Rokot future

[AegeanBlue]

Rokot is back in the news with the Sentinel 5P launch so I have a few questions about the launcher's future. According to wikipedia Eurockot bought 45 UR-100Ns from the Russian strategic forces to use in Rokot (and Strela?) launches. Further news is that in 2015 following Crimea the Russian military decided to move all its launches from this vehicle, because apparently part of the control system is made in the Ukraine. So far there have been 30 launches of Rokot (and 3 of Strela) with another one planned. Even if we count the 2 pre dissolution launches, this is not 45. Is Rokot available for future commercial or civilian launches, or is it headed for retirement after the Geo-IK-2 No. 3 (Musson 2) mission. Say that it is available afterwards, is there a plan to buy more retired UR-100s from the Russian Strategic Forces for future Rockots? As far as I know the UR-100 family will eventually be replaced by the newer RS-24, meaning that more UR-100s should become available as a basis for future Rokots.

[ZachS09]

If you look in William Graham's article about the Sentinel 5p launch, he says the following, "Early last year, Russia’s TASS news agency reported that the type would be used for two more Russian government launches, with Gonets-M communications satellites, but earlier this year TASS reported that the final launch would occur in late 2017 or early 2018 with ESA’s Sentinel 3B satellite. That launch is expected to occur in the next few months" (Graham).

[russianhalo117]

If you look in William Graham's article about the Sentinel 5p launch, he says the following, "Early last year, Russia’s TASS news agency reported that the type would be used for two more Russian government launches, with Gonets-M communications satellites, but earlier this year TASS reported that the final launch would occur in late 2017 or early 2018 with ESA’s Sentinel 3B satellite. That launch is expected to occur in the next few months" (Graham).

The plan as to which launcher will launch ESA’s Sentinel 3B satellite is officially under review with a decision soon.
Sources: European Commission and http://russianspaceweb.com/sentinel5p.html

...

All the problems with the Sentinel-5P mission reportedly prompted European space officials to consider switching the follow-on Sentinel-3B spacecraft from Rockot to the much more expensive European Vega launcher, even if this would mean its own associated delays. The European Commission, which uses the Sentinel satellites, was expected to make a decision on the launcher for Sentinel-3B this month.

[zubenelgenubi]

SFN launch schedule, update of July 19, 2017

Sentinel 3B launch on Rokot delayed from November 2017 to March 2018.
***

Re: Sentinel 3B.  What is its current location/status, while the European Commission makes its decision to launch via Rokot from Plesetsk, or Vega from Kourou?

[Mike Jones]

Sentinel 3B should be at Thales Alenia Space AIT facilities in Cannes at the moment.

[ZachS09]

Quick question: if Rokot does get retired within the next several months, what will happen to the Briz-KM upper stages that were manifested for the Sentinel 3B and government missions?

Will they be modified as Briz-M upper stages for Proton?

Also, I'm wondering if the UR-100 first and second stages will be scrapped by then.

[russianhalo117]

Quick question: if Rokot does get retired within the next several months, what will happen to the Briz-KM upper stages that were manifested for the Sentinel 3B and government missions?

Will they be modified as Briz-M upper stages for Proton?

Also, I'm wondering if the UR-100 first and second stages will be scrapped by then.

Well since several arms reductions treaties were cancelled by the US and Russia during the previous two US administrations there is not an immediate need to scrap any UR-100 version at this time.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post; apparently the [Rokot/Briz-KM – 3 Gonets-M (blok № 15) – NET December 2017] launch is proceeding:

To update - as of right now this flight is sticking to Rokot with a launch date of NET December 18, 2017 (or early 2018) noted on NK forums.

[zubenelgenubi]

The plan as to which launcher will launch ESA’s Sentinel 3B satellite is officially under review with a decision soon.
Sources: European Commission and http://russianspaceweb.com/sentinel5p.html

...

All the problems with the Sentinel-5P mission reportedly prompted European space officials to consider switching the follow-on Sentinel-3B spacecraft from Rockot to the much more expensive European Vega launcher, even if this would mean its own associated delays. The European Commission, which uses the Sentinel satellites, was expected to make a decision on the launcher for Sentinel-3B this month.

Did the European Commission make a launcher decision in October for Sentinel-3B?
***

Are there any recent developments re: Rokot's future (if any)?

[russianhalo117]

The plan as to which launcher will launch ESA’s Sentinel 3B satellite is officially under review with a decision soon.
Sources: European Commission and http://russianspaceweb.com/sentinel5p.html

...

All the problems with the Sentinel-5P mission reportedly prompted European space officials to consider switching the follow-on Sentinel-3B spacecraft from Rockot to the much more expensive European Vega launcher, even if this would mean its own associated delays. The European Commission, which uses the Sentinel satellites, was expected to make a decision on the launcher for Sentinel-3B this month.

Did the European Commission make a launcher decision in October for Sentinel-3B?
***

Are there any recent developments re: Rokot's future (if any)?

The mission was deferred to NET 2018. No public announcement of decision as that announcement may have been deferred to the new year.

[Rik ISS-fan]

Already for a long time Sentinel 3B was planned to launch in 2018.
DLR Raumfahrtkalender has the Sentinel 3B Rockot launch planned for March 2018 from Plesetsk.
(It's a EU/ESA Sentinel launch provided by EUrockot, maybe the Europa/ESA section is beter for this, and Sentinel 5P)

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post:

With the success of this [Sentinel-3B] launch, does Eurockot Launch Services dissolve?

The three remaining Rokot launches are all Russian government payloads.

Their web site is still going, but the manifest is empty.

http://www.eurockot.com/missions/manifest/

Eurockot also post government launches so i don't expect the site to retire until Rockot formally does.

On a side note:

I'm told that the Strela Launch vehicle is un-affected by the geo-political outcome. There is a consensus to also retire Strela but that has not officially happened yet. Strela can be deployed from the Rockot launch site if needed albeit with a performance hit.

[starbase]

Apparently Rockot 2 is in development.

Source (in German): https://de.sputniknews.com/amp/technik/20180821322039736-rockot-traegerrakete-russland/
(in Russian): http://tass.ru/kosmos/5474459/amp?__twitter_impression=true

[Skyrocket]

Apparently Rockot 2 is in development.

Source (in German): https://de.sputniknews.com/amp/technik/20180821322039736-rockot-traegerrakete-russland/
(in Russian): http://tass.ru/kosmos/5474459/amp?__twitter_impression=true

It appears to be a Rokot-KM with the Ukrainian avionics replaced by Russian.

[russianhalo117]

Apparently Rockot 2 is in development.

Source (in German): https://de.sputniknews.com/amp/technik/20180821322039736-rockot-traegerrakete-russland/
(in Russian): http://tass.ru/kosmos/5474459/amp?__twitter_impression=true

It appears to be a Rokot-KM with the Ukrainian avionics replaced by Russian.

This has been shot down by the Kremlin and Roscosmos several times now saying the conversional launcher will be retired despite announcements to the contrary from Khrunichev, however there are several Rockots in storage awaiting Ukrainian avionics or a russian replacement.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-posts:

Late 2018 – three 14F132 Rodnik satellites [block-16] – Rokot
2019 – Geo-IK-2 n.º 13L – Rokot
2019 – three Gonets-M satellites (№24, 25, 26) [block-15], Blits-M – Rokot
2019 – three 14F132 Rodnik satellites [block-17] – Rokot
2021 – Rokot-2
https://ria.ru/space/20181023/1531289433.html

I don't see the 2019 flights happening on Rockot because of the Ukrainian stalemate with Russia.

https://iz.ru/693686/dmitrii-strugovetc/v-stolitce-budet-izgotovleno-shest-raket-angara-a5
https://www.interfax.ru/russia/626327

Nevertheless, despite all these plans by Varochko and all these publications by interfax.ru - I suspect no more Rokot flights. Just like it happened with Dnepr.
The publications are real.
But the mentioned stalemate is real just as well.

[Propylox]

..So far there have been 30 launches of Rokot (and 3 of Strela) with another one planned. Even if we count the 2 pre dissolution launches, this is not 45. Is Rokot available for future commercial or civilian launches, or is it headed for retirement after the Geo-IK-2 No. 3 (Musson 2) mission. Say that it is available afterwards, is there a plan to buy more retired UR-100s from the Russian Strategic Forces for future Rockots? As far as I know the UR-100 family will eventually be replaced by the newer RS-24, meaning that more UR-100s should become available as a basis for future Rokots.

With over 300 original UR-100s, 130 destroyed by Ukraine and 45 purchased for Rokot - I'd assume up to 100 available at later dates if there's demand. Similarly, there's abundant Dnepr/R-36 with double the capacity, but their maintenance and rebuild were performed in Ukraine.

It appears to be a Rokot-KM with the Ukrainian avionics replaced by Russian.

This has been shot down by the Kremlin and Roscosmos several times now saying the conversional launcher will be retired despite announcements to the contrary from Khrunichev, however there are several Rockots in storage awaiting Ukrainian avionics or a russian replacement.

Report resurfaced a week ago, but with financials to justify the workforce and necessary Russian avionics.

SputnikNews arcticle, cut to avoid link: ht tps://spu tniknews.com/sci ence/201810181068981965-russia-rocket-rokot-launch/
-snips- "The launches of Rokot-2 may begin in 2021 if the decision to resume the project is made in 2018. ..The investment in the project was estimated at 4 billion rubles ..The positive money flow from the implementation of the project before 2025 is estimated at around 500 million rubles, while the annual income from the implementation of the project will increase from 2 billion rubles in the year when the first launches are held to 8.8 billion rubles by 2024-25 .."

[russianhalo117]

..So far there have been 30 launches of Rokot (and 3 of Strela) with another one planned. Even if we count the 2 pre dissolution launches, this is not 45. Is Rokot available for future commercial or civilian launches, or is it headed for retirement after the Geo-IK-2 No. 3 (Musson 2) mission. Say that it is available afterwards, is there a plan to buy more retired UR-100s from the Russian Strategic Forces for future Rockots? As far as I know the UR-100 family will eventually be replaced by the newer RS-24, meaning that more UR-100s should become available as a basis for future Rokots.

With over 300 original UR-100s, 130 destroyed by Ukraine and 45 purchased for Rokot - I'd assume up to 100 available at later dates if there's demand. Similarly, there's abundant Dnepr/R-36 with double the capacity, but their maintenance and rebuild were performed in Ukraine.

It appears to be a Rokot-KM with the Ukrainian avionics replaced by Russian.

This has been shot down by the Kremlin and Roscosmos several times now saying the conversional launcher will be retired despite announcements to the contrary from Khrunichev, however there are several Rockots in storage awaiting Ukrainian avionics or a russian replacement.

Report resurfaced a week ago, but with financials to justify the workforce and necessary Russian avionics.

SputnikNews arcticle, cut to avoid link: ht tps://spu tniknews.com/sci ence/201810181068981965-russia-rocket-rokot-launch/
-snips- "The launches of Rokot-2 may begin in 2021 if the decision to resume the project is made in 2018. ..The investment in the project was estimated at 4 billion rubles ..The positive money flow from the implementation of the project before 2025 is estimated at around 500 million rubles, while the annual income from the implementation of the project will increase from 2 billion rubles in the year when the first launches are held to 8.8 billion rubles by 2024-25 .."

Some sites say that Ukraine transferred their ICBM's to Russia.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Website has this ominous notice:

http://www.eurockot.com/

"At the time being the company's activities are on hold until further notice.

Eurockot is therefor not in a position to entertain launch service proposals or requests for employment or internships."

[Arch Admiral]

Yes, the UR-100N missiles deployed in Ukraine were sent to Russia, but by treaty they were decontaminated and scrapped under the supervision of US experts at the 29th Rocket Arsenal at Pibanshur (Balezino-3). You can still see the special buildings constructed for this program at the SE corner of the arsenal. So there is not a giant stockpile of potential Rokot boosters hidden away somewhere.

The many R-36M heavy ICBMs returned from Kazhakhstan were destroyed at another US-supervised facility, but I haven't been able to locate that one.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post re: launch of the Rodnik blok #16 triple payload:

Looks like this launch (one of last 4 planned for Rokot) is now planned on November 30.
Thanks to Nicolas Pillet for passing this news from his Russian sources.

https://twitter.com/nicolas_pillet/status/1065712556575256578

[zubenelgenubi]

So, the Rodnik triplet launch happened on November 30 UTC/MST, with a Briz-KM upper stage.

When and how did the Russians get the Ukrainian avionics?

...although flying on a Rockot is slim unless they fly a Stela from Baikonur due to the unavailability of Breeze-KM Ukrainian avionics for government missions and Russian replacement avionics will be expensive and result in no flights this year and likely next year. Breeze-M avionics can not fly on Breeze-KM because of differences.

Rockot is most likely as Strela has never flown from Plesetsk however I don't know when they acquired Briz-KM avionics from Ukraine.

Is it plausible that Russian replacement avionics were used?

[smoliarm]

...

Is it plausible that Russian replacement avionics were used?

No, it is not.

However, if it was indeed a Russian replacement we will know it very soon.
Because if they made it once they can repeat it. And they have payloads ready and waiting for a long time.
Therefore, in such case we'll see more Rokot flight in the nearest future.

[russianhalo117]

...

Is it plausible that Russian replacement avionics were used?

No, it is not.

However, if it was indeed a Russian replacement we will know it very soon.
Because if they made it once they can repeat it. And they have payloads ready and waiting for a long time.
Therefore, in such case we'll see more Rokot flight in the nearest future.

I'm being told 2 possilities: one that certain parts were cannibalize from a Briz-M with the rest being dev hardware. The other was the ROCKOT for Zenit transaction between Ukraine happened. Also there was some spare hardware (Not full set) leftover from the last launch.

[Asteroza]

NORAD is tracking an unidentified 5th object from this launch, which seems to be traveling more with the upper stage than the 3 main payloads. There are noises this is an inspector satellite. Does Briz-KM normally have a secondary payload accommodation capability?

[Phillip Clark]

NORAD is tracking an unidentified 5th object from this launch, which seems to be traveling more with the upper stage than the 3 main payloads. There are noises this is an inspector satellite. Does Briz-KM normally have a secondary payload accommodation capability?

See the discussion on the Cosmos 2530-2532 thread.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post and edited; following discussions up-thread; possible remaining Rokot launches?

2019 – Geo-IK-2 n.º 13L – Rokot
2019 – three Gonets-M satellites (№24, 25, 26) [block-15], Blits-M – Rokot
2019 – three 14F132 Rodnik satellites [block-17] – Rokot
https://ria.ru/space/20181023/1531289433.html

[russianhalo117]

Cross-post and edited; following discussions up-thread; possible remaining Rokot launches?

2019 – Geo-IK-2 n.º 13L – Rokot
2019 – three Gonets-M satellites (№24, 25, 26) [block-15], Blits-M – Rokot
2019 – three 14F132 Rodnik satellites [block-17] – Rokot
https://ria.ru/space/20181023/1531289433.html

Confirmed last 3 launches of Rokot v1 launches. All launches after that will be on Soyuz and Angara until Rokot v2 comes online then all 3 launchers will be competing against each other.

[Zyklotrop]

Website has this ominous notice:

http://www.eurockot.com/

"At the time being the company's activities are on hold until further notice.

Eurockot is therefor not in a position to entertain launch service proposals or requests for employment or internships."

It seems Eurockot's website has been updated recently. The new notice states:

"The Eurockot activities are now under redefinition.

We will start accepting launch requests in the near future"

[russianhalo117]

Website has this ominous notice:

http://www.eurockot.com/

"At the time being the company's activities are on hold until further notice.

Eurockot is therefor not in a position to entertain launch service proposals or requests for employment or internships."

It seems Eurockot's website has been updated recently. The new notice states:

"The Eurockot activities are now under redefinition.

We will start accepting launch requests in the near future"

Correct for all Russian Rockot-2/Briz-KM2 version.

[GWR64]

https://ria.ru/20190525/1554903849.html

Google translate

Named the cost of creating the rocket "Rokot-2" without Ukrainian components
 
MOSCOW, May 25 - RIA News. The creation of a Rokot-2 light-class launch vehicle with Russian components will require 3.4 billion rubles, until 2028 it will be possible to carry out more than 40 rocket launches, according to materials from the Khrunichev Center available to RIA Novosti.
Earlier it was reported that the Khrunichev Center (part of the Roscosmos State Corporation) is developing the Rokot-2 rocket with the Russian control system. At present, the Ukrainian control system is used in the Rokot rocket.
In particular, the development of the Russian control system will require 690 million rubles, the creation of the Briz-KM-2 upper stage and the preparation of production for its production - 1.45 billion rubles, the modernization of the technical and launch complexes at the Plesetsk cosmodrome - 450 million rubles, and holding the first launch - 750 million rubles.
The materials state that until 2028 under the Rokot-2 program it can be used for space launches of more than four dozen RS-18B ballistic missiles removed from combat duty.
The Rokot space rocket uses the RS-18B accelerator intercontinental ballistic missile blocks (according to the NATO classification Stiletto) and the Breeze-KM upper stage. In total, 29 launches of Rokot missiles from the Plesetsk cosmodrome were made. In all stages of the Rokot missile and in the Breeze-KM block, toxic components of the fuel are used (fuel - asymmetric dimethyl hydrazine, oxidizer - nitrogen tetroxide). The missile control system was produced at the Ukrainian enterprise Khartron.

[Steven Pietrobon]

Total is 3.4B Rubels or $52M, so its not a lot of money.

Control System: 690M Rubles = $10.6M
Briz-KM-2: 1.45B Rubles = $22.5M
Plesetsk: 450M Rubles = $6.9M
First Launch: 750M Rubles = $11.5M

[smoliarm]

Total is 3.4B Rubels or $52M, so its not a lot of money.

...

For Khrunichev - it is a lot of money.
They have more than 100 B Roubles of debt (see the detailed debt schedule as of 8/30/2018).
So from own money they can't use a penny for the new R&D (They aren't Lannisters but they HAVE to pay their debts
The only way Rokot-2 can be developed is 100% federal funding. Which is unlikely IMHO.

[GWR64]

Total is 3.4B Rubels or $52M, so its not a lot of money.

...

For Khrunichev - it is a lot of money.
They have more than 100 B Roubles of debt (see the detailed debt schedule as of 8/30/2018).
So from own money they can't use a penny for the new R&D (They aren't Lannisters but they HAVE to pay their debts
The only way Rokot-2 can be developed is 100% federal funding. Which is unlikely IMHO.

Yes, but... If that comes through, than the Angara 1.2 is practically dead, if she stays so expensive.

[russianhalo117]

Total is 3.4B Rubels or $52M, so its not a lot of money.

...

For Khrunichev - it is a lot of money.
They have more than 100 B Roubles of debt (see the detailed debt schedule as of 8/30/2018).
So from own money they can't use a penny for the new R&D (They aren't Lannisters but they HAVE to pay their debts
The only way Rokot-2 can be developed is 100% federal funding. Which is unlikely IMHO.

Yes, but... If that comes through, than the Angara 1.2 is practically dead, if she stays so expensive.

Different payload classes. Angara-A1.1 is shelved until assigned UR100 stockpile is depleted and not replenished by other UR100 versions.

[GWR64]

An Angara 1.2 was ordered to launch 3 Gonets satellites. Price about 2 billion rubles.
That's more than a Soyuz 2.1b + Fregat costs.
2 x Soyuz 2.1b + Fregat are intended for Gonets, before these Angara 1.2 is flying.
Until now the Rokot does this.
If the Rokot-2 can fly for half the price (or so) of the Angara 1.2, is that a strong argument.
Bigger or heavier can launch on Soyuz.

[russianhalo117]

An Angara 1.2 was ordered to launch 3 Gonets satellites. Price about 2 billion rubles.
That's more than a Soyuz 2.1b + Fregat costs.
2 x Soyuz 2.1b + Fregat are intended for Gonets, before these Angara 1.2 is flying.
Until now the Rokot does this.
If the Rokot-2 can fly for half the price (or so) of the Angara 1.2, is that a strong argument.
Bigger or heavier can launch on Soyuz.

They are flying with many secondary payloads on Soyuz-2-1b/fregat

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post/update re: two of the three remaining Rokot (version 1) launches:

https://ria.ru/20190627/1555953523.html
Google translate:

“Now the launch of the three Gonеts-M satellites is scheduled for the fall,” the agency’s source said.
According to him, in August it is planned to send the Geo-IK-2 geodetic satellite with the Rockot rocket and only after that it will be possible to use a backup control system device to launch the Gonets-M.

Launch system used on Rockot-K and Strela or UR100 family??

Usual Rockot - UR-100N UTTH with Briz KM upperstage.

EDIT: Geo-IK-2 or Musson-2 #3 launch occurred on August 30 UTC; launch thread.

[zubenelgenubi]

Cross-post re: Rokot after August 30, 2019 launch:

I don't think this launch [Rodnik blok 17] will be made with a "Rokot".

https://tass.ru/kosmos/6826716

".....Earlier on Friday, the Rokot rocket launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome launched a new military satellite into orbit. Major-General Nikolai Nestochuk, the head of the cosmodrome, said that this launch was the last use of the Rokot missile in connection with the plans of the Ministry of Defense to switch to modernized carriers of this type."

The 3 Gonets in November will be the last flight of the Rokot.

(Gonets is the civilian version of Rodnik, so it doesn't count as a launch for the Russian MoD.)

EDITed for clarity.  Sorry, PM3.

[PM3]

 

According to that TASS quote, the Rockot/Briz-KM launch on 30 August was the last one. This would mean that the remaining Rockot flight with the 3x Gonets-M has been cancelled. Right?

The 3x Gonets could be switched to Soyuz-2.1v according to older information at http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2019.html.

[russianhalo117]

According to that TASS quote, the Rockot/Briz-KM launch on 30 August was the last one. This would mean that the remaining Rockot flight with the 3x Gonets-M has been cancelled. Right?

The 3x Gonets could be switched to Soyuz-2.1v according to older information at http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2019.html.

According to NK forums and the members that post on this site the last version 1 civil government flight is November. August 30th flight was the last MoD manifested launch. Rokot-2/Breeze-KM2 is a modernized all digital version with no Ukrainian components which is in development by Khrunichev and partners. Till then or its cancellation all launches are as presently scheduled on the schedule. Also Khrunichev is developing a fully Russianized upgrade package of Dnepr albeit under a different name with optional Breeze-KM2 derived upper stage.

[zubenelgenubi]

According to that TASS quote, the Rockot/Briz-KM launch on 30 August was the last one. This would mean that the remaining Rockot flight with the 3x Gonets-M has been cancelled. Right?

The 3x Gonets could be switched to Soyuz-2.1v according to older information at http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2019.html.

According to NK forums and the members that post on this site the last version 1 civil government flight is November. August 30th flight was the last MoD manifested launch.<snip>

So, the LV for the three Rodnik satellites of blok 17 is currently unknown?

Does the one remaining Rokot v.1 vehicle become available for upgrading to v.2?  Or does it become a museum artifact?

[russianhalo117]

According to that TASS quote, the Rockot/Briz-KM launch on 30 August was the last one. This would mean that the remaining Rockot flight with the 3x Gonets-M has been cancelled. Right?

The 3x Gonets could be switched to Soyuz-2.1v according to older information at http://www.russianspaceweb.com/2019.html.

According to NK forums and the members that post on this site the last version 1 civil government flight is November. August 30th flight was the last MoD manifested launch.<snip>

So, the LV for the three Rodnik satellites of blok 17 is currently unknown?

Does the one remaining Rokot v.1 vehicle become available for upgrading to v.2?  Or does it become a museum artifact?

ROSCOMOS still has one flight allocated to them. It is currently listed as Gonets-M and is up to them. The remaining v1 Rokot if not flown can either be upgraded or returned to the arsenal for military use as a UR-100. They are stored in a state to initially fly as Strela then get updated for Rokot later.
Others can explain.

[zubenelgenubi]

Apparently the final version 1 Rokot launch is November 29, with a Gonets-M triplet payload.  Cross-post:

Last Rokot:
https://tass.ru/kosmos/6951950
Google translate:

MOSCOW, October 2. / TASS /. Operation of the Rokot launch vehicles of the basic version may end on November 29 with the launch of three communication satellites of the Gonets system from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, Oleg Khimochko, the first deputy general director of the Gonets Satellite System JSC, told TASS.
“The launch date is November 29, but the transfer may take place to December 20-29,” Khimochko said, adding that the decision whether to delay the launch or not will be made in the coming days.

[VDD1991]

Apparently the final version 1 Rokot launch is November 29, with a Gonets-M triplet payload.  Cross-post:

Last Rokot:
https://tass.ru/kosmos/6951950
Google translate:

MOSCOW, October 2. / TASS /. Operation of the Rokot launch vehicles of the basic version may end on November 29 with the launch of three communication satellites of the Gonets system from the Plesetsk cosmodrome, Oleg Khimochko, the first deputy general director of the Gonets Satellite System JSC, told TASS.
“The launch date is November 29, but the transfer may take place to December 20-29,” Khimochko said, adding that the decision whether to delay the launch or not will be made in the coming days.

The final Rokot rocket launched today, meaning that Russia no longer has any space rockets based on Soviet-era ICBM technology (the Proton-M derives its heritage from the UR-500 ICBM project, although the UR-500 ICBM was never built).

[Steven Pietrobon]

Yes, but Russia plans to use Rokot-M, which is a Rokot using Russian electronics.

[owais.usmani]

https://twitter.com/katlinegrey/status/1269878714638229504

[Rondaz]

Russia’s Rokot-M carrier rocket to be launched in 2024 — Khrunichev Center.

We had to settle some issues regarding ground equipment, CEO of the Khrunichev Space Center Alexey Varochko said.

3 MAY, 18:06

MOSCOW, May 4. /TASS/. An inaugural launch of a Rokot-M carrier rocket from the Plesetsk space center is planned for 2024, CEO of the Khrunichev Space Center (the rocket’s developer) Alexey Varochko told TASS.

"We are planning the launch [of Rokot-M] for 2024," he said.

Varochko also said that the inaugural launch of the Rokot-M upgraded carrier rocket with the Russian control system had been initially planned for 2022. However, he said that following a detailed audit, experts concluded that the rest of the space carrier’s equipment should be upgraded as well.

"We had to settle some issues regarding ground equipment," Varochko said. "We also made a number of decisions concerning the control system, namely - to ditch the current system, which is outdated, and to install the up-to-date equipment."

In 2018, the Khrunichev Space Center announced that it was carrying out work on creating the Rokot-2 carrier rocket with a new control system to replace the Ukrainian equipment installed on Rokot launch vehicles.

The Rokot light carrier rocket has been derived from the RS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile under the program of re-converting military hardware into civil products.

The first launch of a Rokot rocket took place from the Plesetsk spaceport in northern Russia in 2000. Overall, the Khrunichev Space Center produced and launched over 30 rockets with the Ukrainian control system under the Rokot project.

The last liftoff of the baseline Rokot launch vehicle took place from the Plesetsk spaceport on December 27, 2019 when it delivered Gonets-M communications satellites and a military space vehicle into orbit.

https://tass.com/science/1446563

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https://nauka.tass.ru/nauka/17485337

Production of the first Rokot-M rocket started in Russia

MOSCOW, 10 April. /TASS/. Center them. M.V. Khrunicheva (part of Roskosmos) has begun manufacturing some elements of the first Rokot-M flight launch vehicle with a domestic control system instead of the Ukrainian one. This was announced in an interview with TASS by the general director of the enterprise Alexei Varochko.

"As part of the Rokot-M project, a contract was made with our cooperation on component parts, bench products are being manufactured, as well as a number of elements of the first flight rocket with long production times," Varochko said.

In August 2018, in the materials of the Center. M. V. Khrunichev, presented at the Army-2018 forum, it was reported that the company is working on the creation of the Rokot-2 launch vehicle with a new control system that will replace the Ukrainian one installed on the Rokot missiles. Initially, the launch was planned for 2022.

In May last year, the Director General of the Center. M. V. Khrunicheva said in an interview with TASS that after a detailed audit of the equipment for the Rokot, experts came to the conclusion that it was also necessary to put in order the equipment that had been in operation for a long time and had already exhausted its resource. Therefore, now the first launch of the Rokot-M launch vehicle from the Plesetsk cosmodrome is planned for 2024.