SiberianTiger
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Launch site: Plesetsk
Launch date: November 20, 2009
The launch time is:
13 : 44 Moscow Time 20.11.2009
10 : 44 UTC November 20, 2009
5 : 44 a.m. EST November 20, 2009
Payload: Lotos-S Electronic Reconnaissance satellite (Cosmos 2455)
Spacecraft: Lotos-S ("Lotos" means Lotus), possible production item's code 14F145.
Manufacturer: Samara Space Centre; ELINT Payload Manufacturer: PLC Arsenal Machine Building Plant, St. Petersburg
Lotos-S satellites are one component of the the next generation ELINT satellite system Liana. Liana replaces both the Tselina-2 with Lotos-S satellites and the naval US-PM with Pion-NKS spacecrafts. It's built upon Yantar remote sensing satellites' bus. The coming launch is going to be first in the service career of this model.
It's anticipated to operate in high inclination LEO, possibly 500 km alt with 72° inc.
Cosmos 2455 is also likely to carry a small scientific payload, Nuklon high energy cosmic rays detector:
History of the project
The project was conceived 15 years ago to satisfy new requirements put up for a Tselina-2's replacement. "Billions" was spent on this project over the period. Producing of the 1st item had likely began in 2004.
The first launch of Lotus-S was originally planned for July 28, 2009, but was cancelled due to the payload's internal defect found, which required returning the satellite back to the manufacturer. The launch vehicle, however, was preserved for launching later the same year.
Launcher: Soyuz-U
Manufacturer: Samara Space Centre
The vehicle's reliability statistics according to http://www.spacelaunchreport.com/reliability2009.txt:
Code:
================================================================
Vehicle Successes/Tries Realzd Pred Consc. Last Dates
Rate Rate* Succes Fail
================================================================
Soyuz-U 726 746 .97 .97 43 10/15/02 1973-Launch Complex
The launch will be performed off LC 2 at site 16.
Weather forecast for Plesetsk, Russia on November 20, 2009
Hi: 1°
Lo: -2°
Scattered showers. There is a 30% chance of precipitation. Cloudy. Cold. Temperature of 1°C. Winds SW 14km. Humidity will be 99% with a dewpoint of 0° and feels-like temperature of -3°C.
Sunrise/Sunset and associated twilight times for Plesetsk on Tuesday, November 20, 2009
Times are local.
Astronomical twilight begins|06 : 00
Nautical twilight begins|06 : 55
Civil twilight begins|07 : 53
Sunrise|08 : 48
Transit (sun is at its highest)|12 : 04
Sunset|15 : 20
Civil twilight ends|16 : 15
Nautical twilight ends|17 : 13
Astronomical twilight ends|18 : 08
Watching the launch live
None available, sorry.
Last edited:
