NASASpaceFlight.com Forum
International Space Flight (ESA, Russia, China and others) => Russian Launchers - Soyuz, Progress and Uncrewed => Topic started by: anik on 06/03/2008 02:35 pm
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Preparations for Launch of Five Satellites Move Into High Gear
Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany, May 30, 2008
http://www.rapideye.de/upload/documents/Press_Releases/Launch_Prep_PR_May3008.pdf
The wait is almost over – the expectation of an imminent launch adds excitement to the RapidEye Team these days, as the constellation of five earth observation satellites sits ready in a clean room in Surrey, U.K. waiting to be shipped to the launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.
“For the first time since signing the supply contract in 2004 with CCC (Canadian Commercial Corporation) to have MDA (MacDonald Dettwiler) build the ground and space segment of the RapidEye system, we can say that we see the finish line. Anticipation is building every day,” said Pietro Widmer, Head of the Operations and Engineering Department.
The space head module, on which the satellites will be mounted and which will be placed on top of the DNEPR rocket, has been built and is currently undergoing final testing, while the launch vehicle and the silo are being prepared for the event.
Additionally, the insurance contract covering the launch of the satellite constellation and the first year in orbit has been successfully negotiated.
“Currently, nothing is standing in the way of us launching this summer,” Mr. Widmer says. “Although there can always be unforeseen delays in this business, I'm very optimistic.”
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Baikonur?
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Yep, a quick look to the Russian Launch list says so.
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According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the preliminary launch date is August 13.
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According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the preliminary launch date is August 13.
From?
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Baikonur?
From?
Why to ask this question twice? The launch will be from Baikonur cosmodrome. It is said in the first post of this thread.
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Baikonur?
From?
Why to ask this question twice? The launch will be from Baikonur cosmodrome. It is said in the first post of this thread.
Because some reliable sources in Russia say that Baikonur will not be used by ISC Kosmotras for the short term.
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Any news on the delayed Thaisat payload that had been scheduled for launch in January from Yasniy?
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http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=3642
The preparation of five RapidEye satellites was begun recently in the integration building (MIK #40) on site #31 of Baikonur cosmodrome. The first satellite has been fuelled by propellants yesterday. The second satellite is installed onto the stand for fuelling, two other satellites are testing.
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According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the launch date is August 29 now.
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http://kz-today.kz/index.php?lang=rus&uin=1138536794&chapter=1153454717
Dnepr rocket has arrived to Baikonur cosmodrome yesterday.
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http://www.rapideye.de/home/about-us/launch2008--/
"The Dnepr rocket (a converted Intercontinental Ballistic Missile - ICBM) that will send RapidEye's satellites into orbit will be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at approximately 9:15 a.m. local time, Central European Summer Time (CEST) [07:15 UTC - anik]"
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http://www.tsenki.com/NewsDoSeleFed.asp?NEWSID=4014
The assembly of the ascent unit (installation of five RapidEye satellites and of fairing) of Dnepr rocket was performed on August 20-22.
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http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=4026
Today the ascent unit was transported to the launch pad no. 109 and installed on Dnepr rocket in silo.
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Good launch, good craft separation.
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http://www.kosmotras.ru/
RapidEye Satellites Successfully Launched into Orbit on Dnepr Launch Vehicle
Moscow, 29 August 2008. – Having been launched at 11:15 Moscow time from Baikonur Cosmodrome, the Dnepr LV (a converted SS-18 ICBM) successfully injected 5 RapidEye spacecraft into orbit.
The rocket lifted off at 11:15:58 Moscow time (7:15:58 UTC) from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 109. Fifteen minutes later, a mobile tracking station deployed in Oman recorded the signal that confirmed separation of the satellites from the launcher upper stage. The launch mission was fully accomplished – the satellites were delivered into their target 630km Sun-synchronous orbit. The injection was nominal with all systems operating properly.
The RapidEye constellation is comprised of five small Earth-Observation satellites, each with 6.5 metre resolution camera imaging in five optical bands. Each of the five microsatellites is approximately 150 kg in mass. The microsatellites will have a 7-year operational lifetime. Primary applications are agricultural mapping, growth monitoring, damage assessment for insurers, and yield prediction. Secondary application is cartography.
Dr. Vladimir A. Andreev, Director General of ISC Kosmotras, speaking on behalf of the Company, extended his congratulations on the successful launch to the launch customers, namely British SSTL, Canadian MDA and German RapidEye AG. Dr. Andreev expressed satisfaction with the successful and fruitful cooperation between ISC Kosmotras and SSTL, which had commenced during the first Dnepr launch of UOSAT-12 spacecraft in 1999, would continue in the near future under new contracts signed with SSTL.
ISC Kosmotras is grateful to the Russian Ministry of Defense, Federal Space Agency of Russia, National Space Agency of Ukraine, as well as the enterprises and organizations of Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan for their contribution in the success of the RapidEye launch campaign.
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Images from the launch of the five RapidEye sats are here (http://www.roscosmos.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=4058)!
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Video of launch: http://tvroscosmos.ru/picture_library/video/start30.wmv
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"Dnepr space launch confirms reliability of R-36MUTTH"
Launch from "silo No. 95 of the launch complex No. 109" at Baikonur.
"The space launch was simultaneously a flight test that was used to confirm reliability of the missile."
http://russianforces.org/blog/2008/08/dnepr_space_launch_confirms_re.shtml
About 75 R-36 ICBMs armed with 10 thermonuclear warheads each remain on active duty.
http://russianforces.org/missiles/
- Ed Kyle
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That doesn't look like a typical American missile silo launch. Do they use some kind of hydraulics to lift the missile out of the silo and then ignite the engine?
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That doesn't look like a typical American missile silo launch. Do they use some kind of hydraulics to lift the missile out of the silo and then ignite the engine?
There's a good description of the launch process, including diagram, at:
http://www.kosmotras.ru/
Follow the "Dnepr LV, Mission Profile" links.
Basically, a solid propellant gas generator creates high pressure in the silo, popping the missile (carried by a "tray" that is pushed aside once out of the silo by side-firing rockets) out of the silo.
- Ed Kyle
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http://www.kosmotras.ru/2000.htm#inf32
Appeared on russian version of kosmotras site. Sorry for machine translation.
Accuracy of the orbital placing satellites "RapidEye"
After operative processing of telemetry information is calculated features to accuracy of the orbital placing satellites "RapidEye" launched 29.08.2008 (7:15:53.783 UTC) from cosmodrome Baikonur.
In contrast with estimated parameters of the orbit accuracy has formed: on semi-major axis (the height) 660 m for satellite 1 and 70 metres for satellite 5, separated last; on orbit's eccentricity accuracy has formed: 0,00008; on inclination of the orbit: 0,004 degrees.
Message is received from the first stage's region of fall, about, that stage was lowered for estimated center of the ellipse of the diffusing on distance 2500 m on range and 400 m on lateral component.
Accuracy of the satellites orbital placing has exclusive importance for minimization of the expenses of fuel on undertaking the correction of the orbit. Particularly this required for satellites, forming united orbital group, for group "RapidEye" in particular.
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LOL. Kosmotras can't find engine from the first stage of used Dnepr LV. The stage was found w/o main engine, i.e. only tanks. They sent fax, where asking commentary for the such "anomaly" from Dnepropetrovsk. W/o engine they have troubles to sign papers with Kazakhs, that drop area was "cleared" from "waste".
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;D
"Engine sought, missing since Aug 29, good reward. If you have any information, contact Kosmotras"
An entepreneurial shepard with a blowtorch at hand, or perhaps the engine wasn't too securely welded and flew away while the stage was falling? I'd be interested to know... but the situation is just cheesy!
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LOL. Kosmotras can't find engine from the first stage of used Dnepr LV. The stage was found w/o main engine, i.e. only tanks. They sent fax, where asking commentary for the such "anomaly" from Dnepropetrovsk. W/o engine they have troubles to sign papers with Kazakhs, that drop area was "cleared" from "waste".
Excuse my ignorance, what could be the side effects to Kazak-Rus relations from the drop zone issue aspect, if ISCK cannot find the engine?
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Well, maybe you know, that people in Kazakhstan and their government already long time don't like all these tons of UDMH/NTO flying and falling on their heads. They insisting that all "stinky" rockets will be grounded as fast as it possible.
In this particular case, if they finally lost engine (I really can't understand how) they maybe will only pay for the "waste", but all of this will surface on the next time, when they will ask permit for the next launch. It's not Kazakh-Russ relation - they fine, besides of JimO's words, it's common sense - Kazakhs want to stop "stinkies" from flying, and they will. Maybe they begin their ban from Kosmotras Dnepr LV, because this company is not backed by Roscosmos and government much as Khrunichev's Proton is and nobody there will cry. I don't know, and don't want to speculate on such issue. Will see.
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Maybe they begin their ban from Kosmotras Dnepr LV, because this company is not backed by Roscosmos and government much as Khrunichev's Proton is and nobody there will cry.
The Russian military use Dnepr launches to test the R-36 missile. They would object. Plus a ban on Dnepr launches would probably extend to R-36 missiles, which are virtually identical.
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Reread pls, we talking not about Russian ban for Dnepr LV(why?), but about possible Kazakhs ban. It's in their National Policy to ground Russian "stinky" rockets ASAP, and Kosmotras now moving against it, the result can be predicted, and it happen sooner is they would making such mess even for launches from Baik.
The RVSN don't care in which direction they firing from Yasniy, it's Kosmotras' bad idea to sell launches in southern direction from Yasniy. The RVSN base Yasniy have own first stage drop area in the Russian Tyumen region(зона Вагайского, Викуловского и Сорокинского районов) for the tests or "launching utilization" and don't need permission from Kazakhs for that.
Yes, military making some profit from this conversion deals, but they more don't want to make problem with Kazakhstan. And what about extend R-36? Unfortunately START-II is dead, because of NMD/ABM and we all can see, that old rockets kinda can fly...
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The article on Wikipedia about the five RapidEye satellites names the satellites TACHYS (Rapid), MATI (Eye), CHOMA (Earth), CHOROS (Space), TROCHIA (Orbit) with all names of Greek origin.
Does anyone has any other information about this?
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The article on Wikipedia about the five RapidEye satellites names the satellites TACHYS (Rapid), MATI (Eye), CHOMA (Earth), CHOROS (Space), TROCHIA (Orbit) with all names of Greek origin.
Does anyone has any other information about this?
Here http://www.rapideye.de/home/launch2008--/#contest is the original source from Rapid Eye.