Rokot Clustered launch May 23, 2008
A clustered launch of four Russian satellites will be performed today at Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 19:30 Moscow DST (4:30 P.M. GMT, 15:30 UTC, 11:30 A.M. EDT). Three military communication Gonets-M (#2,3,4) satellites and Yubileyny Scientific/Educational satelline will be delivered to Earth's orbit by Rokot Launch vehicle with Briz-KM upper stage.
Gonets-M ("Messenger") is a NPO Prikladnoi Mekhaniki (NPO PM) product, a comms Store/Dump satellite with 5 to 7 years lifetime. Mass of each satellite is 280 kg. A typical working orbit is 1400 km x 1414 km, inclination 82.6°. These three satellites will serve Russian Ministry of Defence's needs.
The Yubileyny ("Anniversary") is a Russian technology development satellite which was built by NPO PM to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to be placed into Earth orbit. The satellite will broadcast audio and video about the history of the Soviet and Russian space programmes, as well as signals imitating those broadcast by Sputnik 1. These signals are intended for reciept by Amateur radio enthusiasts. Also, it carries a number of scientific instruments to use by Russian universities for educational purposes: experimental spacecraft attitude sensing devices, Earth infrared imager, Earth visible light imager, a magnetometer. The unpressurized bus of the satellite is viewed by NPO PM as a test specimen for a future development of new generation satellites with masses ranging 30 to 100 kgs.
The Rokot ("Roar") Launch vehicle is a derivative of RS-18 (UR-100, NATO's SS-19 "Stiletto") ICBM adapted for into-orbit launches. Produced by Khrunichev space centre, Moscow.
Fueled Rocket's Weight: 107.5 metric tons
Number of stages: 3
Propellant components: Asymmetric Dimethyl Hydrazine; Nitrogen Tetroxide.
Full Length: 29.1 m
Diameter: 2.5 m
Payload delivered to LEO, 200*200 km, inc 63° is 1950 kilograms
Orbit Parameters precision: +/- 1...2 % by altitude; +/- 0.03...0.05 % by inclination
The Briz-KM ("Breeze") upper stage is designed to be used as the Rokot lv's third stage. The last Briz series (Briz-M's) upper stage flight was a failure due to a pressurized manifold rupture because of an untested performance during extremely long burns.
It is also produced by Khrunichev space centre. Parameters:
Full mass: 6475 kg
Propellant Reserve: up to 5055 kg
Main Engine: S5.98, max thrust 2.0 metric tons
Number of Main Engine's ingitions: 8
Maxumum Autonomous Flight time: 7 hours