Rokot/Briz-KM - 3xRodnik - Plesetsk - Sept. 23, 2015 (22:00 UTC)

[input~2]

I propose we wait a little more to see if a 5th Object  is catalogued by USSTRATCOM before concluding on the number of S/C onboard this launch.
For the time being we have 3 Rodniks (Object A, B and C) and Briz-KM (Object D)
In the 3 previous cases, Object E took longer to be catalogued...

[Galactic Penguin SST]

According to anik the exact liftoff time was at 21:59:38 UTC.

[Stan Black]

Anik is showing Briz-KM №72512. It was originally to carry 14Ф31 Geo-IK-2 №11 Kosmos-2470 but was swapped before that launch?

[Skyrocket]

Anik is showing Briz-KM №72512. It was originally to carry 14Ф31 Geo-IK-2 №11 Kosmos-2470 but was swapped before that launch?

Interestingly, it apparently also used the different payload fairing type, which was only used for the Geo-IK-2 before.

[Nicolas PILLET]

Interestingly, it apparently also used the different payload fairing type, which was only used for the Geo-IK-2 before.

Really ? I've compared with pictures from past launches, they all look the same to me...

[Skyrocket]

Interestingly, it apparently also used the different payload fairing type, which was only used for the Geo-IK-2 before.

Really ? I've compared with pictures from past launches, they all look the same to me...

See following attached images. The Geo-IK2 launch has a different shape. Yesterdays launch appears to have the same shape.

[russianhalo117]

Interestingly, it apparently also used the different payload fairing type, which was only used for the Geo-IK-2 before.

Really ? I've compared with pictures from past launches, they all look the same to me...

See following attached images. The Geo-IK2 launch has a different shape. Yesterdays launch appears to have the same shape.

it appears to match design of the Angara A1.1 variant and was designed to be more lightweight and eventually replace Rockot fairing.

[satwatcher]

The first set of JSpOC elements for the CZ-11 launch have been published. The first object has ID 40925. At present 4 objects are assigned to the Rokot launch with IDs 40920, 40921, 40922, 40923. This leaves ID 40924 unassigned, suggesting JSpOC expects a 5th object from the Rokot launch.

[anik]

There is nothing to expect.

[zubenelgenubi]

I propose we wait a little more to see if a 5th Object  is catalogued by USSTRATCOM before concluding on the number of S/C onboard this launch.
For the time being we have 3 Rodniks (Object A, B and C) and Briz-KM (Object D)
In the 3 previous cases, Object E took longer to be catalogued...

The first set of JSpOC elements for the CZ-11 launch have been published. The first object has ID 40925. At present 4 objects are assigned to the Rokot launch with IDs 40920, 40921, 40922, 40923. This leaves ID 40924 unassigned, suggesting JSpOC expects a 5th object from the Rokot launch.

There is nothing to expect.

Does the absence of evidence (there has been no announcement of detection of a 5th object from this launch) mean evidence of absence (there is no 5th object/4th satellite)?

Further thinking aloud:
If there is no Kosmos 2491/2499/2504-type satellite aboard this launch, and DOSAAF-85 was not launched, then did they just use ballast?

Or could a 4th satellite have been launched, but failed and remained attached, inert, to the Briz upper stage?

Zubenelgenubi

[Phillip Clark]

The first set of JSpOC elements for the CZ-11 launch have been published. The first object has ID 40925. At present 4 objects are assigned to the Rokot launch with IDs 40920, 40921, 40922, 40923. This leaves ID 40924 unassigned, suggesting JSpOC expects a 5th object from the Rokot launch.

In the past gaps have been left in the numbering system when objects are expected to be catalogued but there is no promise that such objects exist.