Author Topic: Soyuz-2.1a/Fregat - Kondor-FKA №1 - Vostochny - 26 May 2023 - 21:14:51.123 UTC (Read 15602 times)

russianhalo117 · « **Reply #20 on:** 05/24/2023 05:59 am »

Quote from: B. Hendrickx on 05/23/2023 09:37 pm

It looks like the frame that can be seen surrounding the satellite will be going into space together with it. In the technical specifications for Kondor-FKA that were published online many years ago it seems to be referred to as the “attachment and separation unit”. Also mentioned in that documentation is “an adapter with a separation system” that will remain attached to Fregat after spacecraft separation. This most likely is the conical interface between the Fregat upper stage and the satellite that can also be seen in the pictures (it has the same color as the frame).

The frame will obviously have to be detached from the satellite to allow it to extend its solar panels and deploy its radar antennna. This will probably happen before spring mechanisms on the adapter release the satellite into space. The frame may consist of two halves that can split open. It’s not clear if it will remain attached to Fregat or be jettisoned into space.

There is no clue in the technical specifications why the frame is needed. What’s been suggested on the NK forum is that it prevents the radar antenna from buckling under its own weight while the satellite sits in a horizontal position during assembly and roll-out to the pad. The frame does indeed appear to hold the antenna in place. The two first-generation Kondor satellites launched in 2013 and 2014 did not have the frame, but these were launched by Strela rockets from an underground silo at the Baikonur cosmodrome and were mated with the rocket in a vertical position. It’s been speculated on the NK forum that the frame performs the same role as the lower section of Strela’s payload fairing, which surrounded the satellite more tightly than the wider payload fairing of the Soyuz-2 (see the attached diagram).

Whatever the exact function of the frame, it adds an additional risk factor to the launch. If it fails to open or separate after launch, the satellite will be trapped.

AFAIU:
The original version intended for Strela (Rockot was to use a modified PLF) which the radar S-Band payload assembly support frame replaces. The bottom of the frame is attached and adapts the Fregat payload attachment points to the Kondor family payload adapter used on Strela and Rockot.

Alter Sachse · « **Reply #21 on:** 05/24/2023 08:12 am »

https://vk.com/roscosmos?z=album-30315369_293487142

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #22 on:** 05/26/2023 04:58 pm »

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #23 on:** 05/26/2023 09:07 pm »

It looks like fair weather in Vostochny today.

(I will not be available to cover the launch. Could someone else do so? Thank you.)

(Edit: Sorry for the short notice of my request. I looked in on the thread while I had a few minutes of high-speed internet and found no one posting screen caps.)

B. Hendrickx · « **Reply #24 on:** 05/26/2023 09:12 pm »

Animation shown during the live webcast confirms that the frame enveloping the satellite consists of two halves that will split open, following which the satellite will be deployed. The frame remains attached to the Fregat upper stage.

Satori · « **Reply #25 on:** 05/26/2023 09:13 pm »

T-2m...

Satori · « **Reply #26 on:** 05/26/2023 09:14 pm »

T-60s... all good for launch!

Satori · « **Reply #27 on:** 05/26/2023 09:16 pm »

LAUNCH!

Satori · « **Reply #28 on:** 05/26/2023 09:19 pm »

First stage sep and fairing sep!

Satori · « **Reply #29 on:** 05/26/2023 09:20 pm »

Nominal flight!

astropl · « **Reply #30 on:** 05/26/2023 09:20 pm »

KP 21:14:51.123.

Satori · « **Reply #31 on:** 05/26/2023 09:20 pm »

Second stage sep!

Satori · « **Reply #32 on:** 05/26/2023 09:21 pm »

Quote from: astropl on 05/26/2023 09:20 pm

KP 21:14:51.123.

Thank you!

Satori · « **Reply #33 on:** 05/26/2023 09:25 pm »

Fregat sep!

Satori · « **Reply #34 on:** 05/26/2023 09:38 pm »

Fregat still has to make two burns before spacecraft separation with first burn at T+9m 51s and a second burn at T+57m 42s.

Kondor-FKA 1 separation takes place at T+1h 4m 51s.

zubenelgenubi · « **Reply #35 on:** 05/26/2023 10:25 pm »

Thank you, Satori!

Galactic Penguin SST · « **Reply #36 on:** 05/27/2023 12:53 am »

Apparently launch success has been confirmed:

https://www.roscosmos.ru/39229/

https://t.me/roscosmos_gk/9597

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #37 on:** 05/27/2023 05:06 am »

twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1662206259200655361

Quote

LAUNCH! Soyuz 2.1a launches the Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny.

Overview:
nasaspaceflight.com/2023/05/kondor… - by Justin Mooney

Livestream:
youtube.com/watch?v=moIJke… stil

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1662206476608319488

Quote

Staging the boosters.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #38 on:** 05/27/2023 05:07 am »

Quote

Staging 2-3.

https://twitter.com/nasaspaceflight/status/1662208199431421952

Quote

And on to the Fregat.

FutureSpaceTourist · « **Reply #39 on:** 05/27/2023 05:28 am »

https://twitter.com/tskelso/status/1662311161407352832

Quote

CelesTrak has GP data for 1 object from the launch (2023-074) of Kondor-FKA No. 1 atop a Soyuz-2.1a rocket from Vostochny Cosmodrome on May 26 at 2114 UTC: tass.com/science/1623799. Data for the launch can be found at: https://celestrak.org/NORAD/elements/table.php?INTDES=2023-074