Cosmos 2506 - Persona-1 #3, Soyuz-2-1B, Plesetsk – June 23, 2015 (16:44 UTC)

[Phillip Clark]

Since there was originally a gap of around three weeks between the planned May 15 launch of the final Kobalt-M and the June 5 launch of the third Persona-1/Kvarts digital photoreconnaissance satellite, I wonder if we will see the Persona-1 launch around June 25-27?

Anatoly Zak has reported that the three Persona-1 satellites are using imaging systems constructed for a cancelled programme called Sapfir.   If there are no more of these imaging systems available then this might be the final launch in the Persona-1 programme.   Of course, production of further imaging systems to continue the programme could be underway.

[Star One]

I thought he'd already hinted that work on a second generation of Persona satellites was under way?

[Phillip Clark]

I thought he'd already hinted that work on a second generation of Persona satellites was under way?

That's correct, a possible Persona-2 series.  But I am wondering whether Persona-1 will be limited to just three launches.   Time will tell, even if the Russian's don't in advance!

[Star One]

I thought he'd already hinted that work on a second generation of Persona satellites was under way?

That's correct, a possible Persona-2 series.  But I am wondering whether Persona-1 will be limited to just three launches.   Time will tell, even if the Russian's don't in advance!

As they apparently lost the first Persona I wonder if they put in place plans to produce a replacement or if they have endeavoured instead to accelerate in any way the second generation because of this failure.

[Satori]

A post on the NK forum is given a possible launch date of June 25 for a Kosmos satellite launch from Plesetsk. Possibly it can be related to the Persona launch (or not sure if the «information» comes from our own forum reading Phil's post).

[Liss]

NOTAMs had been issued indicating the launch on June 23 between 1630 and 1730 UTC.

[Galactic Penguin SST]

NOTAMs had been issued indicating the launch on June 23 between 1630 and 1730 UTC.

The air space/sea region closure notices in question:

HYDROARC 128/15
ARCTIC.
BARENTS SEA.
ROCKETS.
DNC 22.
1. HAZARDOUS OPERATIONS 1630Z TO 1730Z DAILY
23 AND 24 JUN IN AREAS BOUND BY:
A. 70-56.00N 032-04.58E, 70-10.00N 033-40.00E, 69-54.00N 032-40.00E, 70-08.00N 032-04.58E, 70-15.00N 031-50.00E, 70-30.07 N 031-50.00E, 70-36.22N 031-43.18E.
B. 76-30.00N 022-00.00E, 75-20.00N 024-40.00E, 74-50.00N 021-40.00E, 75-50.00N 018-40.00E.
2. CANCEL THIS MSG 241830Z JUN 15 .//
Authority: NAVAREA XX 81/15 190530Z JUN 15.
Date: 190756Z Jun 15
Cancel: 24183000 Jun 15

G1956 / 15 - AIRSPACE CLSD WI AREA BOUNDED BY COORD: 645000N0382200E-650500N0382200E-650500N0391600E- 644200N0391600E-644200N0390000E-645000N0382200E. SFC - UNL, 22 25 0500-1700, 22 JUN 05:00 2015 UNTIL 25 JUN 17:00 2015. CREATED: 18 JUN 20:18 2015

G1952 / 15 - ATS RTE R355 SEGMENT OGEMI - LETBA CLSD. SFC - UNL, 22 25 0500-1700, 22 JUN 05:00 2015 UNTIL 25 JUN 17:00 2015. CREATED: 18 JUN 16:02 2015

G1970 / 15 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD A222 LAGAT - LETBA, A303 AGUKI - LURAM, A333 DIRUG - DELIL, A714 KEGUL - KUMEN, B157 RUGOK - SUNIT, B200 SOTIS - ROKUT, B818 MAGEM - RONEB, B940 ALISA - PEMIL, G353 KUMEN - OGEMI, G355 SOTIS - DOBUT, G375 DIRUG - LETBA, G716 KEGUL - TALUB, G911 SUNIT - LAMRA, R355 OGEMI - LETBA, R360 BEMUR - LURAM, R820 BALKA - RONEB. FL260 - FL450, DAILY 0800-1300, 23 JUN 08:00 2015 UNTIL 24 JUN 13:00 2015. CREATED: 19 JUN 10:10 2015

G1967 / 15 - ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD: B488 KROTA - LIMUS, B815 EVMUV - LIMUS, B816 ATKUP - LIMUS, G476 AKATI - KROTA. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1630-1730, 23 JUN 16:30 2015 UNTIL 24 JUN 17:30 2015. CREATED: 19 JUN 09:54 2015

G1968 / 15 - ATS RTE A222 SEGMENT KUMEL - LAGAT CLSD. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1630-1730, 23 JUN 16:30 2015 UNTIL 24 JUN 17:30 2015. CREATED: 19 JUN 09:55 2015

G1969 / 15 - TEMPO DANGER AREA ACT WI COORD: 705600N 0320400E-701000N 0334000E-695400N 0324000E- 700800N 0320400E-705600N 0320400E. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1630-1730, 23 JUN 16:30 2015 UNTIL 24 JUN 17:30 2015. CREATED: 19 JUN 09:56 2015

A1726 / 15 - FOLLOWING RECEIVED FM MAIN AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT CENTER OF RUSSIA AT 1506151023: PLANS TO LAUNCH MISSILE IN THE SPACE IN THE PERIOD FROM 1630 TO 1730 UTC ON JUNE 23, 2015 (ALT. DATES: JUNE 24,2015 FROM 1630 TO 1730 UTC) AND TO SINK ITS FRAGMENTES IN THE WATERS OF THE BARENTS SEA. CHARACTERISTICS OF IMPACT AREAS: AREA 1: N7056.0 E03204.6 N7008.0 E03204.6 N7015.0 E03150.0 N7030.0 E03136.0 N7056.0 E03204.6 AREA 2: N7630.0 E02200.0 N7520.0 E02440.0 N7450.0 E02140.0 N7550.0 E01840.0 N7630.0 E02200.0. GND - UNL, 23 JUN 16:30 2015 UNTIL 24 JUN 17:30 2015. CREATED: 15 JUN 15:05 2015

[input~2]

NOTAMs had been issued indicating the launch on June 23 between 1630 and 1730 UTC.

Here are these NOTAMs for first stage, fairing and second stage debris (same as for Persona#2)
G1967/15 -  ATS RTE SEGMENTS CLSD: B488 KROTA - LIMUS, B815 EVMUV - LIMUS, B816 ATKUP - LIMUS, G476 AKATI - KROTA. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1630-1730, 23 JUN 16:30 2015 UNTIL 24 JUN 17:30 2015. CREATED: 19 JUN 09:54 2015
G1968/15 -  ATS RTE A222 SEGMENT KUMEL - LAGAT CLSD. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1630-1730, 23 JUN 16:30 2015 UNTIL 24 JUN 17:30 2015. CREATED: 19 JUN 09:55 2015
G1969/15 -  TEMPO DANGER AREA ACT WI COORD: 705600N 0320400E-701000N 0334000E-695400N 0324000E- 700800N 0320400E-705600N 0320400E. SFC - UNL, DAILY 1630-1730, 23 JUN 16:30 2015 UNTIL 24 JUN 17:30 2015. CREATED: 19 JUN 09:56 2015

[input~2]

If we refer to Persona#2, launch time could be 1637 UTC

[Galactic Penguin SST]

The launch has been officially confirmed for tomorrow: http://tass.ru/en/non-political/802905

[Artyom.]

The Soyuz-2-1B launch vehicle on the launch pad. Photo by correspondent of the Russian TV channel "Zvezda".

[Chris Bergin]

I'm coming up blank with this, but if this is the third Persona-1....how did we report the other two? Did we call them by a different name as I don't see any articles on our site per Persona-1. Asking for help per an article.

Soyuz 2-1B with RD-0124-driven upper stage?

[Galactic Penguin SST]

I'm coming up blank with this, but if this is the third Persona-1....how did we report the other two? Did we call them by a different name as I don't see any articles on our site per Persona-1. Asking for help per an article.

These are the threads for the first two:

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=12381.0 (July 2008)
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=30879.0 (June 2013)

There's actually an article here for the 2nd one: http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/06/russian-spy-satellite-launched-soyuz-2-1b/

Soyuz 2-1B with RD-0124-driven upper stage?

Correct.

[Chris Bergin]

Super! Not sure why I couldn't find that in my search, but that's the problem solved!

[Satori]

Super! Not sure why I couldn't find that in my search, but that's the problem solved!

Maybe because you were looking for 'Persona-1' instead of 'Persona'.

[Chris Bergin]

Ok, so about 40 minutes or so. Let's all keep an eye on an official launch confirmation and time. Article ready to go, with massive thanks to Phillip for writing up the satellite side of it!

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Liftoff confirmed: http://ria.ru/space/20150623/1083169492.html

[Artyom.]

And we have confirmation of the launch!

http://ria.ru/space/20150623/1083169492.html

And from TASS - http://tass.ru/kosmos/2065829.

[Chris Bergin]

Great! A T-0 would be helpful!

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Great! A T-0 would be helpful!

16:44 UTC, apparently from the now updated TASS report.

[Chris Bergin]

Great! A T-0 would be helpful!

16:44 UTC, apparently from the now updated TASS report.

Thanks!
Article - by Phillip Clark and William Graham
http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/06/soyuz-2-1b-persona-1-spy-satellite/

[Phillip Clark]

It should be Cosmos 2506, but who knows with the crazy Cosmos numbering system these days!

[Galactic Penguin SST]

S/C sep. seems to have occurred as planned 5 minutes ago, according to the (just updated) TASS report.

[Artyom.]

Spacecraft separation!

http://ria.ru/space/20150623/1083189995.html

[jcm]

It should be Cosmos 2506, but who knows with the crazy Cosmos numbering system these days!

Tass says 2506.  For whatever that's worth.

[Satori]

Launch video

The fairing tells us that it is Soyuz-2-1A launch on June 5th.

Thanks! Deleting video on this thread!

[Galactic Penguin SST]

Launch video

The fairing tells us that it is Soyuz-2-1A launch on June 5th.

Thanks! Deleting video on this thread!

But this one about the roll-out to the pad is from this launch: 

[Galactic Penguin SST]

And the launch itself:

[Galactic Penguin SST]

The orbits as measured by NORAD:

40699/2015-029A: 187 x 702 km x 98.30 deg.
40700/2015-029B: 187 x 676 km x 98.31 deg.

[Artyom.]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=u4b7avY5JJ4

[ostangen]

Half of the fairing ended up in Norway, again (did so the last time also), and again they have noe idea what it is.

http://www.nrk.no/finnmark/fant-mystisk-vrakdel-i-havet-_-politiet-aner-ikke-hva-det-kan-vaere-1.12427576