhstan because Strela uses toxic fuel and also the cost of maintaining a series of silos that are very rarely used.
Quote from: russianhalo117 on 01/23/2016 11:55 pmQuote from: Danderman on 01/22/2016 04:44 pmI noticed that future Condor satellites are supposed to be launched on Soyuz, why the change?well Partly having to deal with the constant delays caused by Kazakhstan because Strela uses toxic fuel and also the cost of maintaining a series of silos that are very rarely used.which implies that Strela is pretty much dead as a satellite launch vehicle.