Soyuz 2.1b/Fregat - 3 Gonets-M blok №18, Skif-D - Vostochny - 22 Oct 22 19:57UTC

[Stan Black]

Payload: Gonets-M blok № 18
Rocket: Soyuz-2-1b 372РН17

State Centre for Space Research and Production, in the name of M.V. Khrunichev
Государственный космический научно-производственный центр имени М.В. Хруничева

Angara-1.2

Изготовление и поставка ракеты-носителя «Ангара-1.2» для запуска космических аппаратов «Гонец-М» № 33, № 34, № 35

1 983 436 500 Russian ruble
Planned order placement: 2019
[source]

Fairing, type 14С733

Изготовление и поставка головного обтекателя 14С733 для запуска космических аппаратов «Гонец-М» № 33, № 34, № 35

105 000 000 Russian ruble
Planned order placement: 2020
[source]

Joint Stock Company «Information Satellite Systems» in the name of Academician M.F. Reshetnyova
Открытое акционерное общество «Информационные спутниковые системы» имени академика М.Ф. Решетнёва

Blok № 18 with Gonets-M № 33, № 34 and № 35, and attachment mechanism 14С137

Изготовление и поставка на космодром «Плесецк» блока 372АС71.0000-0 в составе трех космических аппаратов «Гонец-М» (изделие 372АС11) № 33, № 34, № 35, устройства отделения (14С137.0000-0)

1 155 887 800 Russian ruble
Contract date: 26th July 2017
Contract number: 307-С558/17/139
Contract period: 30th September 2021
[source]

[zubenelgenubi]

Update from the thread Plan of Russian Space Launches (part 2):

Launch scheduled for Q4 2021.

[Stan Black]

Contract for the Angara cancelled?
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/epz/contract/contractCard/common-info.html?reestrNumber=4770238802719000075

[russianhalo117]

Contract for the Angara cancelled?
http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/epz/contract/contractCard/common-info.html?reestrNumber=4770238802719000075

Rocket might be reassigned per Anatoly Zak paywall info plus continued delays. Could have gone back to Soyuz-2.

[GWR64]

officially: https://www.roscosmos.ru/27712/

Google translate:

The launch of the Gonets satellites will take place on the Soyuz-2 rocket in 2021.

The launch of the Gonets spacecraft, scheduled for 2021, will be carried out on the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle. Previously, their launch into near-Earth orbit was planned using the Angara rocket. Soyuz-2 launch vehicles are fully adapted to the “Messenger” spacecraft.

In accordance with the production plans of the State Corporation "Roskosmos" at the Production Association "Flight" (Omsk) is deployed and in 2023 the serial production of rockets of the Angara family will be launched. Currently, preparations are underway to resume flight tests of this promising missile.

The management of Roscosmos considers launching the production of universal Angara rocket modules at the Omsk production site a priority for the corporation. In 2024, the heavy Angara should completely replace Proton-M launch vehicles.

In this regard, on November 5, 2019, Dmitry Rogozin plans to visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome with an inspection trip, where the construction of the Angara launch vehicle launch complex has been launched as part of the second stage. On November 6 and 7, a working visit of the Director General of Roscosmos to Omsk will take place to inspect the preparations for the production of Angara missiles.

IMO, the situation of Angara 1.2 is hopeless. It is only kept alive politically.

[russianhalo117]

officially: https://www.roscosmos.ru/27712/

Google translate:

The launch of the Gonets satellites will take place on the Soyuz-2 rocket in 2021.

The launch of the Gonets spacecraft, scheduled for 2021, will be carried out on the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle. Previously, their launch into near-Earth orbit was planned using the Angara rocket. Soyuz-2 launch vehicles are fully adapted to the “Messenger” spacecraft.

In accordance with the production plans of the State Corporation "Roskosmos" at the Production Association "Flight" (Omsk) is deployed and in 2023 the serial production of rockets of the Angara family will be launched. Currently, preparations are underway to resume flight tests of this promising missile.

The management of Roscosmos considers launching the production of universal Angara rocket modules at the Omsk production site a priority for the corporation. In 2024, the heavy Angara should completely replace Proton-M launch vehicles.

In this regard, on November 5, 2019, Dmitry Rogozin plans to visit the Vostochny Cosmodrome with an inspection trip, where the construction of the Angara launch vehicle launch complex has been launched as part of the second stage. On November 6 and 7, a working visit of the Director General of Roscosmos to Omsk will take place to inspect the preparations for the production of Angara missiles.

IMO, the situation of Angara 1.2 is hopeless. It is only kept alive politically.

Actually the whole family has much bigger domestic and foreign issues. Geopolitics has dramatically slowed production on top of domestic tooling issues: http://russianspaceweb.com/protected/angara-2019.html

[Stan Black]

Soyuz for Vostochny
https://www.zakupki.gov.ru/epz/order/notice/ok504/view/documents.html?regNumber=0995000000219000167

[eeergo]

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1457640920321560576

Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Company (ISS, part of Roscosmos) has completed building of three Gonets-M spacecraft. They have passed a full cycle of ground tests.
 ISS Reshetnev specialists have checked the correctness of their installation on the separation unit, which will be used to dock the three spacecraft to the launch vehicles. The spacecraft are ready to be sent to the Baikonur Cosmodrome and are at the manufacturer's custody. Their launch is planned for 2022.
 
 These spacecraft were built to replenish the Gonets-D1M multifunction personal satellite communications system orbital constellation. The system provides hard-to-reach territories with communications, organize data transmission networks for various agencies, industrial, ecological and scientific monitoring.

I've always found the Gonets' design quite enticing. Loving how the "curtains" on the white-brown antennas look.

[Rondaz]

Three Gonets-M satellites await launch

11/08/2021 09:27

Company "Information Satellite Systems" named after academician M.F. Reshetnev "(ISS, part of the State Corporation" Roscosmos ") completed the creation of three spacecraft" Gonets-M ". They have passed a full cycle of ground tests.

ISS specialists checked the correctness of their installation on the separation device, with the help of which the three spacecraft will dock with the launch vehicle. Currently, the spacecraft, ready to be sent to the cosmodrome, have been placed for safekeeping at the manufacturer. Their launch is scheduled for 2022.

These spacecraft are designed to replenish the orbital constellation of the Gonets-D1M Multifunctional Personal Satellite Communication System. Its services are in demand for providing communication in hard-to-reach areas, organizing data transmission networks in the interests of various departments, industrial, environmental and scientific monitoring.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/33272/

[Alter Sachse]

Maybe the note from twitter is not correct

In the NK-forum it says:
декабрь - три Гонца-М (№33,34,35) [блок №18], микроспутники - Союз-2-1Б/Фрегат - Восточный 1С (или IV кв-л)

December - three Gonets-M (#33,34,35) [block #18], microsatellites - Soyuz-2-1B/Fregat - Vostochny 1C (or Q4)

[Alter Sachse]

https://twitter.com/roscosmos/status/1457640920321560576

Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Company has completed building of three #GonetsM spacecraft. They have passed a full cycle of ground tests.



I don't read anything about Baikonur.

[eeergo]

Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Company has completed building of three #GonetsM spacecraft. They have passed a full cycle of ground tests.

I don't read anything about Baikonur.

See the Roscosmos news article I copied in the OP: The spacecraft are ready to be sent to the Baikonur Cosmodrome and are at the manufacturer's custody. Their launch is planned for 2022.

It is true however the Russian original only talks about a "cosmodrome".

[Alter Sachse]

Baikonur is indeed written there.
I think it is a translation/transmission error.

[Stan Black]

As of September 2021 it was still Vostochny.

Услуги по запуску космических аппаратов «Гонец-М» № 33, № 34, № 35

[source]

[zubenelgenubi]

https://twitter.com/nicolas_pillet/status/1531612764917080066

According to the NK forum, we would have the following schedule:
 - Iranian satellite ("Project 505") on 09/08 from Baikonur
 - Goniets and Skif on 29/09 from Vostotchnyi
 - Kondor-FKA on 08/12 from Vostochnyi
 - Meteor-M n°2-3 on 29/12 from Vostotchnyi

[zubenelgenubi]

Re: launch of Skif-D and three Gonets-M satellites:

Roskosmos will launch the first satellite of the Sfera group into orbit in October.

Roskosmos: the first satellite of the Sphere group will be put into orbit at the end of October 2022.

17:59 08/01/2022

MOSCOW, August 1 - RIA Novosti. The first apparatus of the Sphere multi-satellite constellation, the experimental Skif-D, will be launched into orbit from the Vostochny Cosmodrome at the end of October 2022, Roscosmos reported on Monday.

"Now the design of the satellite is ready and transferred to the assembly shop. At the end of September, Skif-D will be transported to Vostochny to prepare for launch. According to the plan, the satellite will be sent into orbit along with the Gontsov-M troika at the end of October," the satellite says. in the message of the state corporation in the Telegram channel.
<snip>
https://ria.ru/20220801/sputnik-1806498001.html

[Rondaz]

The Fregat upper stage was delivered to the Vostochny Cosmodrome to launch the first satellite of the Sphere project

02.08.202212:00

The Fregat upper stage has arrived at the Vostochny cosmodrome, designed to launch three Gonets-M communication spacecraft and the Skif-D demonstration satellite for broadband Internet access, the first device under the Sfera federal project.

The upper stage was delivered by air transport to the city of Blagoveshchensk and transported by road to the territory of the cosmodrome. Transportation from the capital of the Amur Region to the technical complex of the cosmodrome took about six hours, while for safety the speed did not exceed 60 km/h.

In the assembly and test building of spacecraft, operations have already begun to transfer the Frigate and transfer it to storage mode.

Before the launch campaign, a joint calculation of specialists from the branch of TsENKI JSC - the Vostochny Space Center and JSC NPO named after S.A. Lavochkin (part of the Roscosmos State Corporation) will conduct a full cycle of electrical and pneumovacuum tests with it.

Upper stage "Fregat" manufactured by JSC "NPO named after S.A. Lavochkin is used as part of medium-class launch vehicles and ensures the effective implementation of all tasks for launching one or more spacecraft into working orbits or trajectories departing from the Earth. The entire launch process is carried out autonomously, without interference from the Earth. More than 100 successful launches have already been carried out with the help of the Fregat upper stage, more than 800 spacecraft have been put into calculated orbits.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/38044/

[Rondaz]

Assembly and testing of the first satellite of the Sphere project began

08/01/2022 16:35

At the enterprise "Information satellite systems" named after academician M.F. Reshetnev” (part of the State Corporation “Roscosmos”) , the stage of assembly and testing of the demonstration spacecraft for broadband Internet access “Skif-D” has started.

It will be the first satellite launched as part of the Sphere program, one of the key projects of Roscosmos, which is designed to solve the problem of the digital divide and is aimed at developing space information technologies. For this program, ISS performs work on the manufacture of spacecraft within the framework of the Skif and Marathon projects.

Work on the Skif-D satellite started at the enterprise in the second half of 2020. Certain difficulties arose after the imposition of sanctions by the West this spring, when foreign partners refused to supply the necessary payload equipment and satellite platform. All foreign equipment was promptly replaced with domestic counterparts.

Now the design of the satellite is ready and transferred to the assembly shop. During the time left before the departure of Skif-D to the Vostochny Cosmodrome, ISS specialists will have to complete the full scope of work on assembling and testing the spacecraft. At the end of September, Skif-D is transported to Vostochny to prepare for launch. It is planned that the satellite will be sent into orbit along with the Gontsov-M trio at the end of October.

The mass of Skif-D is no more than 200 kg, power consumption is about 250 watts. It will be launched into a medium circular orbit at an altitude of 8070 km. The term of its active existence is three years. The spacecraft will be part of the Skif-D experimental space system. It is designed to test new technical solutions for providing high-speed Internet access services in Russia, including in the regions of the Far North and the Arctic, as well as to protect the orbital-frequency resource.

https://www.roscosmos.ru/38040/

[Rondaz]

First launch of Gonets satellite from Vostochny space center due Oct. 22 — source.

The exact launch date will depend on readiness of Skif-D.

4 AUG, 20:37

MOSCOW, August 5. /TASS/. The first launch of three Gonets satellites from the Vostochny space center in Russia’s Far East is scheduled for late October, a rocket and space industry source has told TASS.

"The launch of Gonets satellites from Vostochny may take place on October 22," the source said.

The exact launch date will depend on readiness of Skif-D, the first spacecraft of the Sfera satellite constellation currently being created by the Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Company (part of Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos).

Earlier, the Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems Company announced it had started to manufacture the Skif-D communications satellite, due to be launched in October 2022. The work began in the second half of 2020, but designers had to face certain difficulties, caused by Western sanctions and partners’ refusal to supply the necessary equipment. However, all foreign elements were promptly replaced with their domestically produced counterparts.

Skif satellites have been designed to ensure broadband internet access and are being developed under the Sfera program, announced in 2018. The Sfera project will also include remote sensing satellites. Overall, the orbital constellation will comprise about 380 spacecraft. Sfera will also help Russia to organize widespread traffic of unmanned vehicles, both aerial and ground ones.

https://tass.com/science/1489697

[zubenelgenubi]

This launch should be the return to operations of the Vostochny Soyuz launch complex, after its upgrades.

First launch of Gonets satellite from Vostochny space center due Oct. 22 — source.

The exact launch date will depend on readiness of Skif-D.

4 AUG, 20:37

MOSCOW, August 5. /TASS/. The first launch of three Gonets satellites from the Vostochny space center in Russia’s Far East is scheduled for late October, a rocket and space industry source has told TASS.

"The launch of Gonets satellites from Vostochny may take place on October 22," the source said.

https://tass.com/science/1489697

[The man in the can]

Just read an article (in French) on kosmonews.fr. It say that this launch will use naphtyl as properlant.

link: https://kosmosnews.fr/2022/08/16/le-premier-lancement-au-naphtyle-sera-realise-a-lautomne-depuis-vostochny/

The article don't provide much info about that. Does someone have more? Thanks.

[Alter Sachse]

Just read an article (in French) on kosmonews.fr. It say that this launch will use naphtyl as properlant.

link: https://kosmosnews.fr/2022/08/16/le-premier-lancement-au-naphtyle-sera-realise-a-lautomne-depuis-vostochny/

The article don't provide much info about that. Does someone have more? Thanks.

The question was discussed here:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45044.0

[zubenelgenubi]

Just read an article (in French) on kosmonews.fr. It say that this launch will use naphtyl as properlant.

link: https://kosmosnews.fr/2022/08/16/le-premier-lancement-au-naphtyle-sera-realise-a-lautomne-depuis-vostochny/

The article don't provide much info about that. Does someone have more? Thanks.

The question was discussed here:

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45044.0

And this is the most recent news that I could find in the Vostochny Cosmodrome updates thread:
https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=19909.msg2318344#msg2318344

The work is apparently done.  The wait to use it appears to be because of payload delays?

[russianhalo117]

The mission campaign has been underway since the beginning of the month and launcher testing and integration processing is in work. Works will be carried out in accordance with the standard campaign procedural timeline.

http://russianspaceweb.com/2022.html

The Fregat stage for the mission was delivered to Vostochny at the beginning of August 2022.

[zubenelgenubi]

http://russianspaceweb.com/2022.html

The Fregat stage for the mission was delivered to Vostochny at the beginning of August 2022.

In this case, Russian use Fregat = Fregat-M?  Or MT?

[russianhalo117]

http://russianspaceweb.com/2022.html

The Fregat stage for the mission was delivered to Vostochny at the beginning of August 2022.

In this case, Russian use Fregat = Fregat-M?  Or MT?

Fregat-MT so far has only flown out of CSG whereas Luna-25 was originallyplanned to use one.

Condensed Summary History:
Fregat/Flagman was developed as the Proton 5th stage as both a Mars cruise stage for Soviet and Russian Mars missions using the Proton-K/Blok-DM2/DM-3 or the later Proton-M/Blok-DM-03 which would have flown Phobos-Grunt-2 (1R) as well as a direct GEO/multiple orbit upper stage. The Flagman upper stage was a parallel project. Fregat-MT and Fregat-2 with Blok-D derived toroidal tank formed to basis for Fregat SB. The entire Fregat family's upcoming next generation replacement version is Fregat-SBU and the family's derivative used by the PTK optionally manned spacecraft family's propulsion system tank design. Fregat-SBU is designed to fly standalone on Angara-A3/A5. Soyuz-5/6/7 or on top in a dual upper stage configuration with Blok-DM-03 and the Persei versions.

Various takes:
https://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/fregat/liste/liste.html
http://russianspaceweb.com/fregat.html

[Alter Sachse]

Fregat for this launch

[Alter Sachse]

Fregat 142-04

marker on the 3rd photo

[russianhalo117]

Fregat 142-04

marker on the 3rd photo

The listed stage previously assigned to Kondor-FKA №2 whereas this Gonets-M triplet was previously assigned 142-503.

[Rondaz]

Three #GonetsM satellites (No. 33, 34 and 35) were delivered to #Vostochny to be launched on Soyuz 2.1b with a secondary payload on October 22. It will be the first and only launch from Vostochny this year. The other 5 of 6 scheduled launches were postponed to 2023 (guess why).

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1570388483918757888

[Alter Sachse]

https://www.roscosmos.ru/38321/


On Friday, September 30, 2022, the Progress Rocket and Space Center (part of Roskosmos State Corporation) hosted a meeting of the board of chief designers on the completion of flight and design tests of the Soyuz-2 space rocket complex at the Vostochny cosmodrome and its transition to offset tests, as well as readiness to launch the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with the Fregat upper stage from Vostochny in fall 2022 for the first time entirely on new fuel.

The meeting was chaired by RSC Progress General Director Dmitry Baranov and Executive Director for Launch Facilities and Ground-Based Space Infrastructure Operation of Roskosmos State Corporation Andrei Mazurin.

Sergei Volkov, deputy general designer of RSC Progress launch vehicles, reported on implementation of the program of flight tests of the Soyuz-2 complex from the Vostochny launch site, as well as on the readiness of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket to launch three Gonets-M spacecraft and the Skif-D demonstration satellite.

Participants in the meeting confirmed the readiness of the Soyuz-2 complex at Vostochny for flight tests entirely on naphthyl fuel.


Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[Alter Sachse]

Tsenki:

Fregat upper stage for launching Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with Gonets-M communications satellites and the first Sfera Project spacecraft, Skif-D, have been refueled at the Vostochny launch site.

[Alter Sachse]

Possibly another 3 small satellites on board
ArcCube-01
ASRTU-1
МКА МFТI

https://r4uab.ru/events/

[Alter Sachse]

https://www.roscosmos.ru/38369/

Vostochny cosmodrome specialists assembled the space head module for the upcoming launch of four spacecraft - the first Sphere project satellite, named Skif-D, and three Gonets-M communications satellites.

 

The satellites went through a full training cycle at the Technical Complex of the Cosmodrome and were then allowed to dock with the upper stage. After the docking, the head fairing was rolled onto the Fregat upper stage with the Gonets-M and Skif-D spacecraft.

[Rondaz]

Roskosmos confirmed the launch date of the Soyuz rocket from Vostochny.

Roskosmos announced that the launch of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket from Vostochny is scheduled for October 22.

14:48 10/17/2022

MOSCOW, October 17 - RIA Novosti. Roskosmos confirmed that the next launch of the Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Vostochny cosmodrome is scheduled for October 22.

Earlier, the press service of the Yakut head office of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia reported that on October 23 at 4.57 local time (22.57 Moscow time on October 22), the first satellite of the Sphere group, Skif-D, will be launched on the Soyuz-2.1b rocket. Together with the apparatus, three Gonets-M communication satellites will be launched into orbit.

Roskosmos CEO Yury Borisov checked the readiness of the control system for the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle using a new type of fuel, naphthyl.

It is noted that at the Research and Production Association of Automation named after Academician N. A. Semikhatov in Yekaterinburg , Borisov visited the workshops for the production of radio-electronic equipment for rockets of the Soyuz-2 family. Andrey Misyura, director general of NPO Avtomatika, said that in order to work on the new fuel pair, the software and algorithmic support of the equipment for the control system of the launch vehicle and the launch complex of the Vostochny cosmodrome had to be finalized.

Roscosmos recalled that the last launch of Soyuz-2 from Vostochny on kerosene with oxygen was carried out in October 2021. Previously, they had already run the third stage of Soyuz-2.1b. The upcoming launch will be the first when all stages of the rocket will be filled with naphthyl. The advantage of naphthyl is the reduction of harmful emissions and an increase in the mass of the payload thrown into orbit.

https://ria.ru/20221017/raketa-1824612571.html

[Alter Sachse]

https://www.roscosmos.ru/38379/

 On Tuesday, October 18, 2022, at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, specialists from Roskosmos State Corporation companies performed general assembly of the Soyuz-2.1b space rocket with three Gonets-M satellites and the first vehicle of the federal Sphere project, Skif-D.

The state commission then issued a conclusion about the rocket's readiness to be removed and installed on the launch pad 1C on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.

The launch of four spacecraft by the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with the Fregat upper stage is scheduled for Oct. 22, 2022, at 22:57 Moscow time.

The Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle was built by the Progress Rocket and Space Center, the Fregat upper stage by the Lavochkin Science and Production Association, and the satellites by the Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems company (part of Roskosmos).

This will be the first launch of the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket entirely using a new and highly environmentally friendly fuel - naphthite. Previously, only the third stage of Soyuz-2.1b rocket and the second stage of Soyuz-2.1v were fueled with it. The last Soyuz-2 from Vostochny, with the first and second stages fueled with kerosene, was launched in October 2021. Naphthyl is an environmentally safe type of hydrocarbon fuel using polymeric additives. Its advantages are reduction of harmful emissions and a noticeable increase in payloads that can be launched into orbit. One of the main reasons for switching from kerosene to naphthyl was the depletion of the Anastasievsko-Troitskoye field in the Krasnodar Territory.

Low-orbit Gonets-M spacecraft are designed to transmit data and provide mobile satellite communications services to mobile and stationary subscribers anywhere on Earth. Since 2005, 22 Gonets-M satellites have been put into orbit. In 2015, the Gonets-D1M multifunction personal satellite communications system with Gonets-M satellites was put into operation. The system operator is Gonets Satellite System (part of Roscosmos).

Demonstration satellite "Skif-D" is assigned for testing new technical solutions for high speed internet access and protection of the orbital frequency resource. It is the first vehicle of the Sphere federal project, which will include five satellite communications constellations (Yamal, Express-RV, Express, Skif and Marathon) and five Earth remote sensing satellite constellations (Berkut-X, Berkut-O, Berkut-VD, Berkut-S and Smotr)

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

[SpaceFinnOriginal]

http://russianspaceweb.com/2022.html

The Fregat stage for the mission was delivered to Vostochny at the beginning of August 2022.

In this case, Russian use Fregat = Fregat-M?  Or MT?

Fregat-MT so far has only flown out of CSG whereas Luna-25 was originallyplanned to use one.

So, it's just "Fregat"?

[Alter Sachse]

https://www.roscosmos.ru/38383/

On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, a Soyuz-2.1b rocket carrying three Gonets-M satellites and the first vehicle of the federal Sphere project, Skif-D, was transported to the launch pad 1S of the Vostochny cosmodrome.

...

[Alter Sachse]

Skif-D is 14F149 No. X001 (X=Kh)

[Bean Kenobi]

Skif-D is 14F149 No. X001 (X=Kh)

I thought 14F149 was Blagovest 

B. Hendrickx said that in 2018 (Kosmos 2519/2521/2523 launch thread) :

The second OZS is said to be part of “Object 61/2B”, which is a facility belonging to ISS Reshetnev in Krasnoyarsk. Strangely enough, the manufacturer of this OSZ is given as “OOO Firma Spektr”. Object 61/2B appears in various contracts, one related to in-flight tests of the 14F149 Blagovest military comsat.

[Josh_from_Canada]

Skif-D is 14F149 No. X001 (X=Kh)

That looks like 14F145 to me

[Rondaz]

Soyuz 2.1b with Fregat upper stage has been rolled out and installed on the launch pad today on Vostochny cosmodrome. The launch of three #GonetsM satellites and a #SkifD experimental satellite is scheduled for October 22, 19:57 UTC.

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1582762348380446720

[Satori]

Soyuz-2.1b serial number is Kh15000-011.

[Rondaz]

#Soyuz launcher with trio of Gonets satellites and Skif-D experimental spacecraft was installed on the launch pad in Vostochny this morning. Liftoff is planned for Saturday:

https://twitter.com/RussianSpaceWeb/status/1582700025402228736

[Kryten]

 Sorry, I'm sure this is on this site somewhere but I can't find it - what is Naphtyl, exactly? Translating petroleum products is a nightmare, there's a limited number of terms that have been applied to different products in different countries.

[GWR64]

Sorry, I'm sure this is on this site somewhere but I can't find it - what is Naphtyl, exactly? Translating petroleum products is a nightmare, there's a limited number of terms that have been applied to different products in different countries.

RG-1 similar to RP-1

[eeergo]

Some references in Russian literature: https://books.google.ru/books?id=2dt3CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=978-5-9221-1091-4&source=bl&ots=PDLBoHJt8p&sig=mOCRgh5SS3hLVlqm-mpUYZwunjs&hl=ru&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwianJzO0uHQAhVIVhQKHdphDDQQ6AEIHTAB#v=onepage&q=%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%84%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BB&f=false

Synthetic formula is C_12.79H_24.52.

[Bean Kenobi]

Skif-D is 14F149 No. X001 (X=Kh)

That looks like 14F145 to me

14F145 is already known as LOTOS S1.

[russianhalo117]

Sorry, I'm sure this is on this site somewhere but I can't find it - what is Naphtyl, exactly? Translating petroleum products is a nightmare, there's a limited number of terms that have been applied to different products in different countries.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=45044.0

[Rondaz]

Orbital Launch no.144 of 2022!!

Roscosmos to launch the triplet of LEO mobile communication satellite #Gonets M - №33 - 35L and an experimental for "Sfera Project" #Skif-D on top of #Soyuz 2.1b / Fregat-M launch vehicle at the #Vostochny Cosmodrome.

https://twitter.com/nkknspace/status/1583379661223960577

[Rondaz]

Two rockets launching within 90 minutes tonight from the Eastern Hemisphere.

#GSLV Mk3 (#LVM3) - OneWeb L14
#Soyuz 2.1b - Gonets-M L18, Skif-D

https://twitter.com/nkknspace/status/1583658813265424384

[Rondaz]

Launch Preparations of #Gonets M 33-35 L & Skif-D

https://twitter.com/nkknspace/status/1583789968048037888

[Galactic Penguin SST]

[Rondaz]

Upcoming launch of #GonetsM/#SkifD mission via #Roscosmos' #Soyuz2 vehicle

https://twitter.com/_rykllan/status/1583820800112545792

[russianhalo117]

All livestreams are live for this mission with an apparent hold released at T-00:53:30.

[Rondaz]

In the meantime, #Soyuz is ready to go from Vostochny:

https://twitter.com/RussianSpaceWeb/status/1583897206062358528

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Roscosmos TV is live with countdown to launch

[russianhalo117]

In automatic terminal sequence.

[Rondaz]

3 Min.

15 minutes before the launch of #Soyuz2.1b with #FregatM upper stage, two #Gonets satellites, and the #SkifD experimental satellite from Vostochny cosmodrome.

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1583906983383441408

[FutureSpaceTourist]

T-2

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Liftoff!

[FutureSpaceTourist]

T+1

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1583910790674796544

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Korolev cross

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Fairing sep

[FutureSpaceTourist]

MECO, separation & 2nd stage ignition

[SMS]

Launch at 19:57:09.456 UTC.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

T+8

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Separation

[FutureSpaceTourist]

End of live launch webcast

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spaceflightnow/status/1583913546135441410

The Fregat upper stage separated from the Soyuz rocket's third stage.

The Fregat engine will perform multiple burns over the next four hours to put three Gonets data relay satellites and the Skif-D broadband tech demo satellite into two different orbits.

spaceflightnow.com/2022/10/22/soy…

[Rondaz]

Liftoff! Soyuz 2.1b has cleared the pad.

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1583911006249844736

[zubenelgenubi]

Thank you for the launch thread coverage, FST!


Cross-post:

17 - Fregat (142-53) at the end of transmission.

I'm sorry, I can't believe this.

https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=44836.msg2400622#msg2400622

"...this Gonets-M triplet was previously assigned 142-503."

then probably 142-503

Unless one is the stage itself and one is the transfer compartment/upper stage adapter. Both fregat sets were reportedly at the launch site at the time of processing. If there was a problem then they reverted but this is unknown.

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Updated NSF launch article:

https://twitter.com/tgmetsfan98/status/1584024085449048065

Spacecraft separations are now confirmed for all three Gonets-M satellites as well as the Skif-D internet satellite demonstrator, launched on a Soyuz-2.1b from Vostochny.

By Sawyer Rosenstein (@thenasaman):

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/10/soyuz-gonets-skif/

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1584018029377048576

CelesTrak has GP data for 3 objects from the launch (2022-139) of 3 GONETS-M satellites and SKIF-D atop a Soyuz-2.1b from Vostochny Cosmodrome on Oct 22 at 1957 UTC: tass.com/science/1526171.

[Alter Sachse]

https://www.roscosmos.ru/38387/

Gonets M and Skif D preparing for the launch.

[Rondaz]

#Soyuz 2.1b with Fregat Upperstage Successfully launched three #Gonets-M Satellites, along with #Skif-D Internet demo placed in 8000 km orbit.

https://twitter.com/nkknspace/status/1584125755285729282

[Rondaz]

Roscosmos, Russia's space agency, said a Fregat upper stage placed three Gonets-M data relay satellites and the Skif-D broadband technology demonstration satellite into their targeted orbits after liftoff Saturday on a Soyuz rocket.

https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/1584559646777425922

[Satori]

The press-kit for this launch...

[Nicolas PILLET]

Do we have updated TLEs ?

Do we know if the Block I and Fregat have deorbited ?

[Alter Sachse]

Do we have updated TLEs ?

Do we know if the Block I and Fregat have deorbited ?

At CelesTrak only 3 objects
no Fregat, no Skif-D



https://www.orbitalfocus.uk/Diaries/Launches/Launches.php?year=2022

Quote:
"Fregat stage uncatalogued
Retro-fire, probably at about 00:15 UTC, would have led to destructive re-entry above the eastern Pacific Ocean Oct 23 at about 01:00 UTC."

[Alter Sachse]

The launch was 10 days ago, Skif has not been found yet.
Was Skif-D really separated...
or did it burn up with the Fregat ?

[Nicolas PILLET]

The launch was 10 days ago, Skif has not been found yet.
Was Skif-D really separated...
or did it burn up with the Fregat ?

Center IPM Keldysh published a picture of the separation, seen from Crimea !

[Alter Sachse]

Skif is reported to have separated at 0:04 UTC. Can Fregat have been visible over the Crimea at this time ?
I do not know.

[B. Hendrickx]

Skif-D, which has still not been catalogued by the US, has now been officially included by Russia in the United Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space.

https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/V22/182/45/PDF/V2218245.pdf?OpenElement

It was placed into an 8,071.5 x 8,076.5 km orbit with an inclination of 90.0°. The three Gonets-M satellites that rode to space with Skif-D are in roughly 1,500 km orbits with an inclination of 82°, so the Fregat upper stage changed the inclination by about 8°.

[B. Hendrickx]

Skif-D as well as the Fregat upper stage have now finally been catalogued (see the screenshot from SpaceTrack.org). It's not clear why this has taken so long. In the past two weeks or so radio amateurs have picked up signals from the satellite at 435.566 MHz and it has been photographed by a camera in Chile operated by Slingshot Aerospace (picture attached).

Meanwhile, an ISS Reshetnev official said in an interview recently that Skif-D is not yet being used for any practical applications. It is merely a technology demonstrator used for communication tests with ground control. It would actually appear from his comments that it was quickly thrown together to meet a deadline imposed by the International Telecommunications Union to preserve frequency slots for the operational constellation. 

According to the official, the operational Skif satellites will be much bigger and heavier, so Skif-D (which weighs just 148 kg) seems to have a unique one-off design. He said the first six satellites are expected to be launched by late 2025/mid-2026, but one wonders if this a realistic goal. The design will not be finished until next year and while the Soyuz-2-1b/Fregat has been selected as the launch vehicle, it is not yet clear if it will be powerful enough to launch pairs of satellites, which is the preferred option. The official also said that no contractors have been assigned yet to build the Internet ground terminals. All in all, the operational satellites still seem to be in an early stage of development. Further problems could be caused by Western sanctions affecting the import of foreign electronic components, although the official stressed that the amount of such components used by Skif-D has been reduced to a minimum.