Soyuz-2-1B/Fregat-M – Kosmos-2500 (GLONASS-M) – 14th June 2014 (1717UTC)

[Stan Black]

Payload: Uragan-M 14Ф113 № 755
Rocket: Soyuz-2-1B 14А14-1Б № Т15000-023
Upper stage: Fregat 14С44 № 112-02
Fairing: 14С737
Launch site: Plesetsk 17П32-С4 (ПУ № 43/4)

GLONASS block 49S
 - at time of order placement referred to as block 52S

State Rocket and Space Research and Production Centre «TsSKB-Progress»
Государственный научно-производственный ракетно-космический центр «ЦСКБ-Прогресс»

Soyuz-2-1B

РН «Союз-2-1б» для запуска бл. КА «ГЛОНАСС-М» № 52с (353У.0001.002 ТУ)

1 061 900 000 Russian ruble
Order placed: 7th June 2012
Contractual period: May 2012 to 25th November 2014
Delivery: first quarter 2014
[source] [source]

Delivery to launch site

Подготовка к транспортировке, транспортировка, сопровождение РН «Союз-2-1б» для запуска КА системы ГЛОНАСС в эксплуатирующую организацию и возврат спецтранспорта на предприятие.

20 342 600 Russian ruble
Order placed: 10th December 2013
Contractual period: 1st January 2014 to 25th December 2014
[source] [source]

Lavochkin Research and Production Association
Научно-производственное объединение имени С.А. Лавочкина

Fregat

РБ «Фрегат» с ПхО для запуска блока КА «ГЛОНАСС-М» № 52с (РБФ-0000-0ТУ)

403 404 900 Russian ruble
Order placed: 7th June 2012
Contractual period: May 2012 to 25th November 2014
Delivery: first quarter 2014
[source] [source]

14С737

ГО для РН «Союз-2-1б» для запуска блока КА «ГЛОНАСС-М» № 52с (14С737-0000-0ТУ)

83 358 000 Russian ruble
Order placed: 31st May 2012
Contractual period: May 2012 to 25th November 2014
Delivery: first quarter 2014
[source] [source]

Delivery to launch site

Подготовка к транспортировке, транспортировка двух разгонных блоков «Фрегат» с двумя СЗБ (ГО 14С737) для запуска КА «ГЛОНАСС» в эксплуатирующую организацию и возврат спецтранспорта на предприятие.

5 353 400 Russian ruble
Order placed: 10th December 2013
Contractual period: 1st January 2014 to 25th December 2014
[source] [source]

Centre for Operation of Land-Based Space Infrastructure (TsENKI)
Центр эксплуатации объектов наземной космической инфраструктуры (ЦЭНКИ)

Launch campaign

Услуги по запуску блока космического аппарата системы ГЛОНАСС на ракете-носителе «Союз-2-1б»

313 200 000 Russian ruble
Contractual period: up to 31st March 2015
[source]

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

Delivery of satellite to launch site

Проведение регламентных работ, транспортировка 1 КА «ГЛОНАСС-М» на космодром Плесецк

11 029 900 Russian ruble
Order placed: 4th December 2013
Contractual period: up to 25th November 2014
Delivery: 2014
[source] [source]

[Stan Black]

Delivery of satellite to launch site

Транспортировка космических аппаратов системы ГЛОНАСС на космодром запуска Шифр: «ТрансКА»

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=7440486

Delivery of Fregat & fairing to launch site

Транспортировка двух разгонных блоков «Фрегат» со сборочно-защитным блоком (СЗБ) на космодром запуска Шифр: «Транс-РБ-Ф»

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=7465990

Delivery of Soyuz to launch site

Транспортировка двух ракет-носителей «Союз-2-1б» на космодром запуска Шифр: «Транс-РН-С»

http://www.zakupki.gov.ru/pgz/public/action/orders/info/common_info/show?notificationId=7466114

1st post updated.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Next GLONASS-M launch is on June 14: http://www.interfax.ru/russia/367587

[Galactic Penguin SST]

The satellite for this launch (GLONASS-M #755) has been delivered to Plesetsk today: http://www.iss-reshetnev.ru/?cid=news&nid=1793 Apparently it is carrying a demonstration payload for transmission in the L3 band. 

In which orbital plane is this satellite launching into, and which satellite will be replaced?

[beidou]

...
Apparently it is carrying a demonstration payload for transmission in the L3 band. 

CMDA signal on just one frequency is not very helpful to the broad users, especially for positioning and navigation.

[beidou]

Fueling of upper stage has been started.

http://itar-tass.com/nauka/1234619

[Nicolas PILLET]

Warning, this is a file picture taken in MIK-40 of Baykonur cosmodrome. The launcher for next flight is prepared in MIK-317/14-3 of Plesetsk cosmodrome.

[input~2]

NOTAM for 1st stage and fairing debris

V5033/14 -  ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLOSED: A491 SOTER - UKHTA VORDME (UHT) A575 SORIG - ABLAR A834 AKADA - OGROM B152 SONIB - GAPRA B154 SONIB - BAMON B486 AKADA - MEDER R822 DIBIN - TITKO. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1710-1825, 14 JUN 17:10 2014 UNTIL 15 JUN 18:25 2014. CREATED: 10 JUN 06:41 2014

NOTAM for 2nd stage debris

P3875/14 -  FLW ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD: A843 PIRED - TOBOLSK NDB (NH), G356 TOBOLSK NDB (NH) - VOREG, R200 TOBOLSK NDB (NH) - RISIR, R211 TOBOLSK NDB (NH) - NIKUL, P865 LERPI - INKOR. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1710-1825, 14 JUN 17:10 2014 UNTIL 15 JUN 18:25 2014. CREATED: 10 JUN 06:44 2014

NOTAM for 3rd stage debris

B2383/14 -  TEMPO DANGER AREA NZD026 (SOUTH AUCKLAND OCEANIC FIR) IS PRESCRIBED AS FLW: ALL THAT AIRSPACE BOUNDED BY A LINE JOINING S 57 38 00, W 131 00 00, S 60 39 00, W 131 00 00, S 62 33 00, E 163 00 00, S 62 09 00, E 163 00 00, S 59 43 00, E 165 49 00, S 57 38 00, W 131 00 00. ACTIVITY: SPACE DEBRIS RETURN. USER AGENCY: FOREIGN SPACE AGENCY. PRESCRIBED PURSUANT TO CIVIL AVIATION RULE PART 71 UNDER A DELEGATED AUTHORITY ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION. SFC - FL999, 14 JUN 17:10 2014 UNTIL 14 JUN 18:25 2014. CREATED: 08 JUN 22:07 2014

[Galactic Penguin SST]

The satellite for this launch (GLONASS-M #755) has been delivered to Plesetsk today: http://www.iss-reshetnev.ru/?cid=news&nid=1793 Apparently it is carrying a demonstration payload for transmission in the L3 band. 

In which orbital plane is this satellite launching into, and which satellite will be replaced?

My calculations show that it might be heading for plane III (again - maybe to replace the last of 6 satellites launched in 2008 that apparently have faulty chips that caused others to fail one by one?) - can someone confirm?

[Nicolas PILLET]

My calculations show that it might be heading for plane III (again - maybe to replace the last of 6 satellites launched in 2008 that apparently have faulty chips that caused others to fail one by one?) - can someone confirm?

In Novosti Kosmonavtiki n°05-2014, anik quotes Testoedov saying that GLONASS-M n°755 would be launched to plane III. Anik also wrote that he thinks this satellite would replace Cosmos 2443 (n°725) at position n°21.

[Stan Black]

My calculations show that it might be heading for plane III (again - maybe to replace the last of 6 satellites launched in 2008 that apparently have faulty chips that caused others to fail one by one?) - can someone confirm?

In Novosti Kosmonavtiki n°05-2014, anik quotes Testoedov saying that GLONASS-M n°755 would be launched to plane III. Anik also wrote that he thinks this satellite would replace Cosmos 2443 (n°725) at position n°21.

The GLONASS-K is near to that position? Will it be moved, for tests of L3 transmitters?

[Artyom.]

The basic integration of the Soyuz-2-1B launch vehicle with the upper composite has been completed.

http://vestnik-glonass.ru/news/tech/na_kosmodrome_plesetsk_zavershena_sborka_rakety_soyuz_2_1b_so_sputnikom_glonass_m/ (in Russian)

[Artyom.]

Soyuz-2-1B was rolled out to the launch pad.

http://ria.ru/space/20140612/1011731506.html (in Russian)

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Liftoff is scheduled in 20 minutes time at 17:16:48 UTC; spacecraft separation is expected at 20:53 UTC.

http://itar-tass.com/nauka/1255540

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Ermmm.....did it lifted off? Fregat upper stage should have separated by now...

[Artyom.]

And we have liftoff http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum12/topic14158/message1268517/#message1268517 and Fregat separation was nominal!

[Artyom.]

And from RIA Novosti - http://ria.ru/science/20140614/1012007300.html.

[Satori]

RIA Novosti is reporting the launch http://ria.ru/science/20140614/1012007300.html

[Nicolas PILLET]

Here I have a chronology of a earlier GLONASS-M launch from Plesetsk :

http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lancements/2013/26042013/26042013.html

I guess the launch sequence will be the same...

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Spacecraft has separated nominally: http://ria.ru/science/20140615/1012026763.html

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Can someone confirm that the satellite will be named Kosmos-2500? 

[Artyom.]

Launch video - http://www.vesti.ru/only_video.html?vid=604468

[chewi]

Can someone confirm that the satellite will be named Kosmos-2500? 

yes, Aleksandr Golovko (commander of Russian Aerospace Defence Forces) said that it was jubilee satellite launch – 2500th military and "dual-use" spacecraft

[Artyom.]

Another video (amateur):

[input~2]

2 objects have been catalogued by USSTRATCOM

Object A 2014-032A/40001 in
19126 x 19154 km x 64.77° (presumably the S/C)
Object B 2014-032B/40002 in
19146 x 19500 km x 64.75° (presumably Fregat-M)

[Lewis007]

Another short video of the rocket on the pad.

http://tvzvezda.ru/news/vstrane_i_mire/content/201406140733-vc34.htm

[Nicolas PILLET]

Seen from the ISS !

https://twitter.com/Astro_Alex/media

[Chris Bergin]

And that made it interesting, so....

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2014/06/russian-glonass-launch-spotted-iss-crew/

[Satori]

The satellite is Kosmos-2500.

[Nicolas PILLET]

GLONASS website confirms that this new satellite is at position n°21.

http://glonass-iac.ru/GLONASS/

[Artyom.]

Better late than never 

Launch photo:

[JimO]

exact laubch time
http://www.sdcm.ru/smglo/news?month=6&year=2014&site=extern&repdate=8&version=rus


Adapted From Pillet, merci beaucoup:
Launch                    0      17:16:48
Separation of strap-ons      1'58“      17:18:46
Faring jettison                 2'45“      17:19:33
Second stage shut down      4'46“      17:21:34
Second Stage Separation       4'47"
Firing of Third Stage              4'52“      17:21:40
Shutdown of Third Stage      9'19“      17:26:07
Separation of upper segment   9'23“      17:26:11
Firing of SOZ motors              9'28“      17:26:16
First ignition of S5.92 stage         10'23“      17:27:11
Shutdown of S5.92            10'42“      17:27:30

What is "SOZ"?


timeline of Gerst's photos from camera megadata file
17:16:48     LAUNCH 

17:25:29    First image taken, thrusting
17:26:10    Thrusting appears to stop
17:26:17     Flare begins [? 9:28 MET?]
17:26:36     Flare continues. Last image

Astronaut captured very end of third stage burn and the separation motor firing, but not Fregat ignition

This video shows a VERY complex sequence of dynamic events that clearly needs to be thoroughly studied. It may overlap some or all of the Gerst still sequence




Also,  http://novosti-kosmonavtiki.ru/forum/messages/forum12/topic14158/message1268517/#message1268517
“Yanus” website photos[unspecified time,  location], From interpretation of horizon lighting as western post-sunset, identification of flare as sep motor firing, and swagged ground track geometry, I’d guess northern Urals area

[Nicolas PILLET]

What is "SOZ"?

It is S5.221 orientation engines of Fregat upper stage. See section D of this page :

http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/fregat/tech/fregat/fregat.html

[jcm]

What is "SOZ"?

It is S5.221 orientation engines of Fregat upper stage. See section D of this page :

http://www.kosmonavtika.com/lanceurs/fregat/tech/fregat/fregat.html

I think SOZ = Sistem Obespecheniya zapuska, Launch Provision System yes orientation engines but also for ullage, to make sure the prop from the
main burn is at the back of the tank
Similar to the SOZ ullage motors on Proton Blok D and the BOZ package (old RAE 'Platform') on Molniya Blok L
except that on Fregat they are not jettisoned.

[JimO]

Thanks for the good info. Does anybody have a Soyuz-Glonass ascent ground track out of Plesetsk, time-tagged -- it would help assess some of the videos and photos which do not specific observer location.

I also remain fascinated by the cloud seen in the Gerst images, below the pluming stage. I'm coming to postulate it could have been the early ascent climb-out contrail, viewed end-on from the ISS.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

The GLONASS-M satellite (#755) is now operational since August 2, replacing #725 in slot 21.

[fatjohn1408]

This is perhaps not the best topic for this question but, can somebody explain me the differences between all the current Soyuz versions?

Arianespace launches the Soyuz STA and Soyuz STA

Starsem (does it still launch) has in their user manual the Soyuz (okay) and the Soyuz/ST
Are these actually the Soyuz 2-1a and 2-1b?

The Soyuz 2-1v I know.

What do the Soyuz FG and Soyuz U consist of again?
Soyuz FG launches only to the station with either the fregat or the soyuz spacecraft?
Are they always launched by Khrunichev? 

Thanks if anyone can clear these or some of these questions up for me.

[edkyle99]

This is perhaps not the best topic for this question but, can somebody explain me the differences between all the current Soyuz versions?

This is my simplified interpretation, which may miss a few details.

Soyuz-U is the longest running currently-active variant.  It used four RD-107 (now uses an all-Russian equivalent named RD-117) powered strap-on boosters, an RD-108 (now RD-118) powered core stage, and an RD-0110 powered "Blok I" upper stage (called a 3rd stage by its manufacturer though a second stage in some descriptions of what is really a 2.5 stage rocket.)  Flying since 1973, this rocket still uses old-school analog avionics.  It goes to LEO exclusively these days, mostly with Progress ISS cargo spacecraft.

Soyuz-FG is essentially a Soyuz-U with upgraded RD-107A strap-on booster and RD-108A core engines.  It first flew in 2001.  It handles crewed Soyuz missions, but also hosted Fregat upper stages until recently.

Soyuz 2-1a is essentially a Soyuz-FG with updgraded digital avionics and with a slightly modified upper (Blok I) stage.  It first flew in 2004 or thereabouts.  It is flying for Russia and Arianespace, both with and without a Fregat upper stage.

Soyuz 2-1b is essentially a Soyuz 2-1a with a brand new, much more efficient Blok I upper stage engine - the staged-combustion RD-0124.  It first flew in 2006.  It is flying for Russia and Arianespace both with and without a Fregat upper stage.

Soyuz FG, 2-1a, and 2-1b use a restartable Fregat upper (Russia calls it a fourth) stage for higher energy missions.  When flying for Arianespace or Starsem and fitted with a 4.11 meter diameter fairing, these are also called "ST" variants.  Thus Soyuz ST-A is essentially a Soyuz 2-1a/Fregat flying from Kourou, and so on.

Russia's TsSKB Progress builds Soyuz rockets while NPO Lavochkin builds Fregat.  Starsem was a Russian-European joint venture established in 1996 to market the Soyuz launcher for commercial use.  I believe that it has essentially been outmoded by the Soyuz move to Kourou, though it still seems to be a going concern.

Russia is in the process of phasing out Soyuz-U and Soyuz-FG, but if the past is an indicator this will be a multi-year process.

 - Ed Kyle

[Nicolas PILLET]

It seems that Cosmos 2500 is experiencing some technical issue...

http://glonass-iac.ru/content/news/?ELEMENT_ID=1018