Author Topic: Soyuz-2.1v - Kosmos 2525 (EMKA) - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)  (Read 79850 times)

Offline Stan Black

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A new thread for the possible launch of a classified payload on late December or beginning of 2018 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

Original posts were from Lotos launch thread that takes place on December 1, 2017.


Do we at least know by now what version of the Soyuz-2.1 will be used?  ;)
I would not be surprised if it is a Soyuz 2.1b. Many were ordered.

The rockets insured in this period are either 1b or 1v.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=26990.msg1697849#msg1697849
« Last Edit: 03/29/2018 08:08 pm by Satori »

Offline Olaf

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Re: Soyuz-2-1b - Lotos - Plesetsk - December 1, 2017
« Reply #1 on: 10/23/2017 07:18 am »
It will be a 2-1v, but it is now delayed to November.
http://www.militarynews.ru/Story.asp?rid=1&nid=464881

Offline Galactic Penguin SST

Re: Soyuz-2-1b - Lotos - Plesetsk - December 1, 2017
« Reply #2 on: 10/23/2017 07:32 am »
It will be a 2-1v, but it is now delayed to November.
http://www.militarynews.ru/Story.asp?rid=1&nid=464881

Interesting to see that just a little bit earlier ago the next 2.1v wasn't going to fly until 2018: https://iz.ru/648333/dmitrii-strugovetc/novyi-soiuz-sbrosit-baki

Maybe the Russian military are now transferring the last payloads planned on Rockot (up to 3 flights as per reports before the Sentinel 5p launch) to the S-2.1v?
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Offline Nicolas PILLET

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Re: Soyuz-2-1b - Lotos - Plesetsk - December 1, 2017
« Reply #3 on: 10/23/2017 12:54 pm »
Tentatively scheduled for 18th November.
Nicolas PILLET
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Offline Nicolas PILLET

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Re: Soyuz-2-1b - Lotos - Plesetsk - December 1, 2017
« Reply #4 on: 10/24/2017 09:32 pm »
Launch delayed indefinitely.
Nicolas PILLET
Kosmonavtika : The French site on Russian Space

Offline Phillip Clark

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Re: Soyuz-2-1b - Lotos - Plesetsk - December 1, 2017
« Reply #5 on: 10/25/2017 01:44 am »
Launch delayed indefinitely.

Any indications why?
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Offline Alter Sachse

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Offline Alter Sachse

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Re: Soyuz-2-1b - Lotos - Plesetsk - December 1, 2017
« Reply #7 on: 11/03/2017 04:08 pm »
see reply # 1
It seems to be this satellite (Liana/Lotos or "Lotos FO")
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2017.html#milsat
This report is about a Soyuz-2.1B not 2.1V
Something is wrong.
25.10. is mentioned (-->2.1v)
and Lotos is too heavy for 2.1v...
2.1B must be another launch ?
« Last Edit: 11/03/2017 04:09 pm by Alter Sachse »
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Re: Soyuz-2-1b - Lotos - Plesetsk - December 1, 2017
« Reply #8 on: 11/03/2017 04:23 pm »
see reply # 1
It seems to be this satellite (Liana/Lotos or "Lotos FO")
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2017.html#milsat
This report is about a Soyuz-2.1B not 2.1V
Something is wrong.
25.10. is mentioned (-->2.1v)
and Lotos is too heavy for 2.1v...
2.1B must be another launch ?

I think that the confusion is because originally it wasn't known which version of the Soyuz-2 would be used on this launch.   When it became clear it was to be a Soyuz-2-1V that narrowed down the payload which could be carried.l
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Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Soyuz-2-1b - Lotos - Plesetsk - December 1, 2017
« Reply #9 on: 11/03/2017 04:25 pm »
see reply # 1
It seems to be this satellite (Liana/Lotos or "Lotos FO")
http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2017.html#milsat
This report is about a Soyuz-2.1B not 2.1V
Something is wrong.
25.10. is mentioned (-->2.1v)
and Lotos is too heavy for 2.1v...
2.1B must be another launch ?

I think that the confusion is because originally it wasn't known which version of the Soyuz-2 would be used on this launch.   When it became clear it was to be a Soyuz-2-1V that narrowed down the payload which could be carried.l
Note: Information that I have is that there are not any Soyuz-2.1v launchers available for launch at this time in Plesetsk Cosmodrome at this time but one will become ready after the launch listed below for either the very end of the year or early next year.

Updated Information:
http://russianspaceweb.com/2017.html
Quote
Dec. 1: A Soyuz-2-1B rocket to launch the first 14F145/Lotos military satellite for the Liana electronic intelligence network from Plesetsk. The mission was previously planned for Oct. 25, 2017, but had to be postponed until beginning of November and until November 18, at the earliest, due to problems with the satellite. On Oct. 25, space officials were expected to hold a meeting in Moscow on the status of the mission. The launch was then postponed until December 1, 2017.

....

December: A Soyuz-2-1v rocket to launch a classified payload from Plesetsk.
« Last Edit: 11/03/2017 04:37 pm by russianhalo117 »

Offline Stan Black

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Re: Soyuz-2-1b - Lotos - Plesetsk - December 1, 2017
« Reply #10 on: 11/04/2017 08:19 am »
1st post says this:-

Quote
According to a post from Nicolas Pillet on the schedule thread, there will be a Soyuz-2 launch from Plesetsk on 25th October 2017.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43835.msg1727496#msg1727496

Does not say variant/class/type of rocket to be launched; is it a 1v or a 1b.

Guesswork posts then follow.

From repy 7, 23rd October
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=43835.msg1741003#msg1741003
Quote
The next launch of the Soyuz 2.1v rocket was planned for October, but for technical reasons it was decided to postpone it to November.
http://www.militarynews.ru/Story.asp?rid=1&nid=464881

So to Mr. Zak and www.russianspaceweb.com

Using Archive.org
https://web.archive.org/web/20171023195111/www.russianspaceweb.com/2017.html

23rd October update has no mention of Lotos, just this entry:-

Quote
November: A Soyuz-2-1v rocket to launch a classified payload from Plesetsk. The mission was previously planned for Oct. 25, 2017.

Then in November it became:-

Quote
Dec. 1: A Soyuz-2-1B rocket to launch the first 14F145/Lotos military satellite for the Liana electronic intelligence network from Plesetsk. The mission was previously planned for Oct. 25, 2017, but had to be postponed until beginning of November and until November 18, at the earliest, due to problems with the satellite. On Oct. 25, space officials were expected to hold a meeting in Moscow on the status of the mission. The launch was then postponed until December 1, 2017.

December: A Soyuz-2-1v rocket to launch a classified payload from Plesetsk.
« Last Edit: 11/04/2017 08:29 am by Stan Black »

Offline zubenelgenubi

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Cross-post:
Soyuz-2-1v - December 27
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum14/topic14042/message1711028/#message1711028
***

If this Soyuz-2-1v carries a Volga upper stage to a SSO or other polar orbit, as all 3 previous launches of this "make/model" have, are there any "expected" payloads with an estimated mass within the capabilities of this LV?
(I assume that since no payload has been announced, it's a classified payload.)

Gunter's Space Page lists 1400 kg as the maximum payload mass to SSO: http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_lau_det/soyuz-2-1v_volga.htm
***

EDIT 11/28: Are there any payloads designed for launch on Soyuz-2-1v, with no upper stage?
(To state this another way, are there any payloads designed for launch on Soyuz-2-1v, which contain their own propulsion, and do not need an upper stage to place itself into a final orbit?)
« Last Edit: 11/28/2017 06:11 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline Stan Black

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Is this the payload?

Quote
Оказание услуг по авиационной перевозке контейнера с ЭМКА, контейнеров с НТО на космодром «Плесецк» и его страхованию
http://zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?regNumber=31705773827

Quote
9) Проведены исследования по созданию космического комплекса ДЗЗ на базе экспериментального малого космического аппарата (ЭМКА).
Перспективы развития в сегменте НПК «Космические комплексы» в 2017 году:
- осуществление запуска экспериментального малого космического аппарата;
- продолжение исследований по созданию космического комплекса ДЗЗ на базе экспериментального малого космического аппарата;
http://www.vniiem.ru/ru/uploads/files/god_otchet_2016.pdf
« Last Edit: 11/25/2017 08:10 pm by Stan Black »

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Is this the payload?

Quote
Оказание услуг по авиационной перевозке контейнера с ЭМКА, контейнеров с НТО на космодром «Плесецк» и его страхованию
http://zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?regNumber=31705773827

Quote
9) Проведены исследования по созданию космического комплекса ДЗЗ на базе экспериментального малого космического аппарата (ЭМКА).
Перспективы развития в сегменте НПК «Космические комплексы» в 2017 году:
- осуществление запуска экспериментального малого космического аппарата;
- продолжение исследований по созданию космического комплекса ДЗЗ на базе экспериментального малого космического аппарата;
http://www.vniiem.ru/ru/uploads/files/god_otchet_2016.pdf

This looks interesting. VNIIEM's annual report for 2016 talks about the development of a remote sensing satellite "on the basis of an experimental small space apparatus" (EMKA), which is listed separately from Kanopus. Among the objectives for 2017 it mentions the launch of "Kanopus-V-IK, Meteor M nr. 2-1, Kanopus nr. 3 and 4 and EMKA".

The other document is a contract for the transportation of EMKA to Plesetsk in November 2017.

EMKA is also mentioned several times in this VNIIEM procurement document for  2017 :
www.vniiem.ru/ru/uploads/files/plan_zakupok_2017-11.08.xls

The document mentions : delivery of brochures for EMKA in June 2017 (for the MAKS aerospace show??), painting of the payload fairing for EMKA in July 2017 and transportation of VNIIEM managers and personnel to the launch site by May 2018 (which would not be consistent with a Dec 2017 launch date, but it may have been moved forward).

I'm not sure if anything like this was shown at MAKS-2017. Not likely if this is a military mission.

The bus could be the same one used for Kanopus, Lomonosov and BKA (the Belorussian satellite), which has been identified as UMKP-400 (UMKP = Universal Small Space Platform) and MSP (Small Servicing Platform). VNIIEM also worked on a heavier platform called UMKP-800 that it proposed early this century for Meteor and Elektro, but it did not get selected at the time. It's described in detail in an issue of the VNIIEM journal in 2001:
http://jurnal.vniiem.ru/text/100/2.pdf
This should also be compatible with the Soyuz-2-1v, but it's unlikely to be still under development.
 

Offline Satori

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - ?? - Plesetsk - December 27, 2017
« Reply #14 on: 12/07/2017 06:29 pm »
Delayed to 2018.

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - 2018
« Reply #15 on: 12/20/2017 10:08 pm »
https://iz.ru/682354/dmitrii-strugovetc-aleksei-ramm/rossiia-ispytaet-eksperimentalnyi-sputnik-razvedchik

Sources within the Ministry of Defense and space industry have confirmed to Izvestia that the payload for the Soyuz-2-1v launch is a small reconnaissance satellite developed by VNIIEM and known by the acronym EMKA ("Experimental Small Space Apparatus"). Launch was originally scheduled for October and then slipped to November, December and eventually January due to technical problems with the payload.

As evidence for the existence of the satellite the Izvestia journalist gives the same documents referred to earlier in this thread by Stan Black (the VNIIEM annual report for 2016 and a transportation document), which were subsequently also posted on the NK forum. It looks very much like the Izvestia journalist found out about EMKA  via the NK forum and then contacted sources in the Ministry of Defense and the space industry to confirm that it is the payload for the upcoming Soyuz-2.1v launch. Kudos to Stan Black for tracking down this payload.

Offline William Graham

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - 2018
« Reply #16 on: 12/31/2017 11:26 pm »
The Russian launch schedule thread lists this one as scheduled for this week. Has there been any indication that it is holding that schedule? Has anybody seen any NOTAMs that could indicate a launch is close?

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - 2018
« Reply #17 on: 01/01/2018 02:18 am »
The Russian launch schedule thread lists this one as scheduled for this week. Has there been any indication that it is holding that schedule? Has anybody seen any NOTAMs that could indicate a launch is close?
Anatoly Zak has it listed now on his site in the first quarter after Soyuz MS-08 due to ongoing payload issues although he does not yet call it EMKA. He foresee's no launches until February at this time.
http://russianspaceweb.com/2018.html
« Last Edit: 01/01/2018 02:22 am by russianhalo117 »

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Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - February 28, 2018
« Reply #19 on: 01/11/2018 09:47 pm »
Do we know if this launch will use an upper stage, such as Volga, or launch with no upper stage?

If not, when do we find out--when the LV is rolled out to the pad and images are released?
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - February 28, 2018
« Reply #20 on: 01/11/2018 09:51 pm »
Do we know if this launch will use an upper stage, such as Volga, or launch with no upper stage?
If not, when do we find out--when the LV is rolled out to the pad and images are released?

The Volga stage will presumably be hidden within the payload shroud, so it won't be visible.
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Offline Stan Black

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - February 28, 2018
« Reply #21 on: 01/11/2018 10:05 pm »
Do we know if this launch will use an upper stage, such as Volga, or launch with no upper stage?
If not, when do we find out--when the LV is rolled out to the pad and images are released?

The Volga stage will presumably be hidden within the payload shroud, so it won't be visible.

From what I have found, I think the first six rockets had associated Volga upper stages. The initial five are part of one contract for the Russian military. The sixth was for Lomonosov satellite.
« Last Edit: 01/12/2018 07:20 am by Stan Black »

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - February 28, 2018
« Reply #22 on: 01/12/2018 12:38 am »
The Russian launch schedule thread lists this one as scheduled for this week. Has there been any indication that it is holding that schedule? Has anybody seen any NOTAMs that could indicate a launch is close?
Anatoly Zak has it listed now on his site in the first quarter after Soyuz MS-08 due to ongoing payload issues although he does not yet call it EMKA. He foresee's no launches until February at this time.
http://russianspaceweb.com/2018.html
Anatoly Zak has determined that EMKA is actually a Spacecraft Platform for the MKA programme and not the name of the Spacecraft flying:
http://russianspaceweb.com/2018.html#mka
Quote
Feb. 28: A Soyuz-2-1v rocket to launch a classified payload based on the experimental small-satellite platform, EMKA, from Plesetsk.
« Last Edit: 01/12/2018 04:19 pm by russianhalo117 »

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - February 28, 2018
« Reply #23 on: 01/12/2018 07:23 am »
Anatoly Zak has determined that EMKA is actually a Spacecraft Platform and not the name of the Spacecraft flying:
http://russianspaceweb.com/2018.html#mka
Quote
Feb. 28: A Soyuz-2-1v rocket to launch a classified payload based on the experimental small-satellite platform, EMKA, from Plesetsk.
[/quote]

That would be confirmed by the fact that the VNIIEM annual report for 2016 (mentioned earlier in this thread) talks about "a satellite based on EMKA". The name of the satellite itself is probably classified. No Ministry of Defense designator (like 14F...) identified yet either.

Offline Stan Black

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - February 28, 2018
« Reply #24 on: 01/12/2018 07:29 am »
The Russian launch schedule thread lists this one as scheduled for this week. Has there been any indication that it is holding that schedule? Has anybody seen any NOTAMs that could indicate a launch is close?
Anatoly Zak has it listed now on his site in the first quarter after Soyuz MS-08 due to ongoing payload issues although he does not yet call it EMKA. He foresee's no launches until February at this time.
http://russianspaceweb.com/2018.html
Anatoly Zak has determined that EMKA is actually a Spacecraft Platform and not the name of the Spacecraft flying:
http://russianspaceweb.com/2018.html#mka
Quote
Feb. 28: A Soyuz-2-1v rocket to launch a classified payload based on the experimental small-satellite platform, EMKA, from Plesetsk.

Look back at the earlier posts: remote sensing satellite “on the basis of an experimental small space apparatus" (EMKA)”.
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44139.msg1753080#msg1753080

Mr. Zak has done this before, during the 1st Bars-M launch for example. Contents of his website are edited or changed but you can already find details in the NSF.

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - February 28, 2018
« Reply #25 on: 01/12/2018 03:45 pm »
There could be a link between EMKA and two small high-resolution remote sensing satellites described in the 4/2014 issue of the VNIIEM journal "Voprosy elektromekhaniki". One is called "Zvezda" ("Star") and the other MKA-V (MKA standing for "small satellite" and "V" for high resolution). Zvezda is described as a technology demonstrator for MKA-V. Zvezda is a 150 kg satellite in a 300 km orbit with a maximum resolution of 0.5 m and a minimum lifetime of one year and MKA-V is a 250 kg satellite in a 450 km orbit with a maximum resolution of 0.6 m and a minimum lifetime of five years. VNIIEM was said to be wiling to launch Zvezda in the first quarter of 2015 without any government funding in order to pave the way for MKA-V.  More details (including a drawing of MKA-V) here:

http://jurnal.vniiem.ru/text/141/17-22.pdf
(see p. 18-19)

Zvezda/MKA-V were apparently presented here as civilian remote sensing satellites, but might just as well be used for military purposes.

Zvezda is also mentioned in a paper given by VNIIEM specialists at the Korolyov Academic Readings in January 2015. Here it is described as a 200 kg satellite in a near-circular 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit with a minimum lifetime of 5 years. The paper focused mainly on the selection of orbit correction engines for the satellites. The authors say that the choice had fallen on the hydrazine-fueled K50.-10-5 thermal catalytic thrusters of OKB Fakel (also installed on NPO Lavochkin's Kosmos-2519 satellite).

http://ihst.ru/files/pdfs/Korolevskie-chteniya-2015-Materialy.pdf
(see p. 59-60)







Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - end of March 2018
« Reply #26 on: 02/18/2018 07:21 pm »
Cross-post from Plan of Russian Space Launches (part 2) thread:
https://twitter.com/RussianSpaceWeb/status/964957604651859969
Quote
Russian military postpones the launch of a #Soyuz-2-1v rocket with a classified payload from #Plesetsk until the end of March: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2018.html#mka

EDIT:
Soyuz-2-1v - March 28-29:
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum14/topic16307/message1742272/#message1742272
« Last Edit: 03/24/2018 02:01 am by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #27 on: 03/14/2018 08:56 am »
http://zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?regNumber=31806178974

This is a contract signed between VNIIEM and the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center on 21 February 2018 for delivery of a satellite to the Plesetsk cosmodrome on 26 February (almost certainly EMKA). The satellite was to be transported to the launch site from Chkalovskiy airfield near Moscow using an Ilyushin-76 owned by the cosmonaut training center.

Interestingly, a reference is made to a contract signed between the Ministry of Defense and VNIIEM on 23 October 2015. If this is the official start date of the project, it would mean that EMKA has reached the launch pad much faster than any Russian military satellite in recent memory. This could mean that it draws heavily on existing VNIIEM designs such as Meteor and Kanopus-V.

There's another description of EMKA in a paper presented at a conference on remote sensing satellites in 2015.
http://www.vniiem.ru/ru/uploads/files/conferences/150423/sbornik_tezisov_2015.pdf
(p. 41-42).

It is described as a three-axis stabilized satellite with a mass of no more than 200 kg and equipped with hydrazine thrusters (presumably the K50.-10-5 thermal catalytic thrusters of OKB Fakel, see reply 25 in this thread).  It can be used for high-resolution panchromatic and multispectral photography and is said to be capable of "video imaging" and "stereo imaging". 

Offline Nicolas PILLET

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #28 on: 03/14/2018 10:25 am »
The satellite was to be transported to the launch site from Chkalovskiy airfield near Moscow using an Ilyushin-76 owned by the cosmonaut training center.

Which is quite strange...
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Offline zubenelgenubi

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #29 on: 03/14/2018 06:51 pm »
The satellite was to be transported to the launch site from Chkalovskiy airfield near Moscow using an Ilyushin-76 owned by the cosmonaut training center.

Which is quite strange...

A new, intra-governmental source of funding for the cosmonaut training center?  (An inter-unit transfer?)
« Last Edit: 03/14/2018 06:52 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #30 on: 03/14/2018 08:42 pm »
The satellite was to be transported to the launch site from Chkalovskiy airfield near Moscow using an Ilyushin-76 owned by the cosmonaut training center.

Which is quite strange...

Actually, there are three contracts for the transportation of EMKA from Moscow to Plesetsk on the zakupki.gov.ru website :

http://zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?regNumber=31705773827
between VNIIEM and Volga-Dnepr
from Moscow/Sheremetyevo to Plesetsk, scheduled for 27 November 2017
"purchase completed"

http://zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?regNumber=31806147300
between VNIIEM and OAO 224 LO
from Moscow/Chkalovskiy to Plesetsk, scheduled for 26 February 2018
"purchase canceled"

http://zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?regNumber=31806178974
between VNIIEM and the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
from Moscow/Chkalovskiy to Plesetsk, scheduled for 26 February 2018
"purchase completed"

I'm not sure if this means that EMKA was transported to Plesetsk in November and then shipped back after problems cropped up at the cosmodrome.

The VNIIEM-Star City contract gives the Ilyushin-76 as the plane to be used for the transport, but the interpretation that this plane actually belongs to Star City was mine.  A quick check shows Star City only has three ll-76MDK planes modified for parabolic 0-g flights. I don't think these can be used for the transportation of cargo. All this would require further analysis, but in the end I suppose it's not all that important who transported the satellite to Plesetsk. The main thing to remember from these documents is the date that VNIIEM and the Ministry of Defense signed the contract for the development of EMKA.


Offline Stan Black

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #31 on: 03/16/2018 05:42 am »
It shows RF 75353 which is the zero gravity aeroplane?

Also the first document shows different mass of cargo for the later flights?

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #32 on: 03/16/2018 10:24 am »
It shows RF 75353 which is the zero gravity aeroplane?

Well spotted, Stan. The Ilyushin-76 with tail number RF 75353 is indeed one of Star City's zero gravity aeroplanes, so it looks these can be used as cargo planes after all.

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #33 on: 03/23/2018 02:32 pm »
With the launch of EMKA approaching (no signs of another delay yet), here’s a recap of what we know and some additional background plus new information.

Although EMKA appears to use a new bus, it probably inherits many features from VNIIEM’s Kanopus satellites. These satellites (as well as the Belarusian satellite BKA and the Lomonosov scientific satellite) were based on a bus called UMKP-400 (bus mass about 350 kg, payload mass about 100 kg).  This was built in cooperation with UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology, which delivered satellite avionics and software, electrical power management and batteries, onboard computers sand data handling software and also provided satellite assembly and integration support. 

In mid-August 2015 Izvestiya reported that Roskosmos had decided to abandon plans for follow-on Kanopus satellites (called Kanopus-VM) under the Federal Space Program 2016-2025 because of the dropping value of the ruble and the resulting high cost of the imported equipment (Western-imposed sanctions probably also played a role).
https://iz.ru/news/589904

Paradoxically, two weeks after this article appeared, VNIIEM signed a protocol with Surrey at the MAKS-2015 aerospace show on possible co-operation on a future Russian remote sensing satellite, but that never seems to have resulted in the signing of an actual contract. During the same show, VNIIEM also signed agreements for the development of a follow-on Belarusian satellite (BKA-2) and an Iranian remote sensing satellite.  These satellites are currently under development and it is not clear if they still incorporate equipment built by Surrey Satellite Technologies. The Iranian satellite is said to be based on a “modified Kanopus platform”. 

Even while UMKP-400 was still under development about a decade ago, VNIIEM began looking at even smaller platforms for remote sensing missions, apparently without any foreign involvement. One of those was a 350 kg satellite called Kartograf (“Cartographer”) for mapping purposes. See p. 12-14, 21 of this PowerPoint presentation:

http://www.myshared.ru/slide/955930/

A paper in 2013 talked about an “experimental platform for a small satellite” with a total mass of about 140 kg (platform mass up to 90 kg, payload mass up to 50 kg) and designed to be placed into Sun-synchronous orbits at altitudes between 500 and 1,000 kg.
http://vka.mil.ru/upload/site5/document_file/640_2013.pdf
(see p. 40)

It would seem that EMKA has its roots in these earlier proposals. By 2014 VNIIEM was working out proposals for a high-resolution remote sensing satellite called MKA-V (MKA standing for ‘small satellite” and “V” for high resolution) to be preceded by a technology demonstrator called Zvezda (“Star”). Zvezda was described as a 150 kg satellite in a 300 km orbit with a maximum resolution of 0.5 m and a minimum lifetime of one year and MKA-V as a 250 kg satellite in a 450 km orbit with a maximum resolution of 0.6 m and a minimum lifetime of five years. VNIIEM was said to be willing to launch Zvezda in the first quarter of 2015 without any government funding in order to pave the way for MKA-V. These plans were revealed in a 2014 issue of VNIIEM’s in-house journal “Voprosy Elektromekhaniki”.

http://jurnal.vniiem.ru/text/141/17-22.pdf
(see p. 18-19)

VNIIEM specialists subsequenty presented plans for Zvezda at the Korolyov Academic Readings in January 2015, describing it as a 200 kg satellite in a near-circular 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit with a minimum lifetime of 5 years. The paper focused mainly on the selection of orbit correction engines for the satellite, with the final choice having fallen on the hydrazine-fueled K50.-10-5 thermal catalytic thrusters of OKB Fakel.

http://ihst.ru/files/pdfs/Korolevskie-chteniya-2015-Materialy.pdf
(see p. 59-60)

An “experimental small satellite” was the subject of another paper by VNIIEM specialists at a remote sensing conference in April 2015. Although they didn’t call it Zvezda, several elements suggested they were talking about one and the same satellite.

http://www.vniiem.ru/ru/uploads/files/conferences/150423/sbornik_tezisov_2015.pdf
(p. 41-42)

The next mention of the “experimental small satellite” came in VNIIEM’s annual report for 2016, which said it was scheduled for launch in 2017.

http://www.vniiem.ru/ru/uploads/files/god_otchet_2016.pdf
(p. 8, 10)

This, together with a publicly available contract to transport EMKA to Plesetsk,  was spotted by Stan Black last November and linked in this thread to an upcoming launch of the Soyuz-2-1v booster from Plesetsk. This was the starting point for all the subsequent revelations posted here and on the Novosti Kosmonavtiki forum. The Izvestiya newspaper apparently picked up on these postings last December, using its own sources in the space industry to confirm the nature of the Soyuz-2-1v payload.

https://iz.ru/682354/dmitrii-strugovetc-aleksei-ramm/rossiia-ispytaet-eksperimentalnyi-sputnik-razvedchik


The fact that Zvezda/EMKA was openly presented in publications in 2014-2015 would suggest that at that point VNIIEM was primarily looking at Roskosmos as a potential customer for the satellite. However, we now know from the openly available contracts for the delivery of the satellite to the Plesetsk cosmodrome that the contract for the development of the satellite was signed between VNIIEM and the Ministry of Defense on 23 October 2015. This would explain why the project “went black” afterwards and has since not shown up in any publicly available papers (at least not that I’m aware of). 

It will be interesting to see the coming week how much is publicly revealed about the satellite, which will give us a good idea whether this is dedicated military satellite or a dual-use military/civilian satellite. A presentation by the Ingosstrakh insurance company lists the EMKA launch as one insured under Russia’s “Federal Space Program 2018”. FSP usually covers only civilian and dual-use missions. However, the list also includes Blagovest, which I understand is a dedicated military communications satellite.

http://www.raaks.ru/docs/doc20180227_012.pdf
(p. 10)

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #34 on: 03/23/2018 02:40 pm »
One subcontractor involved in EMKA may be the company SKTB Plastik, based in Syzran (Samara region). According to the company’s website,  it is producing a carbon composite housing for an optical module to be installed on “the small satellite Zvezda on orders of the VNIIEM corporation”.

The housing for the camera(s) is said to measure 1276 x 405 x 721 mm and weigh less than 30 kg.  It is mentioned on two pages on the website, neither of which (unlike most other pages) are translated into English.

http://www.sktb-plastik.ru/129/
http://www.sktb-plastik.ru/169/

Two of the drawings of the camera housing are attached below.

There is a very detailed technical description of the housing in this paper (without any reference to the satellite for which it is intended):

http://www.sktb-plastik.ru/media/files/2016_4_571_577.pdf

Neither the website nor the paper provide any clue as to who is manufacturing the actual camera(s) to be installed inside the housing.  VNIIEM subcontracted the development of cameras for Kanopus-V and the identical Belarusian BKA satellite to the Belarusian company OAO Peleng, based in Minsk. Last December OAO Peleng’s director Vladimir Pokryshkin said five satellites carrying his company’s cameras would be launched in 2018.
 
http://naviny.by/new/20171213/1513171561-pyat-sputnikov-s-apparaturoy-belorusskogo-oao-peleng-gotovyatsya-k-startu-v

Four of those are Kanopus-V nr. 3 and 4 (launched in February) and Kanopus-V nr. 5 and 6 (scheduled for launch late this year). He didn’t identify the fifth satellite, saying only it would carry equipment with a resolution of 1m or better (“as ordered by our president [Lukashenko]”) and that the cameras would be delivered in mid-2018 for launch later in the year. That doesn’t seem to agree with the timelines for EMKA, which is scheduled to fly next week (although I have not seen any confirmation of that yet). Pokryshkin may have been referring to Egyptsat-A (built by RKK Energiya), which is now scheduled for launch in early 2019, but may still have been targeted for launch in late 2018 when he made these comments. Egyptsat-A will carry optical equipment built by OAO Peleng.

OAO Peleng is also building cameras for the next Belarusian satellite (BKA-2) and could also be involved (although not confirmed) in the Kanopus-based Iranian satellite. The “Plan for Russian space launches” thread on this forum lists both BKA-2 and the Iranian satellite as potential co-passengers for Kanopus nr. 5 and 6 later this year, but recent press reports suggest BKA-2 will not fly until late 2019 or 2020. The status of the Iranian satellite is unclear. A recent report mentioned only 12 Dove cubesats as co-passengers for Kanopus 5/6.

https://ria.ru/science/20180110/1512354374.html

OAO Peleng is apparently also involved in another satellite project under a joint Russian-Belarusian remote sensing program called Monitoring-SG, but the Russian prime contractor for that would appear to be Khrunichev.

http://www.belta.by/newscompany/view/oao-peleng-uchastvuet-v-sozdanii-novogo-malogo-sputnika-distantsionnogo-zondirovanija-zemli-188634-2016/
https://sit.basnet.by/monitoring/index/index

In short, there is no clear evidence that OAO Peleng has extended its partnership with VNIIEM beyond the Kanopus-based satellites. Despite the close ties between Russia and Belarus,  the Russians may want to prefer using domestically built cameras for a military satellite like EMKA. 

Offline Phillip Clark

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #35 on: 03/24/2018 12:50 am »
Thinking about the probable low mass of this satellite and its potential for imaging reconnaissance, I am reminded that Israel's 1995 Ofeq 3 was 225 kg and had a similar mission.
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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #36 on: 03/26/2018 05:06 am »
So....are there any NOTAMs that can show a more concrete launch date/time yet?   ;)
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #37 on: 03/26/2018 07:25 am »
Based upon recent history, should we have a competition to guess the Cosmos serial number? ;)
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Offline Satori

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #38 on: 03/26/2018 01:51 pm »
Launch on March 29 (?)

Tweet from Anatoly Zak

The State Commission overseeing the preparation for launch of a #Soyuz-2-1v rocket from #Plesetsk with a Russian military payload was to meet today to give the final go ahead to the liftoff on March 29. Details: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2018.html#mka
« Last Edit: 03/26/2018 01:52 pm by Satori »

Offline Alter Sachse

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - late March 2018
« Reply #39 on: 03/26/2018 01:59 pm »
So we would have 4 launches on 29.03. !
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Offline input~2

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018
« Reply #40 on: 03/26/2018 04:44 pm »
Launch planned between 1630 and 1715 UTC on March 29  (alternate March 30) presumably to an SSO

BARENTS SEA.
RUSSIA.
DNC 22.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
1630Z TO 1715Z DAILY 29 AND 30 MAR
IN AREA BOUND BY
70-18N 033-49E, 70-12N 034-11E,
69-54N 034-45E, 69-33N 034-47E,
69-25N 034-15E, 69-35N 033-37E,
69-53N 033-05E, 70-13N 033-11E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 301815Z MAR 18.//

Authority: NAVAREA XX 25/18 221730Z MAR 18.

Date: 221734Z MAR 18
Cancel: 30181500 Mar 18

BARENTS SEA.
SVALBARD.
DNC 22.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
1630Z TO 1715Z DAILY 29 AND 30 MAR
IN AREA BOUND BY
75-59N 21-26E, 75-50N 22-05E,
75-34N 22-47E, 75-21N 22-52E,
75-15N 22-13E, 75-24N 21-29E,
75-36N 20-51E, 75-53N 20-43E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 301815Z MAR 18.//

Authority: NAVAREA XIX 26/18 260630Z MAR 18.

Date: 260906Z MAR 18
Cancel: 30181500 Mar 18

Offline Alter Sachse

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018
« Reply #41 on: 03/26/2018 05:14 pm »
for comparison:
Persona 98.3°
Bars M   97.6°

pics:input~2
« Last Edit: 03/26/2018 05:19 pm by Alter Sachse »
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Offline Alter Sachse

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018
« Reply #42 on: 03/26/2018 05:28 pm »
(20.12.2017)
The experimental small spacecraft (EMKA) was developed by the VNIIEM Corporation, one of the leading developers of remote sensing satellites, according to the Izvestia newspaper.

Another source told the newspaper that the reconnaissance satellite would be launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Russia's north-western Arkhangelsk Region atop Soyuz-2.1v light carrier rocket.

https://sputniknews.com/military/201712201060153263-russia-satellite-space-orbite-reconnaissance/
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (~16:45 UTC)
« Reply #43 on: 03/28/2018 09:09 am »
The latest NOTAM indicates the launch will take place a little later, between 17.15 and 18.30 UTC.

(as quoted on the NK forum)

Quote
HYDROARC 39/2018 (42,43)

BARENTS SEA.
SVALBARD.
DNC 22.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
1715Z TO 1830Z DAILY 29 AND 30 MAR
IN AREA BOUND BY
75-59N 021-26E, 75-50N 022-05E,
75-34N 022-47E, 75-21N 022-52E,
75-15N 022-13E, 75-24N 021-29E,
75-36N 020-51E, 75-53N 020-43E.
2. CANCEL HYDROARC 36/18.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 301930Z MAR 18.

( 270756Z MAR 2018 )

Offline Phillip Clark

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (~16:45 UTC)
« Reply #44 on: 03/28/2018 02:37 pm »
Is this really what the EMKA platorm looks like?

https://www.facebook.com/notes/roland-berga/roscosmos-next-launch/2008939572469330/

It looks rather more massive than ~200 kg to me ..........
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Offline Stan Black

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (~16:45 UTC)
« Reply #45 on: 03/28/2018 03:09 pm »
Is this really what the EMKA platorm looks like?

https://www.facebook.com/notes/roland-berga/roscosmos-next-launch/2008939572469330/

It looks rather more massive than ~200 kg to me ..........

Spektr-RG?

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (~17:20 UTC)
« Reply #46 on: 03/28/2018 04:19 pm »
Is this really what the EMKA platorm looks like?

https://www.facebook.com/notes/roland-berga/roscosmos-next-launch/2008939572469330/

It looks rather more massive than ~200 kg to me ..........

Spektr-RG?
Yes they are showing Spektr-RG which is flying on Proton-M/Blok-DM-03.

Offline Phillip Clark

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (~17:20 UTC)
« Reply #47 on: 03/28/2018 04:27 pm »
Is this really what the EMKA platorm looks like?
https://www.facebook.com/notes/roland-berga/roscosmos-next-launch/2008939572469330/
It looks rather more massive than ~200 kg to me ..........
Spektr-RG?
Yes they are showing Spektr-RG which is flying on Proton-M/Blok-DM-03.

I knew that I should be suspicious.   At least the person who decided to use the photo did use a Russian satellite!
« Last Edit: 03/28/2018 05:00 pm by Phillip Clark »
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Offline Alter Sachse

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (~17:20 UTC)
« Reply #49 on: 03/28/2018 04:55 pm »
I would be surprised if a photograph of a military payload is released before launch.
One day you're a hero  next day you're a clown  there's nothing that is in between
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (~17:20 UTC)
« Reply #50 on: 03/28/2018 08:34 pm »
The latest NOTMARs now move the launch window back forward : 16.30-18.30 UTC

(as quoted on the NK forum)

Quote
HYDROARC 40/2018 (42,43)

BARENTS SEA.
SVALBARD.
DNC 22.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
1630Z TO 1830Z DAILY 29 AND 30 MAR
IN AREA BOUND BY
75-59N 021-26E, 75-50N 022-05E,
75-34N 022-47E, 75-21N 022-52E,
75-15N 022-13E, 75-24N 021-29E,
75-36N 020-51E, 75-53N 020-43E.
2. CANCEL HYDROARC 39/18.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 301930Z MAR 18.

( 271909Z MAR 2018 )

HYDROARC 41/2018 (42)

BARRENTS SEA.
RUSSIA.
DNC 22.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS, ROCKET LAUNCHING
1630Z TO 1830Z DAILY 29 AND 30 MAR
IN AREA BOUND BY
70-18N 033-49E, 70-12N 034-11E,
69-54N 034-45E, 69-33N 034-47E,
69-25N 034-15E, 69-35N 033-37E,
69-53N 033-05E, 70-13N 033-11E.
2. CANCEL HYDROARC 32/18.
3. CANCEL THIS MSG 301930Z MAR 18.

( 280134Z MAR 2018 )

Offline Stan Black

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (~17:20 UTC)
« Reply #51 on: 03/28/2018 10:14 pm »
Is there a NOTAM for the disposal of the Volga, or what is the best way to search for these?

Offline input~2

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (~17:20 UTC)
« Reply #52 on: 03/29/2018 12:45 pm »
Is there a NOTAM for the disposal of the Volga, or what is the best way to search for these?
AFAICT no corresponding NOTAM for South Pacific area has been published

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https://twitter.com/RussianSpaceWeb/status/979365045556703232

Launch time will be at 17:38:42 UTC.

Hey, no fair!  China has that hour; now I have to reschedule everything.  :(

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #56 on: 03/29/2018 03:48 pm »
A direct video link? Or being military is not transmitted?.

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #57 on: 03/29/2018 03:54 pm »
A direct video link? Or being military is not transmitted?.

Not transmitted.

Offline Chris Bergin

A direct video link? Or being military is not transmitted?.

No webcast for us, comrades. ;)
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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #59 on: 03/29/2018 05:39 pm »
It's launch time! Waiting for news from Plesetsk!

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #60 on: 03/29/2018 05:51 pm »
Confirmation from Russian observers:

"Только что видел как ракета летела с плесецка возможно, что за запуск?"

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #61 on: 03/29/2018 05:55 pm »
And confirmation from the Russian media:

http://tass.ru/kosmos/5079998

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #62 on: 03/29/2018 05:56 pm »
And confirmation from the Russian media:

http://tass.ru/kosmos/5079998

ITAR-TASS is saying the launch was successful.

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #63 on: 03/29/2018 06:09 pm »
ITAR-TASS is saying the launch was successful.

It says that the launcher has successfully lifted-off. It's very too early to qualify this launch as successful.
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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #64 on: 03/29/2018 06:11 pm »
Orbit has been achieved. It will take "several hours" to reach the target orbit.

http://tass.ru/kosmos/5080043
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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #65 on: 03/29/2018 06:18 pm »
Orbit has been achieved. It will take "several hours" to reach the target orbit.
http://tass.ru/kosmos/5080043

I note that the satellite isn't named and also that the launch time has been "chopped", rather than being rounded to 20h 39m Moscow Time.
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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #66 on: 03/29/2018 06:44 pm »
These pictures show Angara-A5 launch in 2014 and second Soyuz-2.1v launch in 2015.

Congratulations to Spaceflightfans.cn for putting their mark on pictures that do not belong to them and that do not show today launch.
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Offline Chris Bergin

These pictures show Angara-A5 launch in 2014 and second Soyuz-2.1v launch in 2015.

Congratulations to Spaceflightfans.cn for putting their mark on pictures that do not belong to them and that do not show today launch.

Removed it and that site won't be allowed to post here again.
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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #68 on: 03/29/2018 07:16 pm »
Fantastic photos from VKontakte (Russian social media)  :o

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #69 on: 03/29/2018 07:19 pm »
More...  8)

Offline B. Hendrickx

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #70 on: 03/29/2018 07:41 pm »
http://www.militarynews.ru/story.asp?rid=1&nid=477436

Interfax-AVN now quoting the press service of the Ministry of Defense as saying that the satellite reached its target orbit at the intended time. Steady telemetry being received, on-board systems functioning normally. The satellite has been named Kosmos-2525.

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #71 on: 03/29/2018 08:00 pm »
Object A cataloged  at epoch 19:27 UTC

2018-028A in 316 x 319 km x 96.64°
« Last Edit: 03/29/2018 08:09 pm by input~2 »

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Offline input~2

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We also have Object B (Stage II?)

2018-028B/43244 in 316 x 317 km x 96.64°
« Last Edit: 03/29/2018 08:31 pm by input~2 »

Offline Phillip Clark

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We also have Object B (Stage II?)
2018-028B/43244 in 316 x 317 km x 96.64°

I am guessing that this might be Volga, with the second stage (still called Blok I?) in a lower, more eccentric orbit.   Compare with the Cosmos 2519 launch.
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There was no Volga on this launch.

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The Antares rocket was backed out of using a modified NK-33. Issues during test firings and the in-flight failure were blamed by Russia on the Aerojet modifications. From the list of Aerojet changes, their assertion doesn't seem very plausible. Any insights on how the Russians really discounted the failure potential?

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There was no Volga on this launch.

Interesting...another piece of evidence to deduce the payload was relatively light, light enough to be placed in SSO with no Volga upper stage?
***

Also, another data point of successful use of the NK-33.
« Last Edit: 03/29/2018 11:17 pm by zubenelgenubi »
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Seems to correspond to SSO according to https://smallsats.org/2013/04/11/sun-synchronous-circular-orbit/

SSO, but not quite on. Significant drift rate (-0.32 hours/year). Perfect SSO at this inc would be around 290 km,
so perhaps it will lower its orbit. Or it may be that the expected lifetime is short.
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Offline russianhalo117

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There was no Volga on this launch.

Interesting...another piece of evidence to deduce the payload was relatively light, light enough to be placed in SSO with no Volga upper stage?
***

Also, another data point of successful use of the NK-33.
the platform for this mission is based on a predecessor platform flown on Rockot, Cosmos-3M and as secondary payloads. The payload is called EMKA, Zvezda, Kosmos-2525.
http://russianspaceweb.com/emka.html

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There was no Volga on this launch.

Really ? So, why the mission lasted "several hours", according to TASS ?
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And video:


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Some screen grabs.
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

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Some pics were also posted at the Roscosmos VK site

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - Cosmos 2525 (EMKA) - Plesetsk - March 29 2018
« Reply #88 on: 03/30/2018 11:23 am »
Do we know if this launch will use an upper stage, such as Volga, or launch with no upper stage?
If not, when do we find out--when the LV is rolled out to the pad and images are released?
The Volga stage will presumably be hidden within the payload shroud, so it won't be visible.
From what I have found, I think the first six rockets had associated Volga upper stages. The initial five are part of one contract for the Russian military. The sixth was for Lomonosov satellite.

Apparently, Cosmos 2525 did not carry the Volga stage.   I wonder if this means that the EMKA payload was not originally scheduled to be one of the first 5/6 launches?
« Last Edit: 03/30/2018 11:42 am by Phillip Clark »
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Do we know if this launch will use an upper stage, such as Volga, or launch with no upper stage?
If not, when do we find out--when the LV is rolled out to the pad and images are released?
The Volga stage will presumably be hidden within the payload shroud, so it won't be visible.
From what I have found, I think the first six rockets had associated Volga upper stages. The initial five are part of one contract for the Russian military. The sixth was for Lomonosov satellite.

Apparently, Cosmos 2525 did not carry the Volga stage.   I wonder if this means that the EMKA payload was not originally scheduled to be one of the first 5/6 launches?

My thoughts too, but I was waiting for the serial numbers to be revealed…

There is several tenders and other references to the six rockets. The 1st five are from the same contract 11/93.

This project started in 2015, so that is after the rockets were to be completed?

2011  1М138С  78031001 / Л15000-001
2013  2М138С  76058002
2014  3М138С  78072003
      4М138С   
      5М138С   
2015  6М138С  Р15000-006

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No TLEs for either Cosmos 2525 or the Blok I for today's epoch so far.
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TLEs from today:

Quote
2018-028A               
1 43243U 18028A   18089.57457019 -.00000128  00000-0  00000+0 0  9990
2 43243  96.6418 146.0162 0002140  93.2731  54.4532 15.84608771   138
2018-028B               
1 43244U 18028B   18089.30767569  .00007630  00000-0  33211-4 0  9995
2 43244  96.6452 145.7665 0001399 179.6283 247.5337 15.85056574    99

Source Celestrak

Offline Alter Sachse

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 Sorry
What does that mean, so I understand it?
96,64° ... ...
« Last Edit: 03/30/2018 08:16 pm by Alter Sachse »
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Offline GWR64

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2018-028A
316 x 319 km x 96,64 deg

2018-028B
315 x 317 km x 96,65 deg

tool: https://www.satellite-calculations.com/TLETracker/SatTracker.htm
« Last Edit: 03/30/2018 08:41 pm by GWR64 »

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Re: Soyuz-2.1v - EMKA - Plesetsk - March 29, 2018 (17:38 UTC)
« Reply #95 on: 03/31/2018 05:02 am »
These pictures show Angara-A5 launch in 2014 and second Soyuz-2.1v launch in 2015.

Congratulations to Spaceflightfans.cn for putting their mark on pictures that do not belong to them and that do not show today launch.

Removed it and that site won't be allowed to post here again.

Sorry, I'm sorry, I'm not a member of this site. I just kindly transported the pictures. In fact, on this site, only a small part of their own production or exclusive pictures will add the mark of this site. Other pictures do not have a mark. You can visit this site to compare with other sites in their country. I hope to get your forgiveness, thank you.

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Some months ago, NK announced that fourth flight of Soyuz-2.1v would use launcher n°5.

I try to read the serial number on the video, but it is not easy...
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Offline Alter Sachse

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Some months ago, NK announced that fourth flight of Soyuz-2.1v would use launcher n°5.

I try to read the serial number on the video, but it is not easy...
78072- ?
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Yes, I can read "7807200", but the last figure (the most interesting) is still mysterious !
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Offline Alter Sachse

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Yes, I can read "7807200", but the last figure (the most interesting) is still mysterious !
According to your notice, it should be 78072-005 (78072005)
« Last Edit: 03/31/2018 12:48 pm by Alter Sachse »
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According to your notice, it should be 78072-005 (78072005)

Yes, it should be... But I'd like to have a confirmation...
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Offline owais.usmani

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Does this launcher use a newly built engine, or did it use one built back in the 70s?

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To support the assumption that there was no Volga on this flight, here is a comparison of press releases from Progress (the manufacturer of both Soyuz and Volga) for this flight and the previous one in 2017 which included a Volga.
Yesterday's release makes no mention of Volga while the June 24, 2017 release quotes Volga several times.
https://samspace.ru/news/press_relizy/11957/
https://samspace.ru/news/press_relizy/10232/

Quote
The launch of the Soyuz-2 rocket of phase 1v
March 30, 2018
On March 29, 2018, the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle  phase 1v and a spacecraft in the interests of national security were launched from the launch pad of the site 43 of the Plesetsk launch site.
This is the fourth launch of the Soyuz-2 LV phase 1v under the flight test program. The first launch of the Soyuz-2 LV phase 1v took place on December 28, 2013. In total, within the framework of flight tests, specialists of RKTs Progress need to implement five launching campaigns.
The Soyuz-2 launch vehicle phase 1v is intended for launching spacecraft and launching a payload mass of up to 3 tons to low Earth orbit. This is the first launch vehicle of light class with the use of liquid rocket engines, developed in modern Russia.

Quote
The launch of the Soyuz-2.1v LV
June 24, 2017
June 23, 2017 at 21 hours  04  minutes Moscow time from the launch pad of the site 43 of the Plesetsk cosmodrome the launch of the Soyuz-2.1v rocket with the launching unit Volga and a satellite in the interests of national security was held. The two-phase light vehicle of the Soyuz-2.1v light class was developed and manufactured at the RKTs Progress (Progress, Samara).
This is the third launch of the Soyuz-2.1v launch vehicle under the flight testing program, and the fourth launch of the Volga launch unit. The first launch of the Soyuz-2.1v LV and launching unit Volga took place on December 28, 2013. In total, in the framework of flight tests, the specialists of RKTs Progress need to implement five launching campaigns.
The Soyuz-2.1v launch vehicle is designed to launch spacecraft and launch a payload with a mass of up to 3 tons to a low near-Earth orbit, and with the use of the upper stage Volga, up to 1.4 tons, to solar synchronous orbit. This is the first launch vehicle of light class with the use of liquid rocket engines, developed in modern Russia.

Offline ZachS09

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Does this launcher use a newly built engine, or did it use one built back in the 70s?

Currently, the Soyuz-2.1v first stage uses the NK-33 engine, which dates back to the '70s, but it also utilizes the newly-manufactured RD-0110R vernier engine for augmentation and steering.

As for the second stage, its RD-0124 engine has been used in recent years.
« Last Edit: 03/31/2018 01:53 pm by ZachS09 »
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One more subcontractor for EMKA identified : NPP Kvant built the satellite's solar arrays. This is mentioned in the company's annual reports for 2015 (p. 77) and 2016 (p.88). The annual reports can be downloaded here:

https://e-disclosure.azipi.ru/organization/1039348/


Offline owais.usmani

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Does this launcher use a newly built engine, or did it use one built back in the 70s?

Currently, the Soyuz-2.1v first stage uses the NK-33 engine, which dates back to the '70s, but it also utilizes the newly-manufactured RD-0110R vernier engine for augmentation and steering.

As for the second stage, its RD-0124 engine has been used in recent years.

Thanks, so that means they have no plans for production restart of the NK-33?

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Thanks, so that means they have no plans for production restart of the NK-33?

No, they don't.
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Offline ZachS09

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I should add on to Nicolas PILLET's response that once the NK-33 inventory is gone, the RD-193 will be the new first stage engine for the Soyuz-2.1v, although I'm not sure if the RD-0110R will remain as the vernier by that time.
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Offline russianhalo117

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I should add on to Nicolas PILLET's response that once the NK-33 inventory is gone, the RD-193 will be the new first stage engine for the Soyuz-2.1v, although I'm not sure if the RD-0110R will remain as the vernier by that time.
11D24 engine had been in development for the eventual replacement of RD-0110R when RD-193 replaces NK-33

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Can anyone clarify how many trips Cosmos 2525/EMKA made to Plesetsk, please?

Bart Hendrickx noted in reply #30 on this thread that there were contracts to transport the spacecraft to Plesetsk for November 27, 2017 and February 26, 2018.

So, if the satellite went to Plesetsk in October last year and the launch was cancelled (supposedly because of problems with the satellite) then one would expect a transportation contract to return the spaccraft from Plesetsk to Moscow.   On the other hand, perhaps the problems were found before shipment to Plesetsk, in which case the contract for October was not fulfilled, and the only trip to Plesetsk was in February this year.

I would appreciate any corrections of the above or clarifications please.
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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Can anyone clarify how many trips Cosmos 2525/EMKA made to Plesetsk, please?

Bart Hendrickx noted in reply #30 on this thread that there were contracts to transport the spacecraft to Plesetsk for November 27, 2017 and February 26, 2018.

So, if the satellite went to Plesetsk in October last year and the launch was cancelled (supposedly because of problems with the satellite) then one would expect a transportation contract to return the spaccraft from Plesetsk to Moscow.   On the other hand, perhaps the problems were found before shipment to Plesetsk, in which case the contract for October was not fulfilled, and the only trip to Plesetsk was in February this year.

I would appreciate any corrections of the above or clarifications please.

It's not really possible to tell for sure based on the documentation that is available online. According to the documentation published in November ("purchase nr. 31705573827") the satellite was to be transported to the cosmodrome on 26 November. There are updates about this purchase on 4 December and 21 December 2017, which would seem to indicate that the transport hadn't taken place yet. On the other hand, there is a line elsewhere saying "purchase completed". There's no sign of a contract about the return of EMKA from Plesetsk to Moscow, at least not if you perform a search using the words "Plesetsk" or "EMKA". I haven't bothered to look further. Some new documentation appeared a couple of days ago which appears to be related to the return of cargo from Plesetsk to Moscow after the EMKA launch.

 http://zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/documents.html?regNumber=31806332496


Offline russianhalo117

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Can anyone clarify how many trips Cosmos 2525/EMKA made to Plesetsk, please?

Bart Hendrickx noted in reply #30 on this thread that there were contracts to transport the spacecraft to Plesetsk for November 27, 2017 and February 26, 2018.

So, if the satellite went to Plesetsk in October last year and the launch was cancelled (supposedly because of problems with the satellite) then one would expect a transportation contract to return the spaccraft from Plesetsk to Moscow.   On the other hand, perhaps the problems were found before shipment to Plesetsk, in which case the contract for October was not fulfilled, and the only trip to Plesetsk was in February this year.

I would appreciate any corrections of the above or clarifications please.

It's not really possible to tell for sure based on the documentation that is available online. According to the documentation published in November ("purchase nr. 31705573827") the satellite was to be transported to the cosmodrome on 26 November. There are updates about this purchase on 4 December and 21 December 2017, which would seem to indicate that the transport hadn't taken place yet. On the other hand, there is a line elsewhere saying "purchase completed". There's no sign of a contract about the return of EMKA from Plesetsk to Moscow, at least not if you perform a search using the words "Plesetsk" or "EMKA". I haven't bothered to look further. Some new documentation appeared a couple of days ago which appears to be related to the return of cargo from Plesetsk to Moscow after the EMKA launch.

 http://zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/documents.html?regNumber=31806332496


GSE return??

Offline Phillip Clark

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I have been watching the orbital data from this launch but to date there have been no orbital manoeuvres.   The satellite had an initial 96.64 deg inclination, 90.860 minutes period, 315-319 km orbit, with the Blok I rocket stage in a 96.65 deg inclination, 90.848 minutes, 315-317 km orbit.   Definitely not Sun-synchronous.
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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There are strong indications that the high-resolution optical system carried by EMKA is similar or identical to one that was supposed to have flown on a remote sensing satellite developed by ISS Reshetnyov in Krasnoyarsk (which has now probably been canceled).  ISS Reshetnyov began working on this satellite in the first half of 2014 and it was called ISS-55 in honor of the company’s 55th anniversary that same year.  It would weigh about 150-200 kg and use a new platform called NT-100-1, described here on the website of the R&P Small Satellites Center, a daughter company of ISS Reshetnyov:

http://npc-mka.ru/en/products/unified-platforms-for-small-class-satellites/154-unified-platform-nt-100-01.html

Plans for the ISS-55 satellite were publicly presented at a remote sensing satellite conference organized by VNIIEM in Moscow in May 2014 :

http://www.vniiem.ru/ru/uploads/files/conferences/140523/sbornik_tezisov.pdf
(see p. 30-32)

Here it was actually named “MiR-2” (MiR standing for “Mikhail Reshetnyov” and “2” referring to the fact that a smaller technology development satellite called MiR (or Yubileinyy-2) had already been launched in 2012).

A detailed description of the satellite was given in early 2015 in the journal “Trudy MAI” published by the Moscow Aviation Institute.

http://trudymai.ru/upload/iblock/06a/06ae1e755acca084d7ae0143563e63c9.pdf

Another detailed description (in English) can be found in a 2015 issue of the “Journal of the Siberian Federal University”.

goo.gl/5ntnXp

The satellite would have two separate optical systems :
- a high-resolution system (Russian acronym OEA) with a resolution of 0.9 m in panchromatic mode
- a medium-resolution multispectral imaging system (MSS) consisting of a Fourier video spectrometer (Russian acronym FVS) (with a resolution of 15m in panchromatic mode and 30m in hyperspectral mode) and an infrared imaging system (Russian acronym IKSS) with a resolution of 28 m. 

Both the high-resolution and medium-resolution optical systems were to be built by OAO Peleng in Minsk (Belarus).

The article in “Trudy MAI” has a drawing of the OEA high-resolution system (see attached image). It looks virtually identical to the camera housing that the SKTB Plastik company is known to have built for EMKA. I discussed this in Reply #34 in this thread, but have again attached the drawing of the EMKA camera housing for comparison.

The dimensions of the OEA assembly for ISS-55 given in the English-language article are “no more than 1490x745x520 mm”. The dimensions for the camera housing of EMKA given on the website of SKTB Plastik are very similar: 1267х405х721 mm. The conclusion is that EMKA is very likely to carry the same high-resolution optical payload intended for ISS-55. Detailed specifications for this system can be found in both the MAI article and the English article.
« Last Edit: 04/08/2018 07:06 pm by eeergo »

Offline B. Hendrickx

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So how did the camera for ISS-55 end up on EMKA?  Actually, it is quite likely that both ISS Reshetnyov and VNIIEM approached OAO Peleng to develop the high-resolution camera as soon as ISS-55 and EMKA were conceived in 2014-2015.  OAO Peleng in Minsk is a long-standing partner of VNIIEM, having developed the optical systems for the Kanopus-V satellites and the identical Belarusian Belka satellite.

In other words, by early 2015 both ISS Reshetnyov and VNIIEM were hoping to build a small remote sensing satellite with an identical optical payload having a maximum resolution of about 0.9 m. There are indications that both companies had been inspired by the launch of the first two SkySat satellites on Russian boosters in November 2013 and July 2014. Owned at the time by SkyBox Imaging (a company later acquired by Google and then sold to PlanetLabs), these were the smallest satellites ever flown capable of capturing imagery at better than 1 meter resolution (0.9 m).

In a blog devoted to SkySat, VNIIEM designer Aleksandr Khromov links ISS-55 directly to SkySat and says his own company was also inspired by the satellite. The second SkySat was launched piggyback with one of VNIIEM’s Meteor weather satellites in July 2014, giving VNIIEM’s engineers a chance to examine the satellite up close.

http://dauria.ru/blog/skysat

One of ISS-55’s designers (A.V. Yakovlev) also referred to SkySat in a posting on the NK forum in May 2014:
http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum12/topic14236/

Further evidence for a link between EMKA and SkySat-1 comes in an article on remote sensing satellites published in the VNIIEM journal in 2014. Here EMKA as well as its operational successor MKA-V are compared with SkySat-1. The article also has a drawing of MKA-V and this has the same box-type design as SkySat (as does ISS-55 and presumably EMKA as well).  See the attached images of MKA-V and SkySat for comparison.

http://jurnal.vniiem.ru/text/141/17-22.pdf

By early 2015 EMKA and ISS-55 were no more than internal company proposals with no government funding. Both were openly presented in articles and conference papers and linked only to civilian goals, indicating VNIIEM and ISS Reshetnyov were eyeing Roscosmos as a potential customer. However, Roscosmos was probably perfectly happy with the optical remote sensing satellites it already had or were already under development (Resurs-P(M), Kanopus-V, Obzor-O) and saw no need for yet another system to complement those.  The ISS-55 designer (A. Yakovlev) vented his frustration on the NK forum in early February 2015, saying they were ready to start cutting metal, but that no funding was forthcoming and that apparently Russia was not interested in a small remote sensing satellite with a resolution of less than 1 m.

http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum12/topic14236/?PAGEN_1=3

It is presumably around this time that both VNIIEM and ISS Reshetnyov began looking at the Ministry of Defense as a possible customer for their small satellites. ISS Reshetnyov  may have showcased the military potential of ISS-55 when Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu paid a visit to the company in January 2015. Unlike Roscosmos, the Ministry of Defense had reason enough to show interest in these satellites. The available optical reconnaissance satellites built by RKTs Progress were barely enough to satisfy the ministry's needs. By early 2015 the Ministry of Defense had only one more Yantar type film return satellite left in its inventory (launched in June of that year) and the 7-ton Persona digital reconnaissance satellites were not quite living up to expectations. The first one had failed shortly after launch in 2008. The second one, launched in June 2013, reportedly suffered a crippling failure several months into its mission from which it made a miraculous recovery in the summer of 2014. Only one more was left, eventually launched in June 2015. Due to the lack of digital reconnaissance satellites, the Ministry of Defense had to rely on Resurs-P and Kanopus-V to augment the imagery received from Persona. Moreover, there was no guarantee that the two Persona satellites would continue to operate until RKTs Progress’s next-generation Razdan satellites became available around the turn of the decade.

It is against this background that the Ministry of Defense may well have launched a tender in 2015 to develop one or more small reconnaissance satellites to complement Persona and/or to help bridge the gap to Razdan in case the Persona satellites broke down earlier than expected.  If such a tender was indeed held, there probably were two key requirements. One was to build the satellite(s) as quickly and cheaply as possible and the other was to make maximum use of Russian-built electronics because of import restrictions resulting from Western-imposed sanctions. 

The Ministry of Defense may have had more options to choose from than VNIIEM’s EMKA and ISS-Reshetnyov’s ISS-55. RKK Energiya is known to have performed studies of a reconnaissance satellite in 2015. This was supposed to use the same platform as Egyptsat-2 (a Yamal-300 type bus), but with a total mass of 1,350 kg would have needed a heavier Soyuz-2.1a rocket (see attached image).  The plans are briefly outlined in the company’s latest history (covering the period 2011-2015), where it is described as a remote sensing satellite “in the interests of a national customer”, most likely the Ministry of Defense. It was to have a maximum resolution of 0.5 m. RKTs Progress, the country’s leading developer of spy satellites, may have proposed a 500 kg class satellite based on its Aist-2 platform, but there is no evidence to support that idea.

In the end, VNIIEM got the contract in November 2015. If RKK Energiya’s proposal was indeed considered, it was probably rejected because of its higher price and the fact that Egyptsat-2 had been lost in April 2015 (just half a year after launch).   ISS-55 probably stood little chance because ISS Reshetnyov was a virtual newcomer to the remote sensing satellite business.  The first ISS Reshetnyov satellite  to carry a remote sensing camera was the MiR/Yubileinyy-2 microsat launched in July 2012.  Another remote sensing payload was to have flown on another Yubileinyy class satellite (called DOSAAF-85), which was scheduled to ride into orbit with three Gonets-M satellites in 2014-2015. However, this passed into oblivion along with ISS-55 in the course of 2015.

ISS-55 is still mentioned on the “Programs and Projects” page of ISS Reshetnyov’s website, but this clearly hasn’t been updated for a while. It still says the launch of ISS-55 is “due in late 2015”.

http://www.iss-reshetnev.com/projects

A news release by the R&P Small Satellites Center in November 2016 linked ISS-55 to the heavier NT-500 platform.

http://npc-mka.ru/ru/проекты/8-новости/253-система-коррекции.html

I have not seen any more recent references to the satellite.

Offline B. Hendrickx

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In Reply 113  I mentioned an English-language article on the ISS-55 satellite (published in the Journal of the Siberian Federal University), but something went wrong with the link. Here's another try:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anatoly_Shevyrnogov/publication/
281700651_Satellite_Monitoring_System_for_the_Krasnoyarsk_Territory_
Area_Based_on_Small_Satellites_Use/links/575aed0508ae414b8e467370/
Satellite-Monitoring-System-for-the-Krasnoyarsk-Territory-Area-Based-on-
Small-Satellites-Use.pdf


If it doesn't work, a Google search with the words "ISS-55" and "Krasnoyarsk" will get you there. The title of the article is  "Satellite Monitoring System for the Krasnoyarsk Territory Area Based on Small Satellite Use".

As I explained in that post, the high-resolution optical payload described here (pp. 339-340) and referred to as "Optical-to-Electrical Equipment" (OEE) is very likely the same payload carried by Kosmos-2525/EMKA.

And one correction to my subsequent post : the contract for the development of EMKA was signed not in November 2015, but in October 2015. 

Meanwhile, a poster on the NK forum (who I think is an ISS Reshetnyov insider) has pointed out that ISS-55 never reached the so-called "draft design" ("eskiznyy proyekt") phase, meaning that it is unlikely to have been considered as part of a tender organized by the Ministry of Defense (assuming that such a tender was organized. VNIIEM may have received the contract for EMKA without competition). 


Mod Edit: The link is too long and breaks the page formatting, so I shortened it with Google (shown in the above post). Here I have divided it in several parts. Please do take care of checking how your post looks like after posting.
« Last Edit: 04/10/2018 08:23 am by eeergo »

Offline Steven Pietrobon

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Here's a shortened link to the pdf. Copy and paste the link to your browser to directly download the pdf. If you just click on the link, that will take you the website, where you have to navigate to find the download link.

https://bit.ly/2qlJtul
« Last Edit: 04/11/2018 04:08 am by Steven Pietrobon »
Akin's Laws of Spacecraft Design #1:  Engineering is done with numbers.  Analysis without numbers is only an opinion.

Offline Nicolas PILLET

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I have confirmation that this launch did not use Volga upper stage.
Nicolas PILLET
Kosmonavtika : The French site on Russian Space

Offline Nicolas PILLET

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And now, the serial number : https://www.kosmonavtika.com/lancements/2018/29032018/29032018.html

Novosti Kosmonavtiki was right : the fourth flight was with the fifth launcher.
Nicolas PILLET
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Strange.   We have had no TLEs for the Cosmos 2525 Blok I since April 24.66.   We have been getting at least two per day until that time.

Just checked and the rocket stage is still showing as being in orbit, but that could mean it has been de-orbited and no-one has picked up on it yet.   The last orbit was 309-314 km so it can't have decayed naturally.

Or maybe the trackers have "lost" it?

There is a message on Space-Track about erroneous TLEs being deleted today, so maybe that has something to do with it.

Curious.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Following on from my message yesterday, still no new TLEs for the Blok I from the Cosmos 2525 launch, although the Satellite Situation Report continues to show it as being in orbit.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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The Block I has had two new element sets issued for April 28, so it is still chugging around up there.   I wonder why there was the four days gap in the data.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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I admit that this mission has been a bit of a disappointment, since there have been no manoeuvres of Cosmos 2525 to date.

The most recent orbital data for the mission are:

Cosmos 2525
May 17.714    96.632 deg      90.700 min     307-311 km

Blok I
May 17.605    96.636 deg      90.648 min     304-309 km
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Very small, but it looks as if there was a tweak to the Cosmos 2525 orbit yesterday.

May 23.241    incl - 96.633 deg      period - 90.682 min     altitude - 306-310 km    AoP - 126 deg
May 23.306            96.631                         90.695                          307-310                     88
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Offline Alter Sachse

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No manoeuvres of Cosmos 2525
March 29  96.64 deg 90.87 min 316 319 km
July    09  96.63       90.53        299 302
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Offline Phillip Clark

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No manoeuvres of Cosmos 2525
March 29  96.64 deg 90.87 min 316 319 km
July    09  96.63       90.53        299 302

Just the very small manoeuvre which I reported on May 24.
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Offline Alter Sachse

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No manoeuvres of Cosmos 2525
March 29  96.64 deg 90.87 min 316 319 km
July    09  96.63       90.53        299 302

Just the very small manoeuvre which I reported on May 24.
Or it was inaccurate data ?
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Offline Phillip Clark

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No manoeuvres of Cosmos 2525
March 29  96.64 deg 90.87 min 316 319 km
July    09  96.63       90.53        299 302
Just the very small manoeuvre which I reported on May 24.
Or it was inaccurate data ?

I don't believe so.   If you follow the argument of perigee - for example - before and after it is consistent with a tiny orbital change.   Also an error in the mean motion to give the orbital period would not result in the change in orbital eccentricity.

However, this manoeuvre is close to what I consider to be the limits of the TLE data.
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Offline Alter Sachse

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I thought he would raise his orbit or holding a certain level (to do his job).
But he falls and falls.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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I thought he would raise his orbit or holding a certain level (to do his job).
But he falls and falls.

Agreed.   I had hoped for more.   I am assuming that there hasn't been a malfunction.
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Offline Alter Sachse

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No manoeuvres of Cosmos 2525
March 29  96.64 deg 90.87 min 316 319 km
July    09  96.63       90.53        299 302
July   28   96.63      90.45      295 299
« Last Edit: 07/29/2018 04:56 pm by Alter Sachse »
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Offline Alter Sachse

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No manoeuvres of Cosmos 2525
March 29  96.64 deg 90.87 min 316 319 km
July    09  96.63       90.53        299 302
July   28   96.63      90.45      295 299
August 26 96.62     90.32    289 292
« Last Edit: 08/27/2018 11:32 am by Alter Sachse »
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Offline Phillip Clark

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The orbit is slowly decaying to one which will be Sun-synchronous.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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The orbit of Cosmos 2525 has now decayed to an altitude that means that the orbit is Sun-synchronous:

Sep 18.123    96.617 deg   90.176 minutes   281 km   285 km   127 deg (AoP)

It is possible that the Russians will start small orbit-maintenance manoeuvres to keep the orbit Sun-synchronous.   Of course they might simply let the satellite continue its slow orbital decay.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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So far the Cosmos 2525 orbit has continued its slow decay.
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Offline Alter Sachse

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So far the Cosmos 2525 orbit has continued its slow decay.
Maybe it's a satellite without an engine ?
One day you're a hero  next day you're a clown  there's nothing that is in between
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Offline Phillip Clark

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I believe that there was a very small manoeuvre on May 23 when the orbital period increased from 90.682 minutes to 90.695 minutes.
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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Assuming Kosmos 2525 is VNIIEM's Zvezda satellite (which we have every reason to believe based on evidence presented earlier in this thread), it has a thermal catalytic propulsion system of OKB Fakel called K50-10.5. That at least was the plan in 2015 when this paper was published (about the selection of engines for Zvezda):

http://ihst.ru/files/pdfs/Korolevskie-chteniya-2015-Materialy.pdf
(see p. 59-60)

At the time the objective was to place Zvezda into a nearly circular 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit. According to the article, the engine unit was to be used to correct orbit insertion errors, maintain the working orbit throughout the satellite's lifetime and ensure proper phasing between satellites in a constellation. The mass of the engine unit should not exceed 30 kg. It was to have a total impulse of not more than 2 t.s , a thrust of between 5 mN and 1N and use monopropellant. Four types of engines were evaluated and in the end the choice fell on Fakel's K50-10.5. This, by the way, is the same engine that is carried by Cosmos-2519 (according to data from Fakel).


Offline Star One

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Assuming Kosmos 2525 is VNIIEM's Zvezda satellite (which we have every reason to believe based on evidence presented earlier in this thread), it has a thermal catalytic propulsion system of OKB Fakel called K50-10.5. That at least was the plan in 2015 when this paper was published (about the selection of engines for Zvezda):

http://ihst.ru/files/pdfs/Korolevskie-chteniya-2015-Materialy.pdf
(see p. 59-60)

At the time the objective was to place Zvezda into a nearly circular 500 km Sun-synchronous orbit. According to the article, the engine unit was to be used to correct orbit insertion errors, maintain the working orbit throughout the satellite's lifetime and ensure proper phasing between satellites in a constellation. The mass of the engine unit should not exceed 30 kg. It was to have a total impulse of not more than 2 t.s , a thrust of between 5 mN and 1N and use monopropellant. Four types of engines were evaluated and in the end the choice fell on Fakel's K50-10.5. This, by the way, is the same engine that is carried by Cosmos-2519 (according to data from Fakel).

Well if it does have this engine why has it hardly been used?

Offline Alter Sachse

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2 options:
- it is not the satellite ("Zvesda")
- engine does not work.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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2 options:
- it is not the satellite ("Zvesda")
- engine does not work.

A non-functioning engine might explain the very small manoeuvre that I mentioned a few messages ago.
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Offline Star One

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2 options:
- it is not the satellite ("Zvesda")
- engine does not work.

A non-functioning engine might explain the very small manoeuvre that I mentioned a few messages ago.

Would seem the most logical answer to me.

Offline Stan Black

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2 options:
- it is not the satellite ("Zvesda")
- engine does not work.

A non-functioning engine might explain the very small manoeuvre that I mentioned a few messages ago.

Would seem the most logical answer to me.

Or a decoy?

Offline Alter Sachse

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Or a decoy?

That would be an option !
The satellite (stealth) circles higher and we only see a dead fragment.

2018 Sep 22:96.61° 90.15min 280 284 km
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Or a decoy?
That would be an option !
The satellite (stealth) circles higher and we only see a dead fragment.
2018 Sep 22:96.61° 90.15min 280 284 km

Space-Track has just started to issue TLEs in the 80,000 catalogue number series once more, these being objects which are being confidently tracked but which have not been assigned to a specific launch.   They are normally pieces of debris rather than rocket bodies or payloads.   I have done a scan of the data which have been issued over the last two days to see if there is something which could be the "real Cosmos 2525" but there is nothing obvious.   On the other hand, something new with an inclination of ~96.6-97.6 degrees (my search criterion) would surely have been identified with the Cosmos 2525 launch and catalogued accordingly.

We shall see ..........
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Offline Alter Sachse

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Oct 20 96.60° 89.88min 266 271 km
Oct 22 96.60° 89.95min 268 276 km

we have to wait, if that's true...
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Looks to be another small manoeuvre from Cosmos 2525:

Oct 22.738    96.598 deg      89.951 min     268-276 km     73
Oct 23.040    96.597            89.963            270-275         101

This would indicate that object A from the launch is indeed the satellite, rather thasn being some debris with the satellite in a different "stealth" orbit.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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The orbital manoeuvre of Cosmos 2525 which I mentioned yesterday was more extensive (but still small) that I reported:

Oct 22.161    96.603 deg      89.868 min     265-271 km    125 deg (pre-manoeuvre)
Oct 22.226    96.601            89.899            267-272         100       (raise perigee)
Oct 22.738    96.598            89.951            268-276           73       (raise apogee)
Oct 23.040    96.597            89.963            270-275         101       (raise perigee again)

No sign of further manoeuvres in the TLEs downloaded this morning.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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There appears to have been another small manoeuvre:

Oct 24.668    96.597 deg      89.938 min     270-273 km     96 deg
Oct 25.286    96.604            89.963            269-276          99
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Offline Alter Sachse

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Yesterday 3 (?) more manoeuvres !
« Last Edit: 10/27/2018 06:04 am by Alter Sachse »
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Just processed the latest TLEs ........

Oct 25.286    96.604 deg      89.963 min     269-276 km     99 deg   (from yesterday's post))
Oct 26.287    96.599            90.073            274-282          87
Oct 26.609    96.592            90.107            276-283        121
Oct 26.859    96.587            90.130            278-284          97
Oct 27.168    96.591            90.165            279-286          80
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Still slowly increasing altitude.   Cosmos 2525 is now above Sun-synchronous altitude.

Oct 27.225    96.592 deg      90.168 minutes     280-286 km     73 deg

No orbital data have been issued since the TLE for the above.
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Offline Alter Sachse

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It is puzzling. Why was the satellite passive for so long ?
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Offline Phillip Clark

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It is puzzling. Why was the satellite passive for so long ?

Maybe allowing the satellite's orbit to decay to below SSO: and now we will see periodic manoeuvres to boost it back above the SSO altitude?
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Offline Star One

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It is puzzling. Why was the satellite passive for so long ?

Maybe allowing the satellite's orbit to decay to below SSO: and now we will see periodic manoeuvres to boost it back above the SSO altitude?

What can we ascertain about its mission I wonder from the desire to keep placing it back in that orbit. If it was going back into SSO it would be easier to do but it isn’t.
« Last Edit: 10/28/2018 08:50 pm by Star One »

Offline Phillip Clark

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One more manoeuvre to add:

Oct 28.171    96.595 deg      90.197 min     281-287 km     65 deg

Note that as well as the orbital period/altitude being adjusted, the orbital inclination has been shifted as well during the recent manoeuvres.
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Offline Alter Sachse

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And now down again...
Oct 28 90,20 min
Oct 30 90,12 min
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Looking at the orbital periods, there look to have been manoeuvres up and down in the last couple of days.

Oct 30.114    96.591 deg      90.184 minutes     280-287 km     71 deg
Oct 30.232    96.596            90.144                  279-284          78
Oct 30.494    96.596            90.123                  278-283          27
Oct 30.623    96.596            90.130                  278-283          24
Oct 30.872    96.589            90.133                  279-283          51
Oct 31.177    96.591            90.131                  280-282          83

Assuming an ideal circular orbit, I wonder if we might see the satellite decaying to and stabilising in a 16 circuits repeating Sun-synchronous orbit - 96.574 deg, 89.937 min, 271 km: note how the inclination has evolved over the last week.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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A further small orbital manoeuvre by Cosmos 2525 has taken place.

Nov 20.704    96.589 deg      89.914 minutes     269-271 km    141 deg
Nov 21.259    96.585            89.952                  270-274           91

Also, the Blok I rocket stage decayed from orbit on November 4.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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It's manoeuvre time again.

Dec 12.498    96.590 deg   89.767 minutes   261-265 km    53 deg
Dec 13.109    96.589         89.800                261-268         67
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Up and down apparently: maybe the second orbit is a bad attempt  at the third one, of course.

Dec 13.301    96.584 deg   89.808 min   261-269 km    55 deg
Dec 13.364    96.566         89.814         258-273         342
Dec 13.565    96.590         89.817         263-268           68
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Manoeuvres continue.

Dec 13.873    96.584 deg   89.843 minutes   264-269 km    75 deg
Dec 14.301    96.589         89.872                266-271          87
Dec 14.620    96.587         89.879                267-270        112
Dec 14.914    96.583         89.892                265-273          76
Dec 15.177    96.588         89.909                266-274          89
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Not quite a Sun-synchronous orbit.

Dec 15.177    96.588 deg   89.909 minutes   266-274 km    89 deg
Dec 15.933    96.588         89.939                268-275         65
Dec 16.234    96.592         89.964                270-276         76
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Up again.

Dec 27.624    96.582 deg   89.932 minutes   269-273 km    79 deg
Dec 27.685    96.571         89.964                268-278         58
Dec 28.299    96.576         89.995                272-277         77
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Offline Phillip Clark

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First manoeuvres of the New Year.

Jan 11.116    96.565 deg   89.878 minutes   267-270 km    40 deg
Jan 11.436    96.566         89.903                266-273         33
Jan 11.937    96.566         89.962                269-276         32
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Manoeuvres continue.

Jan 11.937    96.566 deg   89.962 minutes   269-276 km    32 deg
Jan 12.436    96.566         89.976                272-275         47
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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Procurement documentation published on zakupki.gov.ru in April 2016 proves that Kosmos-2525 (the VNIIEM Corporation’s “Experimental Small Satellite” or EMKA) carries an engine system built by OKB Fakel.

http://zakupki.gov.ru/223/contract/public/contract/view/general-information.html?id=2379407

The documentation includes a draft contract signed between OKB Fakel and KB Khimmash (the former “Isayev bureau”), which is part of the Khrunichev Center and based in Korolyov outside Moscow. It deals with the delivery of a “propellant storage and feed unit” (БХП or BKhP) called S5.155. While EMKA is not mentioned, reference is made to a contract signed between the Ministry of Defense and the VNIIEM Corporation. Moreover, the number of the Fakel-Khimmash contract clearly shows that it is based on the 23 October 2015 contract that gave VNIIEM the go-ahead to build EMKA (see earlies posts in this thread). 

So KB Khimmash built a propellant tank and feed mechanism for an engine system of OKB Fakel installed on EMKA. The engine system is likely to use OKB Fakel’s hydrazine-fueled K50-10.5 thermal catalytic thrusters. In a paper presented in early 2015 this was said to be the engine system selected for a proposed VNIIEM satellite called Zvezda.

http://old.ihst.ru/files/pdfs/Korolevskie-chteniya-2015-Materialy.pdf
(p. 59-60)

As described earlier here, Zvezda was an experimental high-resolution remote sensing satellite conceived by VNIIEM in 2014 (likely inspired by SkySat). VNIIEM presumably proposed it to Roscosmos, but after getting a negative response subsequently offered it to the Ministry to Defense to augment the imagery obtained by the two Persona optical reconnaissance satellites. This resulted in the signing of the aforementioned contract on 23 October 2015.

Attached are data on the K50-10.5 engine from the OKB Fakel website. According to a list of satellites with Fakel engines on the company’s website, the engine system is also flown on the Luch-5, Express-AT and Olimp communications satellites as well as on Kosmos-2519. There are units consisting of a single K50-10.5 thruster called DB-1 and units consisting of three K50-10.5 thrusters called DB-3.

Apparently, OKB Fakel has to outsource the development of hydrazine tanks for its thermal catalytic engines to other companies.  According to an article in VNIIEM’s journal “Voprosy elektromekhaniki” published back in 2009, Fakel at the time used a propellant storage and feed system called 14D519 with a 25 liter hydrazine tank built by NPO Lavochkin. 

http://jurnal.vniiem.ru/text/109/8.pdf

For EMKA the choice fell on Khimmash’s S5.155 propellant and feed system. A picture of it was posted several years ago on the “Novosti kosmonavtiki” forum, where it was incorrectly described as an engine unit:

http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/forum9/topic9898/?PAGEN_1=43
(see attached image).

S5.155, along with a similar system called S5.157, also appears in a contract signed by KB Khimmash in May 2014:

http://zakupki.gov.ru/223/purchase/public/purchase/info/common-info.html?regNumber=31401866766

The contract is for the delivery of pressure sensors for the tanks. The satellites for which the tanks are intended are not mentioned.


The following paper, published in “Voprosy elektromekhaniki” in 2016, is likely also related to EMKA (one of its authors, A.S. Stepakin, co-authored an article on Zvezda):
http://jurnal.vniiem.ru/text/154/20-24.pdf

It deals with “experimental satellites” (acronym EKA) that do not go through the same lengthy development and testing cycle as traditional satellites and therefore can be readied for launch in 1 to 3 years time. The article describes several ways of achieving that goal without referring to any specific projects. However, EMKA is clearly an example of this because it was launched less than 2.5 years after it was approved by the Ministry of Defense.     

 

Offline Nicolas PILLET

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It reminds me MVSK50 engine from NIIMash, which was on display during MAKS-2015...
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Manoeuvres to raise both perigee and apogee yesterday.

Jan 24.116    96.556 deg   89.889 minutes   268-270 km    28 deg
Jan 24.362    96.567         89.932                268-274        103
Jan 24.915    96.557         89.978                271-275          84
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Offline Phillip Clark

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New manoeuvres: I expect that the long gap between these two orbits will be filled by more orbital data.

Feb  4.116    96.548 deg   89.880 min   266-271 km    68 deg
Feb  5.111    96.546         89.972          271-275         68

Since these manoeuvres are becoming routine I will stop posting the details on here.   

On a personal note, my eyesight has declined greatly in recent months and I am having to seriously limit my time on the computer to avoid eye strain and more damage to my remaining sight.
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Offline Lar

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On a personal note, my eyesight has declined greatly in recent months and I am having to seriously limit my time on the computer to avoid eye strain and more damage to my remaining sight.
Thanks for all your updates and good posts... focus on what is important though, this can take care of itself. Best wishes.
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Offline Alter Sachse

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2019 Feb 10 96.54° 90.01 min 272-277 km
2019 Feb 11 96.54° 90.07 min 276-280 km
2019 Feb 12 96.54° 90.21 min 283-287 km
2019 Feb 22 96.54° 90.14 min 280-283 km
2019 Feb 26 96.54° 90.20 min 283-285 km
2019 Mar 04 96.54° 90.15 min 282-282 km

Up and down
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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https://www.interfax.ru/world/655326

According to the Interfax news agency, a "specialized site using data of the American space surveillance system" says that Cosmos-2525 is expected to re-enter around 17 May. According to the US data, this is believed to be a "big satellite". Interfax says pieces of the satellite could survive re-entry, adding that the Soyuz-2-1v rocket that launched Cosmos-2525 can place 2,500 kg into low-Earth orbit.

Two comments:

1) The assessment that Cosmos-2525 is a big satellite is contradicted by the name that the Russians themselves have given to the satellite (EMKA or "experimental small satellite"). Evidence presented earlier in this thread suggests it may not weigh much more than 150 kg. The fact that it was launched by the Soyuz-2-1v does not necessarily mean it weighs 2.5 tons. Right now Russia simply doesn't have smaller rockets than the Soyuz-2-1v or Rokot to orbit these kind of payloads from Plesetsk. It would make more sense to launch them as co-passengers with bigger satellites, but if there is no big payload destined for the same orbit, then using these oversized launch vehicles is the only way of delivering them to orbit.

2) Cosmos-2525 has regularly made small orbital corrections in the last few weeks and there is no reason to believe that it won't continue to do so in the next weeks. Therefore the decay date is currently totally unpredictable.

Offline Alter Sachse

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2019 Feb 10 96.54° 90.01 min 272-277 km
2019 Feb 11 96.54° 90.07 min 276-280 km
2019 Feb 12 96.54° 90.21 min 283-287 km
2019 Feb 22 96.54° 90.14 min 280-283 km
2019 Feb 26 96.54° 90.20 min 283-285 km
2019 Mar 04 96.54° 90.15 min 282-282 km

Up and down
2019 Mar 10 96.53° 90.11 min 279-280 km
2019 Mar 11 96.53° 90.20 min 282-287 km
2019 Mar 19 96.53° 90.14 min 280-283 km
2019 Mar 21 96.54° 90.21 min 283-287 km
One day you're a hero  next day you're a clown  there's nothing that is in between
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Offline Alter Sachse

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A small manoeuvre

2019 Mar 30 96.53° 90.14min 281-282 km
2019 Apr 02 96.53° 90.19min 282-286 km
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Offline Phillip Clark

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In some of the Russian material referenced by Bart Hendrickx previously on this thread, it is said that the satellite's expected operating time is about a year.   That is suggestive that the satellite might cease manoeuvring soon and decay from orbit some weeks afterwards.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Following from my previous posting, with no manoeuvres since April 3, is it time to suggest that Cosmos 2525 is now slowly heading towards natural orbital decay?
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Offline ZachS09

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Philip, will you please explain all these maneuver posts?

I don’t quite understand them.
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Offline Phillip Clark

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Philip, will you please explain all these maneuver posts?
I don’t quite understand them.

My postings have normally been the pre- and post manoeuvre orbits: for each orbit I list the orbit epoch (date of measurement and time in decimals of a day), the orbital inclination, orbital period, perigee and apogee altitudes and then the argument of perigee (AoP) which is the angle between the ascending node of the orbit and the location of perigee.

Does that make sense?

Sometimes when the orbit is increased in steps you will have intermediate orbits shown in the same format.
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Offline ZachS09

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Philip, will you please explain all these maneuver posts?
I don’t quite understand them.

My postings have normally been the pre- and post manoeuvre orbits: for each orbit I list the orbit epoch (date of measurement and time in decimals of a day), the orbital inclination, orbital period, perigee and apogee altitudes and then the argument of perigee (AoP) which is the angle between the ascending node of the orbit and the location of perigee.

Does that make sense?

Sometimes when the orbit is increased in steps you will have intermediate orbits shown in the same format.

It does make sense, but what I was really asking was if there’s a reason for reconnaissance satellites like EMKA to perform these maneuvers.
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Offline russianhalo117

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Philip, will you please explain all these maneuver posts?
I don’t quite understand them.

My postings have normally been the pre- and post manoeuvre orbits: for each orbit I list the orbit epoch (date of measurement and time in decimals of a day), the orbital inclination, orbital period, perigee and apogee altitudes and then the argument of perigee (AoP) which is the angle between the ascending node of the orbit and the location of perigee.

Does that make sense?

Sometimes when the orbit is increased in steps you will have intermediate orbits shown in the same format.

It does make sense, but what I was really asking was if there’s a reason for reconnaissance satellites like EMKA to perform these maneuvers.
From my POV: Consider it to several degrees a multiple phase test programme ahead of fully pure operational launches. There is a lot of new infrastructure and hardware being tested by the various Kosmos spacecraft in the experimental phase while some data may also suport existing operations.

Offline Phillip Clark

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It does make sense, but what I was really asking was if there’s a reason for reconnaissance satellites like EMKA to perform these maneuvers.
From my POV: Consider it to several degrees a multiple phase test programme ahead of fully pure operational launches. There is a lot of new infrastructure and hardware being tested by the various Kosmos spacecraft in the experimental phase while some data may also suport existing operations.

The reason for the manoeuvres has been the counter orbital decay and thus extend the satellite's lifetime.   It also means that the orbit was fairly close to the Sun-synchronous one during the manoeuvres.

As Bart Hendrickx has pointed out, this is a test-bed for a satellite designated MKA-V, so EMKA/Cosmos 2525 is probably a one-off.   Prove the technology and then in the future we will see MKA-V - unless the programme gets cancelled, of course.
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Offline Star One

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It does make sense, but what I was really asking was if there’s a reason for reconnaissance satellites like EMKA to perform these maneuvers.
From my POV: Consider it to several degrees a multiple phase test programme ahead of fully pure operational launches. There is a lot of new infrastructure and hardware being tested by the various Kosmos spacecraft in the experimental phase while some data may also suport existing operations.

The reason for the manoeuvres has been the counter orbital decay and thus extend the satellite's lifetime.   It also means that the orbit was fairly close to the Sun-synchronous one during the manoeuvres.

As Bart Hendrickx has pointed out, this is a test-bed for a satellite designated MKA-V, so EMKA/Cosmos 2525 is probably a one-off.   Prove the technology and then in the future we will see MKA-V - unless the programme gets cancelled, of course.

I am bit confused by your use of the term ‘one-off’ as wasn’t there a small number of such manoeuvring payloads launched, three in fact?

Offline Phillip Clark

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I am bit confused by your use of the term ‘one-off’ as wasn’t there a small number of such manoeuvring payloads launched, three in fact?

Are you confusing Cosmos 2525 with the Cosmos 2519-2521-2523 triplet?
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Offline Star One

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I am bit confused by your use of the term ‘one-off’ as wasn’t there a small number of such manoeuvring payloads launched, three in fact?

Are you confusing Cosmos 2525 with the Cosmos 2519-2521-2523 triplet?

Might be. I thought they were all ‘manoeuvring payloads’ of the same ‘type’?
« Last Edit: 05/04/2019 11:39 am by Star One »

Offline Phillip Clark

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The three satellites launched as Cosmos 2519 are different designs of inspector satellites.   Cosmos 2525 is an imaging reconnaissance satellite,
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Offline Star One

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The three satellites launched as Cosmos 2519 are different designs of inspector satellites.   Cosmos 2525 is an imaging reconnaissance satellite,

Thank you for the clarification and as usual it’s my error.

Offline B. Hendrickx

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As Bart Hendrickx has pointed out, this is a test-bed for a satellite designated MKA-V, so EMKA/Cosmos 2525 is probably a one-off.   Prove the technology and then in the future we will see MKA-V - unless the programme gets cancelled, of course.

A military satellite under development at VNIIEM and identified as Razbeg may be the operational successor of Cosmos-2525/EMKA that was originally designated MKA-V. However, there is also some evidence pointing against Razbeg being MKA-V. See the new thread "Project Razbeg".

Offline Phillip Clark

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Cosmos 2525 is still alive!   It would appear that the period without manoeuvres was to allow the satellite's orbit to decay to its lower operating regime, and it has now manoeuvred again.   Omitting the intermediate orbitsa we have:

May 10.200    96.522 deg   89.795 min   260-268 km   180 deg
May 11.886    96.521          89.948        269-275         166
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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Cosmos-2525 has a star tracker called mBOKZ-2V, which is one in a line of BOKZ star trackers built by the Optico-Physical Department (OFO) of the Institute of Space Research (IKI). OFO IKI’s website has a list of satellites carrying these star trackers and this includes Cosmos-2525 as well as a number of other military satellites:

http://ofo.ikiweb.ru/razrabotki/bokz.html

 "mBOKZ" stands for "Small Unit to Determine Star Coordinates" (star trackers help a satellite find its proper orientation by comparing its view of stars in space against a star map stored in onboard computer memory). The star tracker was first flown on the AIST-2D remote sensing satellite of RKTs Progress, launched on the first mission from Vostochnyy in April 2016. In the list AIST-2D’s star tracker is called mBOKZ-2 and that of Cosmos-2525 mBOKZ-2V, but it is not clear if there is a difference.

More details on mBOKZ-2(V) are here:

http://ofo.ikiweb.ru/razrabotki/mbokz-2.html
http://www.iki.rssi.ru/annual/2016/R_VNIR_PR-16.pdf
http://pts-russia.com/events/item/download/132_12834ec730725fcf3c6381955bb1960c.html
(AIST-2D booklet, see p. 51)

The star tracker consists of two optical units and a data processing box (see the attached picture). The data processing box has two independent circuits for the two optical units. Using a 2048x2048 pixel CMOS array, mBOKZ-2 is four times lighter, two times smaller and twice as accurate as earlier star trackers in this series (most of which have used CCD sensors instead). The total mass is not given, but appears to be less than 5 kg. OFO IKI's website says contracts have been signed for the delivery of more than 25 mBOKZ-2 star trackers for future missions.

The third column in the table shows the operational lifetime of the star trackers and for Cosmos-2525 this is given as 1 year. This shows how long the star tracker had been in orbit when this table was drawn up (in March 2019) and is not the design lifetime. 

Among the other military satellites in the list are Cosmos-2510 and 2518, the first two Tundra early warning satellites, which have BOKZ-M2 star trackers. The launch date for Cosmos-2518 is wrongly given as 23 June 2017, which was actually the launch date of Cosmos-2519. There was a BOKZ star tracker involved in that mission as well, but it was not on the satellite, but on the Volga upper stage that delivered Cosmos-2519 to orbit. The launch date for that is given as 25 May 2017, which was the launch date for Cosmos-2518, so the two were simply reversed in the list.

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Offline B. Hendrickx

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One of the objectives of the Kosmos-2525/EMKA mission is to observe specially developed ground-based optical calibration targets. This can be deduced from the CVs of two researchers of the Moscow Polytechnic University, Irina V. Nagornova and Yevgeniy B. Bablyuk.

http://mgup.ru/public/files/7532.pdf

A project they both worked on in 2015-2017 was to develop “a ground-based experimental mobile test object”. This work took place under a contract signed with VNIIEM as part of the EMKA project.

In 2017 Bablyuk and several other researchers filed a patent for satellite calibration targets, presumably the ones intended for the EMKA mission (see attachment 1):

https://yandex.ru/patents/doc/RU175973U1_20171225

Similar calibration targets are seen at several locations in the US (such as the one in attachment 2 at Edwards Air Force Base). The targets function like an eye chart. The smallest group of bars that can be resolved marks the limit of the resolution for the optical instrument that is being used.

One of the novelties of the targets described in the 2017 patent is that they are not painted on asphalt (as the ones seen in the Edwards picture), but on some kind of polymer sheets that can be folded and unfolded. This means the same calibration targets can be used at various locations (and explains the use of the word “mobile” in the CVs). The use of these calibration targets is consistent with EMKA primarily being a technology demonstration mission (EMKA stands for “experimental small satellite”). VNIIEM is known to be working on small reconnaissance satellites called Razbeg, which are likely the operational successors of EMKA.


As explained earlier in this thread, EMKA appears to be the same satellite that was called Zvezda in a handful of VNIIEM publications in 2014-2015 (presumably, Zvezda started out as a civilian proposal before becoming a Ministry of Defense project in late 2015). Zvezda is also mentioned in this PhD dissertation defended by a VNIIEM specialist in March 2015:

http://www.vniiem.ru/ru/uploads/files/dissertations/pustobaev.pdf

It deals with the effects that vibrations caused by pyrotechnic systems have on various satellite systems. For Zvezda the researcher investigated what effects such vibrations would have on the satellite’s lithium-ion batteries. The batteries he used for his tests were called NCR18650B, a type of lithium-ion battery built by Panasonic. These have been used by several Western-built cubesats.

In the dissertation Zvezda is called a “micro satellite”, a term usually to refer to satellites weighing between 10 and 100 kg or slightly more than that. The mass given for Zvezda in a 2014 VNIIEM article was 150 kg.   
 

Offline Alter Sachse

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https://twitter.com/jremis/status/1376564233744302081

COSMOS 2525 decay prediction: April 01, 2021 UTC 14h58mn ± 18h
« Last Edit: 03/30/2021 06:57 am by Alter Sachse »
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Offline B. Hendrickx

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It turns out that another name for EMKA (Kosmos-2525) was Razdan-N. The name appears in documentation published earlier this year that describes a court case between VNIIEM (EMKA’s prime contractor) and the Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics (MTUSI).
https://kad.arbitr.ru/Card/1f20a922-63ad-462c-a514-501aa390dc95
The two sides signed a contract on June 22, 2016 for work called Razdan-N-M, which called for the development of software to simulate unspecified aspects of the satellite’s work in orbit (the “M” may stand for “modelirovaniye”, the Russian word for “simulation”). The contract has the same basic 25-digit number as the government contract under which the Ministry of Defense assigned EMKA to VNIIEM on October 23, 2015.

The name is also seen in a list of research projects carried out by Moscow Polytechnic University.
https://old.mospolytech.ru/index.php?id=5572
One of these, called Razdan-N-TO, was conducted in 2016-2018. This was almost certainly for the development of one or more ground-based optical calibration targets for EMKA that this university is known to have worked on (see Reply 191 in this thread). In Russian these calibration targets are called “test objects” (тест-объект), explaining the abbreviation TO.

Another source where the name Razdan-N appears is the 2016 annual report of solar cell and battery manufacturer NPP Kvant, which can be downloaded here:
https://e-disclosure.azipi.ru/organization/personal-pages/1039348/
Under a research project called Razdan-N BF-E, NPP Kvant studied the possibility of building domestic solar cells for the satellite rather than solar cells incorporating foreign electronic components (BF-E stands for "electronic components of solar cells"). NPP Kvant’s involvement in EMKA is confirmed elsewhere in the same report.

Razdan-N is also mentioned in a paper by researchers of the Mozhaiskiy Military Space Academy dealing with software tools used to simulate satellite operations. The full paper is available for registered users of elibrary.ru:
https://www.elibrary.ru/item.asp?id=24992971
Razdan-N is given as one of several satellite projects in which the results of the research were applied. Strangely enough, the paper was presented at a conference in October 2015, the same month that EMKA was officially approved by the Ministry of Defense. However, there are indications that EMKA traces back its roots to a dual civilian/military satellite proposed around 2014 under the public name Zvezda. Therefore, the work done by the Mozhaiskiy team may well have been part of the research that needed to be performed before EMKA was given the official go-ahead. 

The name Razdan-N suggests a link between EMKA and the Razdan reconnaissance satellites that are supposed to replace the currently operating Persona satellites. This is somewhat puzzling, because the only thing that the two satellites seem to have in common is the fact that they are intended for optical reconnaissance. Razdan, approved in June 2014,  is being developed by another company (the Progress Rocket and Space Center in Samara) and is a big satellite carrying a telescope with a 2.4 m diameter mirror. EMKA was a small VNIIEM satellite carrying a traditional camera system. Moreover, the likely operational successor of EMKA is called Razbeg, the first of which seems to be undergoing final launch preparations at Plesetsk.

Possibly, Razdan at one point was considered a generic name for Russia’s new-generation optical reconnaissance satellites. The “N” in Razdan-N could stand for “low orbit” (низкоорбитальный), differentiating EMKA from the big Razdan satellites, which may be designed to operate in elliptical orbits similar to those used by America’s KH-11 spy satellites (roughly 300x1000 km) (there are some vague indications that this may indeed be the plan). The name Razbeg was then coined when EMKA’s operational successor was approved in November 2016, but EMKA itself retained its original name. 

Offline B. Hendrickx

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As explained earlier in this thread, there is good reason to believe that Kosmos-2525 was identical or similar to a small high-resolution imaging satellite called Zvezda that was mentioned in a handful of  publications by the VNIIEM Corporation in late 2014/early 2015. It seems to have started out as a civilian or dual civilian/military project, apparently in an effort to build a Russian equivalent of SkySat-1, a US commercial imaging satellite.  Another contender was ISS-55, a satellite proposed by ISS Reshetnev. In late 2015 Zvezda appears to have been turned into a dedicated military satellite under the names EMKA (Experimental Small Satellite) and Razdan-N. Procurement documentation makes it possible to link Kosmos-2525 to a contract awarded by the Ministry of Defense to VNIIEM in October 2015.

I recently stumbled on an article on Zvezda published in the September/October 2014 issue of an in-house magazine of VNIIEM called “Vestnik VNIIEM”. This magazine is not intended for public consumption, but a VNIIEM employee placed the article online at the time, adding some personal comments. All this was subsequently posted on the NK forum:
https://forum.novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/index.php?topic=9690.780
(see the last post on the page)

The article, written by what appears to be the satellite's chief designer (Vladimir Kozhevnikov), had some interesting background on Zvezda and also carried a drawing of its proposed design, possibly showing what Kosmos-2525 ultimately looked like (see attachments 1 and 2). However, everybody seems to have forgotten about the article by the time Kosmos-2525 was launched in March 2018. 

According to the article, VNIIEM had decided to build the “experimental microsatellite Zvezda” with the consent of Roskosmos in the spring of 2014 . The VNIIEM employee who posted the article confirmed that this was part of a program to build an equivalent of SkySat. The article said Zvezda was designed to test techniques to obtain very high resolution digital images of the Earth’s surface and perform highly detailed stereo and video imaging of objects on the ground.

Zvezda was to use a VNIIEM bus called UMP-70, which earlier had been used to build a 90 kg satellite called Universitetskiy-Tatyana-2 (see attachment 3). This was launched piggyback with a Meteor-M satellite in September 2009 and had a 20 kg payload to study transient luminous events in the Earth’s atmosphere. Zvezda was to be heavier, weighing 170 kg, including a 60 kg payload. In fact, it bears little resemblance to Universitetskiy-Tatyana-2, except for the single solar panel firmly attached to the body of the satellite. Unlike Universitetskiy-Tatyana 2, Zvezda was supposed to carry a propulsion system to perform orbital maneuvers.

The article claimed the payload was capable of obtaining panchromatic and multispectral images with a resolution of about 1 m, although that was presumably the resolution of the panchromatic camera only. Actually, only a single camera is seen in the drawing, flanked by what appears to be a small antenna. The camera looks similar to a panchromatic camera with a 0.9 m resolution that can be linked to both Zvezda and ISS-55 (see Reply 113 in this thread).

When the article was published in late 2014, the production and ground-based tests of the satellite were expected to be finished in the fourth quarter of 2015. The idea at the time was to launch it as a co-passenger with VNIIEM’s Kanopus-V-IK remote sensing satellite and fly it at an average altitude of 450 km.

Looking back at reports on the Kanopus-V-IK mission, it turns out that Zvezda was indeed one of the originally planned co-passengers. The earliest reference I can find to it is in the Kanopus-V-IK thread on this forum in March 2015.
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=37032.0
There were several Russian news reports in 2016-2017 mentioning Zvezda as one of the payloads, some of them published only days before the launch of Kanopus-V-IK on July 14, 2017. Two examples are here:
https://tass.ru/kosmos/3782020
http://gazetabaikonur.ru/novyiy-kanopus-v-sozvezdii-rossiyskih-apparatov

However, indications are that it was dropped from the cargo manifest for Kanopus-V-IK well before that, although it is not clear exactly when. Aside from the possibility that the satellite wasn't ready in time for the Kanopus-V-IK launch, it is also conceivable that the Ministry of Defense decided to remove it from the Kanopus-V-IK mission after taking over the project in late 2015. The military wouldn’t have wanted one of its satellites to share a ride with civilian payloads. By launching it as a stand-alone payload, it also became possible to place into a lower orbit, increasing the ground resolution. Kosmos-2525 was launched into a 319x347 km orbit, significantly lower than the 500 km orbit used by Kanopus-V-IK. The downside of the decision was the need to assign a Soyuz-2-1V rocket to the launch of a very small satellite that was well below its maximum payload capacity.
 
There is no absolute confirmation that Kosmos-2525 was indeed the satellite originally named Zvezda, but it does look very much like that was the case. Zvezda clearly was not merely a paper project. Judging from the article, it was under production and manifested for launch with Kanopus-V-IK by late 2014. A company known as SKTB Plastik is known to have built a housing for its panchromatic camera and a PhD dissertation defended in May 2015 mentions tests of its batteries, another sign that it was undergoing assembly by that time. Furthermore, it was described as an “experimental small satellite”, the same term later used in documentation to refer to Kosmos-2525. 

Another VNIIEM article in late 2014 said Zvezda was planned to be an experimental precursor of a 250 kg high-resolution imaging satellite named MKA-V and had a drawing of the latter, showing a satellite closely resembling SkySat-1 (see attachment 4). It was earlier assumed that Kosmos-2525 looked similar to this, but if Kosmos-2525 was indeed the Zvezda satellite as seen in “Vestnik VNIIEM”, it had a significantly different design. Still, it is not impossible that changes were made to the design after the satellite was transferred to the Ministry of Defense. 

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