LIVE: Soyuz-2-1A - Cosmos 2495 (Kobalt-M) – Plesetsk – May 6, 2014 (1349UTC)

[Satori]

A Kobalt-M satellite will be launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome on May 6, 2014, using a Soyuz-2-1A launch vehicle.

Launch Coverage Sponsored by ATK:

[Galactic Penguin SST]

<OT> Any news about a probable Rockot launch in May?  </OT>

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NOTAM:

V3597/14 - TEMPO DANGER AREA ACT WI COORD: 6600N 04530E-6542N 04640E-6628N 04810E-6647N 04710E-6600N 04530E. SFC - UNL, DAILY 0800-1100, 06 MAY 08:00 2014 UNTIL 08 MAY 11:00 2014. CREATED: 02 MAY 12:02 2014

V3596/14 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD: A333 PERUD - NARYAN-MAR VORDME (NRM), R355 MEZEN NDB (MZ) - RIGNI. SFC - UNL, DAILY 0800-1100, 06 MAY 08:00 2014 UNTIL 08 MAY 11:00 2014. CREATED: 02 MAY 11:50 2014

V3595/14 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD: B200 KOMOV - OSKEP, G375 BEKOT - OSKEP, G722 KUMEN - OSKEP. SFC - UNL, DAILY 0800-1100, 06 MAY 08:00 2014 UNTIL 08 MAY 11:00 2014. CREATED: 02 MAY 11:42 2014

Looks like it's flying to a 74°-ish inclination orbit? 

[ostangen]

If we go back to the 2012 launch
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28640.0;all

None of the above NOTAMS where issued.

But this one is identical to a NOTAM active in the 2012 launch

V3594/14 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD: A333 SOTIS - DELIL, G355 SOTIS - DOBUT, G911 KOMOV - MEZEN NDB (MZ), R355 ROKUT - MEZEN NDB (MZ). SFC - UNL, DAILY 1345-1445, 06 MAY 13:45 2014 UNTIL 08 MAY 14:45 2014. CREATED: 02 MAY 11:04 2014.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

If we go back to the 2012 launch
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=28640.0;all

None of the above NOTAMS where issued.

But this one is identical to a NOTAM active in the 2012 launch

V3594/14 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD: A333 SOTIS - DELIL, G355 SOTIS - DOBUT, G911 KOMOV - MEZEN NDB (MZ), R355 ROKUT - MEZEN NDB (MZ). SFC - UNL, DAILY 1345-1445, 06 MAY 13:45 2014 UNTIL 08 MAY 14:45 2014. CREATED: 02 MAY 11:04 2014.

So it looks like the above 3 NOTAMs are probably not related to the launch, but this one is. Launch time would then be ~14:00 UTC (the last one, Kosmos 2480, was launched at 14:05 UTC on May 17, 2012).

[Phillip Clark]

Perhaps the launch time is indicative of a flight lasting around 130 days again - maybe a bit longer to break the current "duration record" for a close-look Yantar.

[input~2]

NOTAM for 1st stage and 2nd stage debris

V3604/14 - FLT PROHIBITED WI AREAS BOUNDED BY COORD: AREA 1: 631600N 0412300E-625200N 0420200E-624000N 0412200E- 622900N 0402500E-624000N 0394200E-624800N 0393200E- 625700N 0401800E-631600N 0412300E. AREA 2: 662500N 0422000E-662500N 0434000E-654000N 0432000E- 654000N 0420000E-662500N 0422000E. AREA 3: 762000N 0592000E-760000N 0614000E-745500N 0582000E- 752000N 0562000E-762000N 0592000E. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1345-1445, 06 MAY 13:45 2014 UNTIL 08 MAY 14:45 2014. CREATED: 03 MAY 08:20 2014

Lift-off around 1400UTC

[Stan Black]

So what do we know…

Satellite Kobalt-M
Product 11Ф695 №564; entire system covered under index 14К157.
4th generation or stage of modernisation; so does that make it the fourth or fifth version?
62nd from manufacturer Arsenal to be launched; with serial numbers 503 to 565.
Integrated propulsion system has index 17Д52; with up to 900 kilogrammes of propellant.
Total satellite mass up to 6,700 kilogrammes.
Lifespan up to 180 days.
On-board computer system type 14М828 also used by Persona and the future Pion-NKS.
Main camera optics with index 17В311М.
Other equipment includes two БОКЗ-М star trackers.
1st to use Soyuz-2 (variant 1A) launch vehicle; possible introduction of new fairing 14С74. Possibility a Soyuz-U (variant PVB) was ordered but used for the previous launch in 2012.
Delayed from 2013; reason unknown.
Launch site Plesetsk 17П32-С4.

[Artyom.]

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

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20140504/1006479505.html (in Russian)

[Prober]

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

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20140504/1006479505.html (in Russian)

yes, nice Pic

[Galactic Penguin SST]

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

http://ria.ru/defense_safety/20140504/1006479505.html (in Russian)

yes, nice Pic

Stock photo unfortunately......
(from this launch IIRC)

[Phillip Clark]

Above, Stan Black gives an aspirational flight time of around 180 days for Kobalt-M.

Historically, the longest flight of any close-look Yantar is that of Cosmos 2377 (Kobalt #554) which flew for just over 133 days.   The longest flight in the Kobalt-M programme was # 563, Cosmos 2480 launched in 2012.

The only Russian film-return satellite that has flown longer that 180 days has been the second phase Orlets, launched on the Zenit-2 twice.

[Star One]

Am I correct in thinking this is the first Kobalt-M to fly since 2012?

[Phillip Clark]

Am I correct in thinking this is the first Kobalt-M to fly since 2012?

Yes, you are.

[Star One]

Am I correct in thinking this is the first Kobalt-M to fly since 2012?

Yes, you are.

That's a rather large gap considering their previous flight rate?

[Phillip Clark]

There tend to be only 1-2 launches in the photoreconnaissance satellite programme in any calendar year these days.   Last year we had the launch of the second Persona-1/Kvarts, so perhaps the successful operation of that satellite meant that the Kobalt-M was delayed?

This could be a really "busy" year if we get the Kobalt-M launch, the third and final Persona-1 *and* also the debut of Bars-M!

[Artyom.]

Unofficially(!): launch time is 13:45:39 UTC  .

UPD: 13:49:35 UTC 

[gosnold]

Do you think there is a case for building film return satellites (because they are cheaper to build for instance), or are the Russians launching them because they have spares on their hands?

[Chris Bergin]

Moved for live coverage.

[Satori]

Chris, I don't see any webcast schedule for this launch.