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Dnepr launch with five RapidEye satellites - August 29, 2008
by
anik
on 03 Jun, 2008 14:35
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Preparations for Launch of Five Satellites Move Into High GearBrandenburg an der Havel, Germany, May 30, 2008http://www.rapideye.de/upload/documents/Press_Releases/Launch_Prep_PR_May3008.pdfThe 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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#1
by
osiossim
on 04 Jun, 2008 08:16
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Baikonur?
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#2
by
eeergo
on 04 Jun, 2008 08:53
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Yep, a quick look to the Russian Launch list says so.
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#3
by
anik
on 19 Jun, 2008 16:27
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According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the preliminary launch date is August 13.
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#4
by
osiossim
on 20 Jun, 2008 06:47
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According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the preliminary launch date is August 13.
From?
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#5
by
anik
on 20 Jun, 2008 15:39
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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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#6
by
osiossim
on 23 Jun, 2008 14:42
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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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#7
by
JimO
on 24 Jun, 2008 13:53
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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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#8
by
anik
on 02 Jul, 2008 16:10
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http://www.federalspace.ru/NewsDoSele.asp?NEWSID=3642The 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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#9
by
anik
on 11 Jul, 2008 17:41
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According to Novosti kosmonavtiki forum, the launch date is August 29 now.
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#10
by
anik
on 16 Jul, 2008 14:33
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#11
by
anik
on 22 Jul, 2008 08:49
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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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#12
by
anik
on 23 Aug, 2008 16:14
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#13
by
anik
on 25 Aug, 2008 15:33
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#14
by
steveo67
on 29 Aug, 2008 07:36
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Good launch, good craft separation.
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#15
by
pm1823
on 29 Aug, 2008 08:36
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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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#16
by
Satori
on 29 Aug, 2008 12:44
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Images from the launch of the five RapidEye sats are
here!
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#17
by
anik
on 29 Aug, 2008 16:09
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#18
by
edkyle99
on 30 Aug, 2008 14:39
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#19
by
Toner Soprano
on 30 Aug, 2008 14:46
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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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#20
by
edkyle99
on 30 Aug, 2008 15:06
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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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#21
by
pm1823
on 31 Aug, 2008 00:21
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http://www.kosmotras.ru/2000.htm#inf32Appeared 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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#22
by
pm1823
on 11 Sep, 2008 10:29
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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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#23
by
eeergo
on 11 Sep, 2008 12:07
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"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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#24
by
osiossim
on 12 Sep, 2008 12:54
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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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#25
by
pm1823
on 12 Sep, 2008 16:37
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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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#26
by
William Graham
on 12 Sep, 2008 19:01
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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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#27
by
pm1823
on 12 Sep, 2008 20:38
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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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#28
by
Satori
on 15 Sep, 2008 00:14
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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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#29
by
Olaf
on 15 Sep, 2008 05:30
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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.
