Iran has launched a satellite - Rasad 1

Accoding to Bob Christy, Iran has launched a micro satellite - Rasad 1 - on 15 Jun at 0920 UTC. Details on Bob's excellent website at http://www.zarya.info/Calendar.php

Ynetnews.com made the announcement of the launch on Iran's Arabic language al-Alam television on Wednesday. In February 2009, Iran launched its first domestically-built satellite, OMID.

The United States and its allies fear Iran is seeking to build nuclear bombs and are concerned that the long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit can also be used to launch warheads.

The Rasad 1 (Observation) satellite will be used for transmitting images and weather forecasts, TV reported.

Launch Notification: HISPASAT 1E and KOREASAT 6

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 December 29, 2127 UTC
Site: Europe's Spaceport, Kourou, French Guiana
Launcher: Ariane 5
International Designator(s): 2010-070A, 2010-070B

SSC Name Owner
37264 HISPASAT 1E SPN
37265 KOREASAT 6 SKOR

"Two commercial satellites for the expansion of communications services from space were launched atop an Ariane 5 rocket today, capping another successful year for the booster that saw a dozen payloads deployed in 2010.

"The hydrogen-fueled main engine roared to life at 2127 GMT (4:27 p.m. EST), followed seven seconds later by ignition of the twin solid rocket motors to begin thundering out of the Guiana Space Center in Kourou on the northeastern coast of South America.

"The heavy-lift launcher, making its 55th flight, climbed steeply through the late afternoon sky and headed downrange for a half-hour trek into geosynchronous transfer orbit to deliver the Spanish Hispasat 1E and South Korea's Koreasat 6 spacecraft."

"The Ariane achieved a highly elliptical orbit stretching 22,321 miles [35,922 km] at its farthest point from Earth and 155 miles [249 km] at the nearest. The satellites will use their onboard engines to circularize the orbit and reach geostationary slots in the coming days.

"Riding atop the dual payload stack was Hispasat, a powerful spacecraft to be operated by the Madrid-based company of the same name, will expanded available video and data transmission services for bridging the Atlantic and coverage across Europe."

"Manufactured by Space Systems/Loral with an 18-year lifetime, the 11,725-pound [18,870-kg] satellite carries 53 Ku-band transponders and a Ka-band capability.

"It will be parked in geostationary orbit over the equator at 30 degrees West longitude alongside the Hipasat 1C and 1D birds launched aboard Atlas 2AS rockets from Cape Canaveral in 2000 and 2002, respectively."

"Sharing the ride to orbit aboard the Ariane 5 rocket was the 6,275-pound [10,099-kg] Koreasat 6, a communications satellite designed to operate at least 15 years and serve South Korea by operator KT Corp. of Seoul.

"Built by Orbital Sciences with Thales Alenia Space supplying the communications payload, Koreasat 6 is bound for a geostationary orbital slot at 116 degrees East longitude. It has 30 Ku-band transponders for telecommunications and direct-to-home TV transmissions.'

"The new satellite replaces Koreasat 3 that launched aboard an Ariane 4 rocket in 1999 and was sold to another Asian spacecraft controller earlier this year."

Source: Spaceflight Now, "2010 concludes with Ariane rocket's 199th launch"

Launch Notification: Hylas-1 and Intelsat 17

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 November 26, 1839 UTC
Site: Europe's Spaceport, Kourou, French Guiana
Launcher: Ariane 5
International Designator(s): 2010-065A, 2010-065B

SSC Name Owner
37237 HYLAS 1 UK
37238 INTELSAT 17 ITSO

"An Ariane 5 rocket blasted off from French Guiana and soared into a deep blue sky Friday, hauling into space a video broadcasting satellite for Intelsat and a high-tech British-owned spacecraft to meet the ever-changing demands of the vibrant European broadband market.

"The rocket took off from the Guiana Space Center at 1839 GMT (1:39 p.m. EST), disappearing into a cloudless sky a few minutes later on the power of two massive solid-fueled boosters and an efficient hydrogen-burning Vulcain main engine.

"Nine minutes after liftoff, the Ariane 5's cryogenic upper stage began a nearly 16-minute burn to inject the Intelsat 17 and HYLAS 1 payloads into an elliptical orbit that will take the satellites more than 22,000 miles [35,400 km] from Earth.

"According to Arianespace, the firm managing the rocket's operations, the mission reached an on-target orbit, completing the Ariane 5's fifth successful flight this year.

"Intelsat 17 separated from the rocket first, then on-board computers jettisoned a dual-payload adapter specially designed for the Ariane's two-at-a-time satellite launches. HYLAS 1 was released nearly 35 minutes after liftoff.

"Both satellites were intentionally left short of their planned operational points in space, and each craft will fire on-board engines to reach a circular 22,300-mile-high [35,900-km-high] orbit over the equator in the coming weeks.

"Intelsat 17 is bound for a position in geosynchronous orbit over the Indian Ocean, a prime location to distribute video and other communications services to customers in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

"The 12,214-pound [5,540-kg] spacecraft C-band and Ku-band transponders will operate for more than 15 years. It was built by Space Systems/Loral of Palo Alto, Calif.

"Intelsat says the satellite will provide a range of telecommunications services, joining the Intelsat 10 spacecraft at an adjacent location in geosynchronous orbit. The platform will replace Intelsat 702, an aging satellite launched in 1994.

"Jean-Luc Froeliger, Intelsat's senior director for space systems acquisition, said ground controllers already established contact with the newly-launched satellite

"Four main engine burns are planned to raise Intelsat 17's orbit to geosynchronous altitude, and the spacecraft will be handed over from Loral to Intelsat in January to replace older satellites and establish fresh capacity."

"HYLAS 1 is the product of a unique public-private partnership between the European Space Agency, the U.K. Space Agency, the Indian Space Research Organization and EADS Astrium.

"The partnership's beneficiary is Avanti Communications of the United Kingdom, an entrepreneurial firm with a mission to link rural European residents through broadband Internet services.

"HYLAS stands for Highly Adaptable Satellite, denoting the craft's ability to allocate on-board resources to meet spikes and lulls in demand."

"The new capability, funded by ESA and engineered by Astrium, will give Avanti "the ability to independently adjust our uplink frequency, our downlink frequency, our bandwidth and our power," said J. Cooke, the HYLAS 1 satellite mission director from Avanti Communications.

"ESA initially provided $45 million to jump start the development of HYLAS 1's generic flexible payload. The funding came through ESA's Advanced Research in Telecommunications, or ARTES, program. The agency has two more public-private projects in the pipeline for launch in the next few years, including partnerships with Hispasat for a small communications satellite and Inmarsat for Europe's next-generation Alphasat platform."

"Avanti officials say HYLAS 1's Ka-band and Ku-band payload will serve between 150,000 and 300,000 users in Europe from a position at 33.5 degrees west longitude The 5,666-pound [2,570-kg] satellite was built by Antrix, a subsidiary of the Indian space agency, and should last more than 15 years.

"HYLAS 1 was originally contracted to fly on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, but Avanti switched to Arianespace in 2009 to allay investors' concerns about launch risks. Arianespace assigned HYLAS 1 to launch on the first Soyuz rocket flight from French Guiana, but launch pad development delays forced another rocket change to the workhorse Ariane 5 to ensure liftoff by the end of 2010."

Source: Spaceflight Now, "Intelsat, Avanti get a lift from Ariane 5 launcher"

Launch Notification: STPSAT 2 (USA 217), RAX (USA 218), O/OREOS (USA 219), FASTSAT-HSV01 (USA 220), FALCONSAT 5 (USA 221), FAST 1 (USA 222)

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 November 20, 0124 UTC
Site: Kodiak Launch Complex, Alaska, USA
Launcher: Minotaur IV
International Designator(s): 2010-062A, 2010-062B, 2010-062C, 2010-062D, 2010-062E, 2010-062F

SSC Name Owner
37222 STPSAT 2 (USA 217) US
37223 RAX (USA 218) US
37224 O/OREOS (USA 219) US
37225 FASTSAT-HSV01 (USA 220) US
37226 FALCONSAT 5 (USA 221) US
37227 FAST 1 (USA 222) US

"A rocket carrying seven different satellites, including one that will attempt to deploy a small solar sail into orbit, successfully blasted off from an island in Alaska tonight (Nov. 19).

"The Minotaur 4 rocket launched at 8:24 EST (0124 Nov. 20 GMT) from the Alaska Aerospace Corporation's Kodiak Launch Complex. The rocket's many different payloads will attempt to demonstrate several new space technologies, including novel command and control frameworks and satellite propulsion systems—all while keeping costs down."

"Built by the Virginia-based company Orbital Sciences, Corp., the Minotaur 4 rocket is expected to deliver all seven satellites, which carry a total of 16 separate experiments among them, to an orbit about 404 miles (650 kilometers) above Earth. The $170 million mission, STP-S26, is part of the Air Force's Space Test Program.

"Here's what's on board:

"FASTSAT

"This NASA craft—short for Fast, Affordable Science and Technology Satellite—weighs about 325 pounds (148 kilograms) and is about the size of a washing machine It's part of a broader NASA effort to find ways to perform research in space cheaply and reliably.

"The agency spent less than $12 million developing the spacecraft, agency officials have said.

"FASTSAT is carrying six different scientific experiments. One of those is a smaller satellite called NanoSail-D, an 8.5-pound (3.9-kg) probe designed to eject from FASTSAT and deploy a solar sail in orbit. Solar sails catch photons from the sun much as ships' sails catch the wind.

"NanoSail-D will use its solar sail to deorbit itself, potentially demonstrating a new way to bring satellites and debris back to Earth without any chemical propellant, NASA officials have said.

"Also onboard FASTSAT are three NASA instruments designed to monitor space weather, as well as two payloads managed by the U.S. Air Force. One is a low-cost star-tracking instrument, and the other is a device that will evaluate techniques used to measure how beams of light move through Earth's atmosphere.

"O/OREOS

"NASA's O/OREOS (Organism/Organic Exposure to Orbital Stresses) is another demonstration satellite that was developed on the cheap (less than $1.75 million, officials have said).

"O/OREOS is about the size of a loaf of bread and weighs 12 pounds (5.5 kg). It contains two experiments that will activate once the nanosatellite reaches low-Earth orbit.

"One of these will characterize how microbes grow and reproduce in space, as well as how they adapt to the stresses of the space environment. The other will look at how space conditions affect four different classes of organic molecules, which are the building blocks of life.

"STPSat-2

"This U.S. Air Force microsatellite is the Minotaur 4's primary payload. STPSat-2 carries two payloads of its own: the Ocean Data Telemetry Microsat Link, which will relay data from ocean and terrestrial sensors, and the Space Phenomenology Experiment, which will evaluate sensor compatibility in space.

"STPSat-2 will be the first satellite operated by a new command and control system called the Multi-Mission Space Operations Center. This ground system is designed to fly multiple constellations of spacecraft with various missions.

"FASTRAC, FalconSat-5 and RAX

"Also aboard the Minotaur are three other satellites called FASTRAC, FalconSat-5 and RAX.

"FASTRAC—short for Formation Autonomy Spacecraft with Thrust, Relnav, Attitude and Crosslink—was developed by grad students and undergrads at the University of Texas, Austin.

"FASTRAC consists of two satellites, each about the size of two car tires, that will separate from each other in orbit to demonstrate communication and coordination capabilities.

"FalconSat-5 was also built by students—cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The $11 million microsatellite carries several different payloads, which will monitor space weather and its effects on radio signals.

"The Radio Aurora Explorer, or RAX, is a 6-pound (28-kg) nanosatellite. It's a joint effort of the University of Michigan and SRI International, and it's sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

"RAX's primary mission is to study dense plasma clouds in Earth's upper atmosphere. These clouds can disrupt communication between Earth and orbiting spacecraft, and RAX's operators hope the little satellite's measurements can help minimize communication problems in the future.

"All of these satellites—from FASTSAT to RAX—are launching as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's Space Test Program, which is managed by the Air Force.

"Because this will be the STP's 26th small launch vehicle mission, it is being called STP-S26.

Launch Notification: Soyuz-TMA 01M

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 October 7, 2311 UTC
Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launcher: Soyuz-U
International Designator(s): 2010-052A

SSC Name Owner
37183 SOYUZ-TMA 01M CIS

"An upgraded Soyuz spacecraft carrying veteran shuttle astronaut Scott Kelly, Soyuz commander Alexander Kaleri and flight engineer Oleg Skripochka blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan late Thursday, kicking off a two-day flight to the International Space Station.

"Under a dark, pre-dawn sky, the launcher's main engines roared to life on time and the Soyuz rocket, trailing a sky-lighting plume of fiery exhaust, climbed away at 7:10:55 p.m. EDT (23:10:55 GMT)."

"Eight and a half minutes after liftoff, the upgraded Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft slipped into its planned preliminary orbit. Moments later, its two solar panels and antennas unfolded and Russian flight controllers said the spacecraft was in good shape as it set off after the International Space Station.

"If all goes well, Kaleri will oversee an automated docking at the upward-facing port of the Russian Poisk compartment atop the station's Zvezda command module around 8:02 p.m. Saturday (00:02 GMT Sunday)."

"The Soyuz TMA-01M spacecraft features a variety of avionics and computer upgrades that are being flown for the first time. It was not immediately known if the unspecified issues referred to by Solovyov involved any of the new equipment."

"Kaleri, Kelly and Skripochka will join Expedition 25 commander Douglas Wheelock, Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin aboard the station, boosting the lab's crew size back to six. Wheelock, Walker and Yurchikhin are scheduled to depart at the end of November."

Source: Spaceflight Now, "Three men launched into space for half-year voyage"

Launch Notification: SHIJIAN-6G and SHIJIAN-6H

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 October 6, 0049 UTC
Site: Taiyuan Space Center, PRC
Launcher: Long March 4B (Chang Zheng 4B)
International Designator(s): 2010-051A, 2010-051B

SSC Name Owner
37179 SJ-6G
(SHIJIAN-6G) PRC

37180 SJ-6H
(SHIJIAN-6H) PRC

"Two research satellites flew into a nearly 400-mile-high [644-km-high] orbit early Wednesday on a Long March rocket, continuing a pace of nearly one Chinese launch a week since the end of July.

"A Long March 4B rocket lifted off at 0049 GMT Wednesday (8:49 p.m. EDT Tuesday) from the Taiyuan space center in northern China. The launch occurred a few hours before the Chang'e 2 lunar orbiter arrived at the moon after a five-day journey from Earth.

"According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the 15-story rocket carried two Shijian 6 satellites. U.S. military tracking data show the spacecraft orbiting about 375 miles [603 km] above Earth with an inclination of about 98 degrees to the equator.

"It was the 11th space launch of the year for China Seven of those missions have been since the end of July, a span of less than 10 weeks.

"The payloads are the fourth pair of Shijian 6 satellites. The spacecraft, dubbed Shijian 6G and Shijian 6H, will probe the space environment, according to Xinhua.

"No other details of their mission were released.

"Shijian satellites are believed to test technology demonstration and space research experiments. Shijian means "practice" in Chinese.

"The last set of Shijian 6 satellites launched in October 2008. One of the craft, Shijian 6F, became the target of an orbital rendezvous demonstration in August.

"A newly-launched satellite named Shijian 12 approached within 200 meters, or 656 feet, of Shijian 6F in mid-August, according to amateur satellite observations and U.S. Air Force data."

Source: Spaceflight Now, "Pair of research satellites launched by China"

Launch Notification: Cosmos 2469

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 September 30, 1701 UTC
Site: Plesetsk Missile and Space Complex, Russia
Launcher: Molniya-M
International Designator(s): 2010-049A

SSC Name Owner
37170 COSMOS 2469 CIS

"A Molniya-M carrier rocket successfully released a Kosmos satellite into orbit on Thursday, a spokeman from the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The rocket blasted off from the Pletesk space center in northern Russia at 21.01 Moscow time (17.01 GMT).

"The satellite will be used by the Russian Defense Ministry for military purposes."

Source: RIA Novosti, "Russia successfully sends Kosmos satellite into orbit"

Launch Notification: YAOGAN 11, ZHEDA PIXING 1B, ZHEDA PIXING 1C

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 September 22, 0242 UTC
Site: Jiuquan Space Center, PRC
Launcher: Long March 2D (Chang Zheng 2D)
International Designator(s): 2010-047A, 2010-047B, 2010-047C

SSC Name Owner
37165 YAOGAN 11 PRC
37166 ZHEDA PIXING 1B PRC
37167 ZHEDA PIXING 1C PRC

"A secret military payload successfully launched aboard a Long March rocket early Wednesday, continuing a feverish pace of Chinese space activity that includes a mysterious orbital rendezvous, an upcoming lunar probe and preps for continued human missions.

"It was the fifth launch in barely 50 days for China, and the second mission in that period lofting a clandestine Yaogan reconnaissance satellite.

"Wednesday's launch began with the blastoff of a Long March 2D rocket at 0242 GMT (10:42 p.m. EDT Tuesday) from the Jiuquan space center in the desert of northwestern China, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency.

"It was 10:42 a.m. Beijing time.

"The 135-foot-tall [41-m-tall] launch vehicle placed Yaogan 11 and two smaller satellites on a path nearly 400 miles [644 km] above Earth.

"The Yaogan 11 payload orbited Wednesday will conduct scientific experiments, survey land resources, estimate crop yields and contribute to natural disaster response efforts, Xinhua reported.

"But the Yaogan satellite series are believed to provide the Chinese military with high-resolution reconnaissance imagery through electro-optical cameras and night-vision radar systems."

Source: Spaceflight Now, "China orbits spy satellite amid uptick in space activity"

QZS-1 (MICHIBIKI)

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 September 11, 1117 UTC
Site: Tanegashima Space Center, Japan
Launcher: H-2A
International Designator(s): 2010-045A

SSC Name Owner
37158 QZS-1 (MICHIBIKI) JPN

"An H-2A rocket flew to space Saturday with a Japanese satellite to meet a pressing need for improved navigation services amid the country's numerous mountains and high-rise buildings.

"The rocket's payload is the first of three planned satellites to fill coverage gaps from U.S. Global Positioning System satellites caused by signal blockage from mountains and skyscrapers.

"Developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and four government ministries, the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System is aimed at overcoming ground interference by launching more navigation satellites strategically positioned high in the sky above Asia.

"The line-of-sight navigation signals from GPS satellites can be interrupted in rural hamlets and skyscraper-filled cities like Tokyo, where users occasionally lack sufficient data to determine their position, elevation and time.

"JAXA says a constellation of three QZSS spacecraft would make three-dimensional navigation coverage available 99.8 percent of the time, an improvement over the estimated 90 percent availability with GPS satellites today.

"Four GPS satellites must appear in the sky at one time to triangulate a user's 3D position and time, but buildings and mountains can block signals from spacecraft close to the horizon.

"The first QZSS navigation craft launched Saturday on an H-2A rocket. Its nickname is Michibiki, which means "guiding" or "showing the way" in Japanese.

"Michibiki is demonstrating the system's navigation instruments and proving the satellite works before Japan commits to launching the other two spacecraft.

"The 17-story launcher lifted off at 1117 GMT (7:17 a.m. EDT) from Launch Pad No. 1 at the Yoshinobu launch complex, a shoreline facility at the Tanegashima Space Center off the coast of Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's main islands."

"JAXA says Michibiki will reach its final orbit in about two weeks. It will be three months before the satellite finishes commissioning tests and can begin its navigation demos.

"Michibiki will circle the Earth at a 45-degree angle to the equator. Its orbital high point will be more than 24,000 miles [38,600 km] over the northern hemisphere and its lowest altitude will be 20,500 miles [33,000 km], according to JAXA.

"Projected against Earth's surface, Michibiki's ground track will chart an asymmetric figure-eight pattern stretching from Japan to Australia as it alternates north and south of the equator.

"Michibiki will be near-zenith, or almost straight up, in the Japanese sky for about eight hours each day. If launched, the two follow-on satellites would permit continuous coverage of Japan."

Source: Spaceflight Now, "Navigation satellite launched to show the way in Japan"

Launch Notification: Cosmos 2464/2465/2466

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 September 2, 0053 UTC
Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launcher: Proton-M
International Designator(s): 2010-041A, 2010-041B, 2010-041C

SSC Name Owner
37137 COSMOS 2464 CIS
37138 COSMOS 2465 CIS
37139 COSMOS 2466 CIS

"A Proton rocket blasted off overnight Wednesday with three spacecraft to help expand Russia's satellite navigation system to provide positioning services around the world.

"The Proton rocket launched at 0053 GMT Thursday (8:53 p.m. EDT Wednesday) from [P]ad 81 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, where the first pink hues of sunrise splashed the dawn sky.

"With six main engines burning, the Proton soared into mostly clear skies and jettisoned its first stage two minutes after liftoff. The three-stage rocket deployed a Block DM upper stage and the three Glonass payloads in space less than 10 minutes into the mission.

"The Block DM was expected to fire twice to place the Glonass satellites in a circular orbit 12,000 miles [19,000 km] above Earth with an inclination of 64.8 degrees.

"Spacecraft separation occurred at 0426 GMT (12:26 a.m. EDT) in the targeted orbit, according to the Russian Space Agency.

"The satellites are the second group of Glonass platforms launched this year. Three other spacecraft were orbited by a Proton rocket March 1.

"Each satellite weighs about 3,000 pounds [1,360 kg] at launch, including maneuvering fuel to maintan the craft's orientation in space. The modernized Glonass M spacecraft are designed to operate for seven years in orbit, according to their manufacturer, Information Satellite Systems Reshetnev Co.

"Glonass satellites broadcast navigation signals to military and civilian users from their orbital perch, reaching ground receivers across a swath of Earth nearly stretching from pole to pole.

"According to a Russian Space Agency website, 21 Glonass satellites are currently operational. Two more spacecraft are considered spares.

"Glonass satellites are scattered in three orbital groups, each designed for eight spacecraft to achieve global navigation coverage with a total of 24 operating satellites.

"Three more Glonass M satellites are scheduled for launch in November."

[Note: Identifications were made using current orbital motion toward designated orbital slots reported by the Russian Space Agency.]

Source: Spaceflight Now, "Group of navigation satellites launched by Proton rocket"

Rocket set for launch on Virginia Eastern Shore

A U.S. military satellite designed to detect hidden enemy weapons and quickly inform U.S. troops of their location is set for launch from Virginia's Eastern Shore tomorrow evening from 2000-2300 EDT. The Air Force TacSet-3 satellite and two other payloads is set to blast off on a 69-foot-high Minotaur 1 rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport.

TacSat-3 features three revolutionary trials: the Raytheon Company-built Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer hyperspectral imager, the Office of Naval Research's Satellite Communications Package, and the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Avionics Experiment. This trio of payloads will offer real-time imagery (within 10 minutes of collection), sea-based information transmitted from ocean buoys and plug-and-play avionics to assist the warfighter in keeping one step ahead of the adversary.

Scientists say the 880-pound satellite atop the $60 million spacecraft will offer hyperspectral images and deliver them in 10 minutes. Officials say it is especially suited to battle conditions in the rugged, mountainous terrain of Afghanistan.

Military officials say it the satellite is successful, it could be ready for actual battlefield use in a year or two.

Two of the Tactical Satellite-3's trio of payloads may be called secondary, but their importance to the success of the spacecraft's year-long mission is primary.

Employing plug-and-play technology, the Space Avionics Experiment will provide backup downlink capability for TacSat-3's main experiment, the Advanced Responsive Tactically-Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer, and the Satellite Communications Package will transmit sea-based and space-generated data to ground stations.

Once launched, it will serve as the inaugural demonstration of plug- and-play avionics operating in the cosmos environment. The AFRL-funded SAE payload features plug-and-play components similar to desktop computer Universal Serial Bus components, which, if required due to a system failure, will perform data transfer to enable downlink of ARTEMIS sensor data, as well as will provide TacSat-3 with global positioning system information.

"The purpose of the technology is to significantly reduce spacecraft development time from years to months to weeks, as well as to lower production costs," said Maurice Martin, responsive systems group lead, the AFRL's Space Vehicles Directorate. "Our plan during TacSat-3's flight is to evaluate the Space Avionics Experiment on an occasional basis to ensure the components' reliability in case they are called upon to function in full operational mode."

Managed by the Office of Naval Research, the Satellite Communications Package will collect data from ocean buoys and then TacSat-3's onboard processor will download the details to a ground station. In addition, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command will utilize the SCP experiment's ultra high frequency radio link known as the Army Tactical Data Link.

"USASMDC/ARSTRAT is going to use the Satellite Communications Package payload's ATDL to provide a direct tactical downlink of onboard processed information from the ARTEMIS to the joint force commander. The JFC will have direct access to task the spacecraft as it appears over the horizon, while the satellite is still in view, the requested information will then be transmitted back to the JFC," said Allen Kirkham, Army Space and Missile Defense Command Battle Lab technical lead for the TacSat-3 Joint Military Assessment, Peterson AFB, Colo. "We will coordinate with the TacSat-3 program team to utilize the SCP's ATDL for a few two-week periods during the spacecraft's 12-month mission. We also intend to use the SCP's ATDL during a major exercise to allow us to collect data and perform a Joint Military Utility Assessment of the satellite and sensor's capabilities to support the joint force commander in the field."

As a significant team member in the program, the Space and Missile Systems Center's Space Development and Test Wing, also situated at Kirtland AFB, is providing the Orbital Sciences Corp.'s Minotaur I launch vehicle. The four-stage rocket consists of two structures taken from retired Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missiles, and another two stages from Orbital's Pegasus booster. In addition, the Dept. of Defense's Operationally Responsive Space office is underwriting the launch and will be heading the Military Utility assessment to determine the operational value of the low-cost satellite and its three payloads. SMC's Space Development and Test Wing will also assist mission operations during TacSat-3's flight in Low Earth Orbit at approximately 425 kilometers (264 miles) altitude.

The downlink frequencies for this spacecraft have not been determined. We believe there will be a UHF military downlink from this satelite. Any reports on the freqs to be used by this bird or any post launch intercepts would be appreciated.

Three cubesats will be launched as secondary payloads on the TacSat-3 mission. The satellites, which contain their own power and data systems, are four-inch cubes that weigh 2.2 pounds each. The cubesats are being provided by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, Calif. and the Hawk Institute for Space Sciences, Pocomoke City, Md.

These three cubesats are named PharmaSat-1, HawkSat-1 and PolySat CP6. The three satellites are placed in a Poly Picosatellite Orbital Deployer (P-POD), the standard deployment system for cubesats. The P-POD was developed by the Aerospace Engineering Department at Cal Poly. During the rocket’s ascent, each cubesat will be deployed separately from the P-POD into space.

The PharmaSat experiment, developed by NASA’s Ames Research Center and will measure the influence of microgravity upon yeast resistance to an antifungal agent. PharmaSat focuses on questions key to countermeasure development for long-term space travel and habitation.

PharmaSat-1 will be in a low earth orbit at 40 degrees inclination. This submission is for a beacon on board PharmaSat. The orbit should be nearly circular with an altitude of 390 Km at the start of the mission, degrading to 200km after approx 250 to 300 days, at which time it would de-orbit. There will be a 150mW UHF beacon operating with 1200baud AX25 packet for 1/2 sec every 5 secs. Command and control will use an experimental licence in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. The satellite will be a triple cubesat with a mass of approx 4 kg. The co-ordinated downlink frequency is 437.465 MHz. See http://www.inwspace.org/genesatbeacon_fig1.htm for more info.

Hawksat-1 is a demonstrator cubesat mission. Payload consists of multiple COTS and custom products. The co-ordinated downlink frequency is 437.345 MHz. Views can be found at http://www.hawkspace.org/hawksat.htm

The experiment Polysat CP6 will measure plasma fields, using three tape measures that extend out about a meter, charging them up to 400 volts, and looking at the electrons flowing around the spacecraft in the plasma. The co-ordinated downlink frequency is 437.365 MHz (1200 bps AX.25). See http://polysat.calpoly.edu/index.php

Space Shuttle mission cancelled until January 2

STS-122 Space Shuttle mission (Atlantis) to the International Space Station carrying the ESA Columbus module has been cancelled and rescheduled for a January 2 launch. The postponement will give engineers time to evaluate false readings from the engine cutoff sensor system that measures liquid hydrogen in the external tank.

Of the four engine cutoff sensors, ECO sensor number three gave false readings during Sunday's launch attempt. The sensor system is one of several that protect the shuttle's main engines by triggering their shut down if fuel runs unexpectedly low.

Atlantis' scheduled launch on Thursday was delayed after two of the four engine cutoff, or ECO, sensors in the shuttle's external fuel tank gave false readings. A third sensor failed after the tank was drained of fuel.

2007-023A: Delta-II launch success, Italian space community rejoices

by Staff Sgt. Raymond Hoy, 30th Space Wing Public Affairs

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- History was made for the Italian space community with Vandenberg's successful launch of a Delta II rocket June 7. The rocket took off at 7:34 p.m. from Space Launch Complex-2 carrying the Thales Alenia-Space COSMO-SkyMed Satellite.

This was the first of a constellation of four Italian satellites -- the first of two to be launched from Vandenberg. The constellation will be an end-to-end Earth observation system composed of four, medium-sized (1,100 - 2,200 - pound) satellites. It will support ground stations for orbit control systems and data reception and processing.

The system will take imagery of the Earth using an X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar instrument at the request of institutional and commercial users, including members of the defense, civil and scientific communities.

Thales Alenia Space-Italia developed the COSMO-SkyMed program for the Italian Space Agency and the Italian Ministry of Defence. While more than 50 Italians have been working on base to prepare the satellite for lift off, another 150 flew in from Italy to observe the event.

"It is very emotional," said a tearful Francesca Sette, Thales Alenia Space-Italia. "We worked very hard for six months on this event; and during the last six months, we began to work 24 hours per day to ensure we completed this project on time."

The group from the Italian launch community used the Pacific Coast Club here to observe the event. An extravagant undetaking, it included everything from 30 plasma screen televisions, to a live broadcast from Rome with a speech by Italian Minister of Defense, Arturo Parisi.

After watching the rocket lifting off the pad during a live broadcast in the PCC, an Italian train of 100 people went hurrying through the door to observe the Delta II rocketing through the sky outside. People were jumping up and down and hugging each other in celebration.

"It was so beautiful," said Mara Midealo, the wife of a Thales Alenia employee. "This was my first launch, and it was a great event."

Col. Steve Tanous, 30th Space Wing commander, was the spacelift commander for this mission, and final go-for-launch authority.

"This was a testament to the tremendous team effort between the 30th Space Wing and our industry partners," he said. "Teamwork was the backbone to the success of this launch and getting the Italian satellite into orbit."

Mission Stats from Btown:
Payload Name: COSMO-1 (Constellation of Small Satellites for Mediterranean basin Observation)/COSMO-SkyMed
International Designator: 2007-023A
NORAD SSC#: 31598
Launch Site: Vandenberg AFB, Western Test Range, SLC2
Launch Vehicle: Delta 7420-10
Inclination: 97.86 deg
Period: 97.19 min
Apogee/Perigee: 626 x 622 km

Two line elsets from Celestrak:

COSMO-SKYMED 1
1 31598U 07023A 07169.34521343 .00018670 00000-0 23581-2 0 428
2 31598 97.8569 359.5928 0002891 91.1431 269.0271 14.81929641 1511
DELTA 2 R/B
1 31599U 07023B 07169.25705436 .00170635 27840-5 22601-3 0 223
2 31599 98.3896 357.8877 0306050 243.3717 113.5883 15.55978559 1579

Meridian 1 Launched from Plesetsk

Following extract taken from articles on Russian MOD website, dated 25 December 2006. Translated by Old Crow and submitted to the Btown Monitoring Post Blog for information and interest.

Soyuz-2 rocket carries "Meridian" communications satellite into orbit from Plesetsk. Yesterday (i.e. 24 December), Russian Space Forces from "First State Test-Space Centre" at Plesetsk successfully launched a Soyuz-2 which put into orbit a Russian "Meridian" communications satellite. This occurred with the assistance of a "Fregat" booster stage at 18:32 Moscow time. The Chief of Information Services of the Space Forces, Colonel Aleksej Kuznetsov has reported that the on-board systems of the "Meridian" satellite are all working normally and it will be taken under control by the"Herman Titov" Main Test Centre which will direct/control its orbital flight. He also noted that the CinC Space Forces, Colonel-General Vladimir Popovkin had highly praised the professionalism of the teams which participated in the preparation and launch of the space craft. The "Meridian" communications satellite, now in orbit, is destined to be used to provide communications for ships and ice-reconnaisance aircraft operating in the area of the Northern Sea Route, allowing them to be in contact with shore and ground stations and a wide network of ComSat stations in northern areas of Siberia and the Far East in the interests of economic development of the Russian Federation. The use of such satellites in a highly-elliptical orbit will allow the enhancement of exploitationary and technico-economic characteristics of existing means of communications and will add further to the number of usable frequencies and supplementary trunks/channels present and an increase in daily availability and reliability. "Meridian" is equipped with a multi-trunk relaying communications apparatus and can be used at the current time to supplement existing communications systems provided by the"Gorizont" and "Express-A" satellites.

From Jonathan's Space Report:
Meridian (2006-061A)

The first Meridian satellite was launched on Dec 24. Meridian, built by NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki, is a new communications satellite "designed to ensure communications of sea-going ships and ice reconnaissance planes in the area of the Northern Sea Route with coastal stations as well as expansion of the network of satellite communicationstations in northern areas of Siberia and the Russian Far East" (TASS). It was launched into a 278 x 39801 km x 62.8 deg `Molniya' orbit; the new series will replace the old Molniya-1 satellites launched from 1965 to 2004. Launch of Meridian was by Soyuz-2-1a/Fregat. The upgraded Soyuz-2-1a -on its third launch - put the payload section in a suborbital trajectory. The Fregat stage then fired to reach low Earth parking orbit, and once again to reach the Molniya orbit. At around 0930 UTC the second Fregat burn put the stack in a 278 x 39801 km x 62.8 deg transfer orbit. The third burn at first apogee, around 1530 UTC, raised the perigee to 1011 km and Fregat separated from Meridian at 1534 UTC.

This could be an interesting satellite constellation to monitor and we are interested in any intercepts/frequency reports. Send them to larryvanhorn @ monitoringtimes.com.

Space Activity at Plesetsk

Following extract taken from articles on Russian MOD website, dated 18 December 2006. Translated by Old Crow and submitted to the Btown Monitoring Post Blog for information and interest.

Military teams at the Plesetsk Space Centre, in accordance with the plan for the first launch date, have begun preparations at the launch pad on the rocket-vehicle "Kosmos-3M". The Russian rocket-vehicle "Kosmos-3M" together with the German space-vehicle "SAR-LUPE" was moved from the assembly-checkout area to the launch pad on the morning of 18 December. The launch of the space-vehicle "SAR-LUPE" is scheduled for 19 December.

MEASAT-3 Launched from Baikonur

The MEASAT-3 geostationary communications satellite was launched yesterday, December 11, 2006 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

MEASAT-3 Launch Particulars:

Launch date/time: 11 December 2006 @ 2328 UTC (6:28 pm EST)

Launcher: Proton

Launch location: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Pad 39

International Designator: 2006-056A

SSC Number: 29648

Satellite Manufacturer/Model: Boeing 601HP

Mission Life: 15 years

Background:

This satellite is owned by MEASAT Satellite Systems (Binariang Satellite Systems Sdn. Bhd. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) and it will join the company's other two operational satellites in orbit. MEASAT 3 will be permanently positioned in geostationary orbit along the Equator at 91.5 degrees East longitude above the northeastern Indian Ocean. It will be co-located with MEASAT 1, which was launched in 1996, and has a design life of 12 years.

This satellite features an array of communications equipment, including 24 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders. The C-band payload can reach customers across Asia, Australia, Africa, Eastern Europe and the Middle East in more than 100 nations. The Ku-band payload has been designed to provide high-powered flexible service options for the development of data services and Direct-to-Home applications in Malaysia, Indonesia, India and China.