Draggendrop Veteran Posted April 16, 2016 Veteran Share Posted April 16, 2016 Russia to shift all Lunar launches to Vostochny Cosmodrome Quote Russia will stop using the Soviet-era Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for lunar launches, according to Russian-based Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC Energia). Moscow made the decision to shift all operations linked to Russia's moon mission to the Vostochny cosmodrome, the company behind the program said Monday. "All further works to implement the lunar program, including a flight around the moon and a moon landing will take place after 2025. All launches will take place at the Vostochny cosmodrome," RSC Energia General Designer Yevgeny Mikrin said. Vostochny in Russia's Far East was conceived as an alternative to Baikonur, which is on lease to Russia until 2050. The new space port has been under construction since 2012. The first launch from Vostochny is planned for April 27, according to the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos. Russia is already building a next-generation reusable spacecraft to replace the Soyuz family. The spaceship, called Federation, is due to be launched in unmanned mode in 2021, with a manned launch to the International Space Station planned by 2023, Mikrin said at the company's council meeting in the city of Korolyov near Moscow. Mikrin said the Energia corporation was also working on a range of space technologies that would further the ambitious lunar program, including a heavy-lift launch vehicle, an upper-stage rocket and an interorbital space tug. http://www.space-travel.com/reports/Russia_to_shift_all_Lunar_launches_to_Vostochny_Cosmodrome_999.html ----------------------------- Russia to use Baikonur for space launches at least until 2023 Quote Russia will continue using the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan for launches of piloted spacecraft at least until 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said Monday. However, Russia will stop using the Soviet-era Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for lunar launches, according to Russian-based Rocket and Space Corporation (RSC Energia). "We have no plans to stop using Baikonur as we share with the Kazakh side the idea of implementing the Baiterek project at Baikonur, which envisions commercial launches for third countries from existing launch pads," Rogozin said during Arsenal radio program. "International commercial launches and launches of piloted spacecraft will continue from Baikonur at least until 2023," Rogozin added. Russia is already building a next-generation reusable spacecraft to replace the Soyuz family. The spaceship, called Federation, is due to be launched in unmanned mode in 2021, with a manned launch to the International Space Station planned by 2023, Mikrin said at the company's council meeting in the city of Korolyov near Moscow. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russia_to_use_Baikonur_for_space_launches_at_least_until_2023_999.html ---------------------------- Russia to begin building new spacecraft this summer file image Quote The construction of Russia's new "Federation" spacecraft will begin this summer, Korolev Rocket and Space Corporation Energia General Constructor Evgeny Mikrin said Monday. The "Federation" spacecraft is to replace the aging Soyuz ships in supporting low Earth orbit missions. "The stage of developing the technical documentation is currently underway and should be finished in June. After this, one more contract will need to be signed, which will allow for the work to begin on preparing the ships equipment and programming," Mikrin told journalists. Mikrin said that even though the planned launch for the Federation is still five years away, the company is following a very strict schedule. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Russia_to_begin_building_new_spacecraft_this_summer_999.html ----------------------------------- Russia, Italy plan first bid to explore beneath mars surface in 2018 file image Quote The Russian and Italian space agencies have joined forces on the first mission to drill deep beneath the surface of Mars in 2018 and explore the geological composition of the planet's crust, Italian Space Agency (ASI) President Roberto Battiston told Sputnik. The joint Russian-Italian project is scheduled for 2018. It marks the first time that any nation or joint project between nations will carry out deep drilling beneath the Martian surface, Battiston noted. "The launch of 2016 was a great success. We are preparing for the next one that will bring to Mars a lander with a driller, which for the first time will go very deep under the surface of Mars," Battiston said on Tuesday at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. Battiston is the chair of General Physics at the University of Trento and is a member of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the governmental committee advising Italy's minister of research. Italy Hopes for New Joint Projects With Russia on Microsatellites Italy's space program would like to extend its technological cooperation with Russia into the fields of microsatellites and orbiting swarms or constellations of satellites, Battiston told Sputnik. "We are supporting stronger collaboration in new area in micro satellites and constellations," Battiston said on Tuesday at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. "I think this will be a very interesting area in which to collaborate." Battiston also noted that the ASI maintained close and continuous coordination with Russia's federal space agency Roscosmos and its chief Igor Komarov. "We are in regular discussion with Mr. Komarov and Roscosmos. We keep contact on a regular basis." http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Russia_Italy_plan_first_bid_to_explore_beneath_mars_surface_in_2018_999.html Unobscured Vision and +Mirumir 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 I sincerely wish them all the success in the world in these endeavours. A Lunar Round-Trip is not an easy thing to do; it's straightforward but it can be tricky. The heavier your craft, the trickier it gets. It requires finesse and great care, and brute force at other times. I know that all of us who are AeroSpace Enthusiasts, regardless of where we are in the world, want someone, anyone, to return Humanity to the Moon. If it's Russia then so be it -- we'll be cheering for them the whole time. They certainly have the know-how to make it work. What I'd like to see, and it's a shame that things couldn't proceed like this -- a Multinational Lunar Mission Series. Government and Commercial Space Programs working together to create the Ultimate Lunar Mission Package that brings the best and brightest technologies, minds, facilities, and resources from around the World (including China and India) together in the spirit of cooperation and teamwork. Not only to land on the Moon but with the ultimate goal of establishing Lunar Colony One. Until we, as a Species, can do something like this, and eventually work our way toward doing the same thing on Mars and Ceres (and elsewhere in the Solar System), and rid ourselves of the prejudices and old feuds that plague us, we'll never truly advance to a Level 2 Civilization. Draggendrop and +Mirumir 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted April 20, 2016 Veteran Share Posted April 20, 2016 Payload for first launch at Vostochny Preparations for the first launch The Mikhailo Lomonosov satellite integrated with its payload section. Credit: Roskosmos A fully integrated payload section for the first launch from Vostochny with the Mikhailo Lomonosov satellite on the foreground. Quote The final assembly of the payload section, which would be carried into orbit during the first mission from Vostochny, began at the new Russian spaceport in the middle of April 2016. Engineers at various Roskosmos entities including the TsENKI ground processing company, the VNIEEM satellite manufacturer and Moscow State University, which was responsible for scientific instruments, began the integration of three satellites with their Volga upper stage, Roskosmos announced on April 15. All three spacecraft -- Mikhailo Lomonosov, Aist-2D and SamSat-218 -- were integrated with the upper stage. According to Roskosmos, the fully assembled payload section would be rolled inside its protective fairing on April 18. The resulting upper composite would then be transferred from the spacecraft processing building, MIK KA, to the vehicle assembly building, MIK RN, for final integration with its Soyuz-2-1a rocket. The integration of the launch vehicle would be completed before the end of the week for the rollout to the launch pad on April 23. The first liftoff from Vostochny is set for April 27, 2016, at 05:01:21 Moscow Time (22:01 EDT on April 26). http://www.russianspaceweb.com/soyuz2-vostochny.html#uc ------------------------------ US, Russia should extend space cooperation after rockets replaced Quote The United States needs to maintain close space cooperation with Russia even if it develops new rockets to carry US astronauts, former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) chief Richard Truly told Sputnik. The United States is still seeking to develop new man-rated boosters that can carry US astronauts independently into space, a capability that NASA lost after the last active space shuttle Atlantis took its final flight in July 2011. Until NASA or private contractors succeed in developing and testing a new man-rated booster, US astronauts will have to continue to fly to the International Space Station in Russian Soyuz spacecraft launched on Proton boosters. "I see no reason that that should be a damper in the long-term of cooperation between Russia and the United States," Truly said in an interview at the Space Symposium in Colorado Springs on Wednesday. Continued cooperation between United States and Russia on space issues remained crucially important, especially in light of the current political tensions between the two countries, Truly maintained. "It is very important. One of the things over many years that Russia and the United States have had to keep us together is the space program... I hope that cooperation continues... I think it's important that we develop this capability that we are working on." http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/US_Russia_Should_Extend_Space_Cooperation_After_Russian_Rockets_Replaced_999.html ---------------------------- Arianespace cooperation with Russia remains smooth amid sanctions Quote The collaboration between French commercial launch service provider Arianespace and its Russian partners continues normally amid Western sanctions imposed on Russia, President of Arianespace, Inc. Clayton Mowry told Sputnik. Relations between Russia and the European Union member states, including France, went downhill in 2014, when Brussels joined Washington in accusing Moscow of fueling the Ukrainian crisis and imposed several rounds of sanctions as a punitive measure. "Today we are launching as we have in the past," Mowry said on the sidelines of the 32nd Space Symposium in Colorado Springs. Mowry explained that the company is carrying out a number of missions using the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. "We've been able to work as usual to have those launches go on time and in normal way," he said. "We are working with our partners both the satellite operators and the satellite manufacturers to obtain export licenses from the US authorities, and so far it's been smooth." The Russian authorities have refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive. In response to the Western restrictive measures, in August 2014, Russia announced a one-year food embargo on some products originating in states that imposed sanctions against it. The ban has since been extended for another year. In January, French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Emmanuel Macron said France hoped that the anti-Russia sanctions would be lifted this summer. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Arianespace_cooperation_with_Russia_remains_smooth_amid_sanctions_999.html Unobscured Vision and +Mirumir 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted April 23, 2016 Veteran Share Posted April 23, 2016 NASA Interested in Using Russia's Vostochny Spaceport Quote The Russian space agency's deputy chief said Roscosmos and NASA were yet to figure out how they could use the spaceport in Russia's Far East jointly but added that this was a matter of "a not-so-distant future." The United States and other partners of the Russian space agency Roscosmos have been interested in Russia's new Vostochny spaceport, although NASA has voiced no concrete plans to use it yet, the Roscosmos deputy chief said Wednesday. "All our international partners have been very keen to know how the building and the putting into operation of the new Vostochny cosmodrome is going," Sergei Savelyev said after talks with NASA officials in Washington, DC. Savelyev, who has been in the US capital on a working trip, told journalists that Roscosmos and NASA were yet to figure out how they could use the spaceport in Russia's Far East jointly, but added that this was a matter of "a not-so-distant future." Vostochny, which has been under construction since 2012, is expected to be ready for the first rocket launches on Wednesday. The maiden launch is scheduled for April 27. The new spaceport will reduce Russia's dependency on the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, on lease to Russia until 2050. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_Interested_in_Using_Russias_Vostochny_Spaceport_999.html ---------------------- Misc tweets... Quote ORIENTAL. The State Commission has decided to roll out the ILV "Soyuz-2.1a" on the launch pad Quote At the launch site # East to the rocket "Soyuz" in preparation for the start of satellites attached http: // oborona.gov.ru/news/view/9967 Quote With Sergei Pavlovich Korolev family near the Kremlin wall // Having a Korolev family member at the first launch, or official opening of Vostochny, would be the honorable thing to do. +Mirumir and Unobscured Vision 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted April 25, 2016 Veteran Share Posted April 25, 2016 Quote April 26/27Soyuz • Mikhailo Lomonosov Launch time: 0201 GMT on 27th (10:01 p.m. EDT on 26th) Launch site: Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia A Russian government Soyuz rocket will launch for the first time from the new Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia’s Far East, carrying a satellite named Mikhailo Lomonosov with instruments to study high-energy cosmic rays, gamma rays and the Earth’s upper atmosphere and magnetosphere. Two smaller secondary payloads, named Aist 2 and SamSat 218, will also launch aboard the Soyuz rocket. The rocket will fly in the Soyuz-2.1a configuration with a Volga upper stage. Delayed from April 25. [April 6] http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ ------------------------- Beijing Monitors First Launch From Russia's Vostochny Spaceport Quote China is paying attention to the Russian industry space progress and is going to monitor the first forthcoming space launch of its new Vostochny Cosmodrome. BEIJING (Sputnik) — China is paying attention to Russia’s progress in the space industry and will watch the upcoming first space launch of its new Vostochny Cosmodrome, Russia's Federal Space Agency Roscosmos head Igor Komarov said Sunday. "Of course, they are [Chinese partners] interested in the development of our space industry and especially of the Vostochny Cosmodrome," Komarov told reporters asked if the Vostochny’s maiden start was discussed with Chinese counterparts during his visit to China and if they would watch it. According to Komarov, Beijing noted that the new space center was built only some 62 miles from the Russian-Chinese border. In February, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin announced that a Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket had been assembled ahead of its first launch from the Vostochny spaceport scheduled for April 27. Vostochny, which has been under construction since 2012, is expected to reduce Russia's dependency on the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan. Baikonur is on lease to Russia until 2050. http://sputniknews.com/world/20160424/1038517034/russia-china-space-vostochny.html ---------------------- Preparations for the first launch Quote According to Roskosmos, the final preparations for the rollout of the Soyuz-2-1a rocket to the launch pad were to be completed on April 21, followed by a meeting of the State Commission overseeing the launch on April 22. The actual rollout operations were to begin around 22:00 Moscow Time on April 22 and conclude with the arrival of the rocket at the pad, its installation into vertical position and the move of the Mobile Service Tower into position around the rocket at 04:00 Moscow Time on April 23, Roskosmos said. The agency's statement on April 23 had confirmed that the rollout of the vehicle to the launch pad had been completed. The first liftoff from Vostochny is scheduled for April 27, 2016, at 05:01:21 Moscow Time (22:01 EDT on April 26). http://www.russianspaceweb.com/soyuz2-vostochny.html#0419 ---------------------- Quote space rocket "Soyuz-2.1a" taken out with the technical launch complex Vostochny cosmodrome. Quote # East ---------------------------- Cosmodrome Vostochny video is 1:26 min. Quote Published on Apr 3, 2016 Timelapse footage - building the cosmodrome Vostochny. Preparations and "fuel free transportation" of the rocket at cosmodrome Vostochny. Ready to Go! First Rocket Installed at Russia's New Vostochny Cosmodrome Lauch Site video is 0:25 min. Quote Published on Apr 23, 2016 This is the first time a rocket was rolled out onto the new Vostochny Cosmodrome launch pad! Vostochny Cosmodrome video is 1:33 min. Quote Published on Apr 11, 2016 At the Russian space center in Vostochny, all preparations of rockets and spacecraft before their roll out to the launch pad will be conducted at a special facility identified as Technical Area, or Tekhnicheskaya Pozitsiya, TP, located at Site 2. Although it has been a traditional feature for many launch sites around the world, the processing facility at Vostochny was conceived to have a truly innovative architecture. Traditionally, Russian launch sites had separate processing and assembly facilities for each type of rocket. In many cases, a full complement of support infrastructure would have to be built even for individual launch pads. These large and expensive facilities were often sprawling over a considerable area, all requiring their own roads, communications lines, personnel and residential areas. In contrast, for Vostochny, developers at OAO Ipromashprom, (the main architectural contractor on the project), designed a single centralized processing and assembly hub, which would consolidate all preparation activities of the space center. Rockets of various sizes and their payloads would still be prepared inside their custom-built work sites, or modules, however they would all be located next to each other and linked by a single hallway known as 'transborder gallery'. Such an innovative solution promised to minimize the volume of each individual building, eliminate the duplication of support infrastructure, keep all spacecraft preparation activities under one roof and enable future expansion of the facility. A total area of the processing complex was expected to reach 39,000 square meters. Publicly available blueprints also hinted at the plans to expand the processing complex westwards in order to accommodate a new assembly building for the Angara family of rockets in the second phase of development in Vostochny. Optimistic plans in 2012 aimed to bring Angara to Vostochny as early as 2018 to carry manned missions from the site. In November 2015, Russian officials said that the new vehicle assembly building for Angara rockets would be built along with a new preparation facility for the PTK NP spacecraft to ensure the first unmanned launch at the end of 2021 and the first manned mission from the site in 2023. +Mirumir and Unobscured Vision 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mirumir Subscriber¹ Posted April 25, 2016 Subscriber¹ Share Posted April 25, 2016 Trying the new Federation ship on: Unobscured Vision and Draggendrop 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mirumir Subscriber¹ Posted April 26, 2016 Subscriber¹ Share Posted April 26, 2016 Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted April 26, 2016 Share Posted April 26, 2016 That's a good design, and a robust, capable platform. I wish them all the success in the world. If anyone can make it work, it'll be Russia. +Mirumir 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mirumir Subscriber¹ Posted April 27, 2016 Subscriber¹ Share Posted April 27, 2016 Damn it, I knew I'd wake up to bad news today. I had already imagined one of the arms not detaching during the lift-off and the rocket blowing up the whole base. The launch has been delayed for 24 hours due to some failures. The automatic system controlling the pressure boost (supercharge) registered an error 1.5 minutes before the start and cancelled the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 (edited) 3 hours ago, Mirumir said: The automatic system controlling the pressure boost (supercharge) registered an error 1.5 minutes before the start and cancelled the process. Better an abort than yet another launch failure, right? This new complex hardly needs to start its operational life in the red... Hopefully, no one hammered any parts in upside down! Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mirumir Subscriber¹ Posted April 27, 2016 Subscriber¹ Share Posted April 27, 2016 3 hours ago, FloatingFatMan said: Better an abort than yet another launch failure, right? This new complex hardly needs to start its operational life in the red... Hopefully, no one hammered any parts in upside down! Russia isn't the only place where last-minute rocket-launch cancellations can happen, especially at a new facility. Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloatingFatMan Posted April 27, 2016 Share Posted April 27, 2016 6 minutes ago, Mirumir said: Russia isn't the only place where last-minute rocket-launch cancellations can happen, especially at a new facility. Never said it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted April 28, 2016 Veteran Share Posted April 28, 2016 Sorry for not updating sooner...been real busy... I had multiple streams running for first attempt...only to find that it was not broadcast...then the scrub... April 27: Aborted launch attempt Quote The State Commission overseeing the first launch from Vostochny gave green light to the fueling of the launch vehicle at 21:30 Moscow Time, Roskosmos announced on April 26. The commission was co-chaired by Deputy Director General Aleksandr Ivanov and Deputy Commander of the Russian Air and Space Forces, VKS, Andrei Ivashin. According to Roskosmos, the group was expected to make further decisions on the start of automated sequences for the pre-launch operations of the launch vehicle and on the retraction of the Mobile Service Tower. The fueling operations were conducted several hours ahead of a routine schedule to provide an extra margin for unexpected technical issues during the first practical use of the launch complex. The security was also increased around Vostochny due to a visit of the Russian president Vladimir Putin, who was expected to personally witness the launch. At 02:36 Moscow Time on April 27, Roskosmos announced that based on the results of the fueling, the State Commission had made a decision about readiness of the Soyuz-2-1a rocket for launch. A command activating the automated pre-launch sequence for the launch vehicle and the upper stage, as well as the retraction of the Mobile Service Tower had been issued, Roskosmos said. Roskosmos did not televise the launch, but sources at the site told RussianSpaceWeb.com, that the launch countdown was automatically aborted after the "Klyuch na Start" (key to launch) command and during the pressurization of the vehicle's tanks, just minutes before a scheduled liftoff on April 27, 2016, at 05:01:21 Moscow Time (11:01 local time; 10:01 p.m. EDT on April 26). The umbilical cable mast reportedly remained connected to the rocket. According to the official statement from Roskosmos issued around an hour after the scrub, the automated sequence was stopped 1.5 minutes before liftoff. The problem required to postpone the launch for at least 24 hours and, according to Kremlin's press officials, President Putin would remain at the launch site for another day, hinting a likely launch attempt on April 28. At 09:23 Moscow Time (1:23 a.m. EDT) on April 27, Roskosmos announced that "the problematic area had been isolated and work had been continuing to find out the exact culprit. There are grounds to believe that problems with the rocket can be resolved during the day," the statement said. Around 18:00 Moscow Time (11:00 a.m. EDT) on April 27, the State Commission overseeing the first launch from Vostochny gave its green light to another attempt for the launch of the Soyuz rocket on April 28, 2016, at 05:01:21 Moscow Time (11:01 local time; 10:01 p.m. EDT on April 27). Launch profile Credit in image Quote The first launch from Vostochny was scheduled for April 27, 2016, at 05:01:21 Moscow Time (11:01 local time; 10:01 p.m. EDT on April 26). The Soyuz-2-1a/Volga rocket, carrying Mikhailo Lomonosov, Aist-2D and SamSat-218 satellites, will lift off under power of four boosters of the first stage and a core booster of the second stage. For the first time in the Russian space program, the vehicle is expected to carry external video cameras, capturing dramatic footage from a vantage point of an ascending rocket. http://www.russianspaceweb.com/soyuz2-vostochny-first-launch.html --------------------- New site image http://www.russianspaceweb.com/vostochny.html ------------------------- Quote The State Commission has decided to launch capabilities "Soyuz-2.1a" from Baikonur # East April 28 at 5:01 MSK. ------------------------------------------ The Soyuz-2.1a rocket stands on its launch pad at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. Credit: Roscosmos ---------------------- Launch time tonight Launch time: 0201 GMT on 28th (10:01 p.m. EDT on 27th) Hope all goes well tonight.....fingers crossed..... +Mirumir and Unobscured Vision 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted April 28, 2016 Global Moderator Share Posted April 28, 2016 Live stream here... Edit: About 19:30 in ... just a news coverage though ... no closeups. About 28:40 in they show a replay from the launch site ... but also not very good (not the entire launch sequence). Draggendrop, natocccp, Unobscured Vision and 1 other 4 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted April 28, 2016 Share Posted April 28, 2016 Looks like it got off the pad in decent fashion. (I joined the thread after Booster Sep. ) natocccp and Draggendrop 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted April 28, 2016 Global Moderator Share Posted April 28, 2016 16 minutes ago, Unobscured Vision said: Looks like it got off the pad in decent fashion. (I joined the thread after Booster Sep. ) yea...looks like a dud (with regards to livestreams). The first video appeared to be just a stream of a Russian news station covering the launch. Showing a replay of the launch now. Hopefully we'll see a good video of it later. Unobscured Vision, natocccp and Draggendrop 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted April 28, 2016 Veteran Share Posted April 28, 2016 Preliminary video's... The first-ever launch of the carrier rocket "Soyuz-2.1a" with new Vostochny cosmodrome. video is 2:49 min. The launch from the Baikonur East video is 0:50 min. Will hunt for better video....hopefully, the onboard camera video will be out quickly.... Unobscured Vision, natocccp, +Mirumir and 1 other 4 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted April 29, 2016 Veteran Share Posted April 29, 2016 Bit more info on the launch..... Quote The Soyuz-2-1a/Volga rocket, carrying Mikhailo Lomonosov, Aist-2D and SamSat-218 satellites, lifted off under power of four boosters of the first stage and a core booster of the second stage. For the first time in the Russian space program, the vehicle was expected to carry external video cameras, capturing dramatic footage from a vantage point of an ascending rocket. However no images were available live, except from a local TV station. The vehicle headed north and slightly west to align its trajectory with the near-polar orbit with an inclination 97.272 degrees toward the Equator. Four boosters of the first stage separated nearly two minutes into the flight and were expected to crash at Drop Zone No. 981 in the Amurskaya Oblast. According to later reports, a search team located three (out of four) boosters few hours later at the predicted location. The team reported no fuel leaks or fires at the site. The fairing protecting the payload split in two halves and separated 3.7 minutes into the flight during the operation of the second stage. The payload fairing will fall at Drop Zone No. 983 in the Sakha (Yakut) Republic of Russia. Moments before the second stage completed firing 4.8 minutes into the flight, the RD-0110 engine of the third stage fired through an interstage lattice structure, which then separated along with the second stage. Just two seconds later, the tail section on the third stage also separated splitting into three segments. Both, the second-stage booster and the segments of the tail section were to fall at Drop Zone No. 985, also into the Sakha Republic. The third stage continued firing until 8.7 minutes into the flight, inserting the Volga upper stage and three of its payloads into a slightly elliptical parking orbit. Four seconds after the RD-0110 engine shutdown, the Volga separated from the third stage. For more than 40 minutes, the space tug and its cargo were in a passive flight, before a moment came for the Volga to fire its engine for the first time. The nearly three-minute maneuver stretched the orbit to a much longer ellipse reaching nearly 500 kilometers above the Earth's surface. For another 45 minutes, the spacecraft climbed passively toward an apogee of its transfer orbit, where Volga re-ignited its engine for nearly two minutes. By that time, it entered a nearly circular orbit just shy of 500 kilometers in altitude. Less than half an hour after the second engine firing, the tiny Kontakt-Nanosputnik satellite was ejected from its launch container perched on the edge of the Volga's payload adapter. Exactly 10 minutes later, the Mikhailo Lomonosov and Aist-2D satellites also separated from the Volga. After releasing its cargo, the Volga upper stage was programmed to conduct a deorbiting maneuver sending it to a fiery reentry into the Earth's atmosphere over a remote region of the Pacific Ocean around 12:00 Moscow Time. According to the Russian media, these operations also went as planned. Quote The latest tracking confirmed that Volga delivered and released three of its passengers into orbits with parameters close to planned and only the spent third stage now remained its original orbit. more at the link... http://www.russianspaceweb.com/soyuz2-vostochny-first-launch.html ---------------------- Photos: Debut Soyuz launch from Russia’s Far Eastern Cosmodrome All Photos: Roscosmos more images at the link... http://spaceflight101.com/photos-debut-soyuz-launch-from-russias-far-eastern-cosmodrome/ Jim K, Unobscured Vision and natocccp 3 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted April 29, 2016 Veteran Share Posted April 29, 2016 bits and bytes.... Quote Video "Soyuz-2.1a" the first launch of a space rocket from Baikonur # East ! ----------------------------------- Quote We did it) -------------------- Quote 4 years of heavy robots ... To head @ Roscosmos Igor Komarov - two. But he that was enough) images credit Roscosmos Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Those high-inclination orbits always get my attention. *sigh* Guess that never will go away. Draggendrop 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Mirumir Subscriber¹ Posted April 29, 2016 Subscriber¹ Share Posted April 29, 2016 Committee votes to double Russian rocket engine procurement HASC doubles Air Force allotment of RD-180 engines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unobscured Vision Posted April 29, 2016 Share Posted April 29, 2016 Oh, I know. It was all over the standard talking head outlets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted April 30, 2016 Veteran Share Posted April 30, 2016 Russia looks east with Vostochny Cosmodrome Quote Russia's newly-built Vostochny space center in the Far East will open a window on Asia and strengthen Russia's position in the region, Andrei Ionin, a member of the Tsiolkovsky Academy of Cosmonautics, told RIA Novosti news agency. "It's been nine years since we realized that Russia needs to turn eastwards as the center of cosmonautics has been moving from the Atlantic region to the Pacific. Vostochny is the axe we used to break a window into Asia," Ionin said. According to Andrei Ionin, who contributed to the concept of the Vostochny spaceport, China, South Korea and Japan are very likely to show a great deal of interest in its space launch facilities, along with such emerging space powers as Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The Vostochny space center will also attract quality specialists as part of the government's ongoing effort to bring the Far Eastern region up to par with the technologically more advanced European part of the country. Andrei Ionin dismissed as totally untrue a widespread opinion that Vostochny Cosmodrome was meant as an alternative to the veteran space launch center at Baikonur, Kazakhstan. "Kazakhstan is our closest partner in the Eurasian Economic Union and having a cosmodrome there is an obvious plus enabling us to build up high-tech cooperation with Astana," Ionin emphasized. Vostochny is a Russian spaceport under construction in the Amur Region of the Russian Far East. When completed in 2018, it intends to reduce Russia's dependency on the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The first launch from Vostochny took place on Thursday when a Soyuz rocket lifted off at 5.01 am carrying the Mikhailo Lomonosov research satellite and two small secondary payloads. http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/With_Vostochny_Cosmodrome_Russia_Goes_East_In_Space_Race_999.html ------------------------- Photos: Soyuz launch inaugurates new Russian spaceport Quote The first launch from the nearly $3 billion Vostochny Cosmodrome took off Thursday, carrying three satellites into orbit from the new spaceport nestled in Russia’s forested Far East. A Soyuz-2.1a rocket lifted off at 0201 GMT Thursday (10:01 p.m. EDT Wednesday) from Vostochny. Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the launch. The Russian space agency, Roscosmos, announced before the flight that the launch would be broadcast live on television and on the agency’s website. But those plans mysteriously changed on launch day, with Roscosmos’s official YouTube channel only streaming video of the liftoff on a time delay a few minutes later. Roscosmos did release a set of spectacular images of the launch, which are presented below. images at the link.... http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/04/29/photos-soyuz-launch-inaugurates-new-russian-spaceport/ few samples.... Photo credit: Roscosmos Photo credit: Roscosmos Photo credit: Roscosmos Photo credit: Roscosmos Photo credit: Roscosmos Unobscured Vision 1 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Draggendrop Veteran Posted May 3, 2016 Veteran Share Posted May 3, 2016 Soyuz Debris recovered after first Vostochny Mission, Launch Delay causes political Fallout Quote Before Soyuz embarked on its mission, a unique photo of the rocket atop its launch pad was captured by one of the Russian Resurs-P Earth Observation satellites. The photo provides a view of the entire 1S launch complex, showing the various support facilities and the launch pad access road leading up to the Mobile Service Gantry which, by the time the photo was acquired, had been rolled back from the Soyuz rocket with its doors closed for liftoff. The most prominent feature in the satellite photo is the large concrete flame trench and the comparably small Soyuz rocket sitting atop its launch pad. The photo was most likely taken around 1:39 UTC on April 27, just over 20 minutes ahead of the first launch attempt that had to be aborted just one and a half minutes ahead of the planned T-0 time. Satellite Photo shows Soyuz on its Launch Pad – Photo: Roscosmos Quote The cause of the abort is still under investigation and has been characterized as a valve closure signal not arriving at the Flight Computers due to a defective connection. A 2.5-meter cable within the ground support equipment was identified as the culprit and shipped back to its manufacturer NPO Avtomatiki to check for cold solder joints. Two other possible faults that were also suspected to contribute to the launch abort were addressed overnight to set up for another launch attempt one day later. The small issue of a fault within ground support equipment at a brand new launch pad turned into a political affair given the presence of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin at the launch site. In the wake of the one-day delay Putin reprimanded Roscosmos head Igor Komarov, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, and Avtomatiki’s lead designer Leonid Shalimov. News reports emerged on Sunday that Shalimov was temporarily relieved from his position as NPO Avtomatiki’s general director. A commission to look into the circumstances of the launch delay has been formed and will fly to NPO Avtomatiki on Tuesday with initial findings expected to be reported to Moscow by May 6. Quote Because this was the first launch from the new spaceport, special activities were implemented at the downrange impact zones where search teams were present to locate the debris from the launch to recover them and complete a study of the environmental impact of the LV components. Radar systems were deployed to the drop zones to track the falling launch vehicle debris and a search was completed with helicopters and drones. Within a few hours of the launch, three of the four boosters were located within Drop Zone 981 in the Amurskaya region, some 360 Kilometers from the launch site. The fourth booster was found by Monday and all appeared to be in rather good condition with no leaks or fires reported from the crash sites. The wreckage of the boosters is expected to be recovered and returned to Vostochny. The Payload Fairing, separating from the vehicle just over three and a half minutes into the flight was expected to fall in the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic in Drop Zone 983. Drop Zone 985 was called up for the 27.8-meter long Core Stage, expected to impact over 1,500 Kilometers from Vostochny. An engine chamber was found and Russian media outlets reported that parts of the Core Stage likely impacted in a frozen lake. At the crash sites, ground samples were collected to assess any impacts of the falling launch vehicle debris on the environment. Initial results showed no concerns associated with the vehicle hardware. Photo: Roscosmos Photo: Roscosmos Booster & First Stage Recovery Efforts – Images: Roscosmos Quote The Block I stage of the Soyuz rocket entered a very short-lived orbit and met its fate on Saturday at 11:00 UTC when re-entering the atmosphere over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of southern Africa. The Volga upper stage successfully performed a pair of engine burns in Thursday’s mission, raising its orbit to achieve a Sun Synchronous Orbit near 490 Kilometers in altitude for the deployment of the three satellites. First to depart the vehicle was the small SamSat-218D CubeSat followed by the simultaneous release of the Lomonosov and AIST-2D satellites. Volga completed a third engine burn to lower its perigee to 31 Kilometers and intercept the atmosphere for a destructive re-entry over the Pacific Ocean at 8:54 UTC, closing out a successful flight. Quote Photos posted on the Novosti-Kosmonavtiki Forum showed Soyuz left considerable damage when departing the 1S launch pad at Vostochny. A large blast shield on the lower section of the Service Platform was torn off during liftoff and came to rest in the flame trench, directly in front of the pad. At what point the large structure became separated is not evident in the videos released of the launch. Video from the BSVK camera system of the Soyuz, received at the Control Center in real time, was described as excellent by those who saw it, but the footage has yet to be released to the public. Editing of the video was expected to take several days to avoid misinterpretation by the press, likely by removing sections of the video showing damage to the launch facilities at Vostochny. For repairs at the launch pad, teams will have plenty of time since the next Soyuz launch from the facility is not expected until next year. Photo: Novosti Kosmonavtiki http://spaceflight101.com/soyuz-debris-recovered-after-first-vostochny-mission-launch-delay-causes-political-fallout/ ----------------------------- Blast Doors from Service Cabin KO An isolated view of the Service Cabin, KO, for the Soyuz launch pad in Vostochny shown in deployed position. Credit: Roskosmos Side view of the Service Cabin, KO, in retracted (left) and in stowed position. Credit: TsKBTM http://www.russianspaceweb.com/vostochny_soyuz_ko.html --------------------------------- Re-Entry: Soyuz Rocket Stage from first Vostochny Launch Quote The third stage of the Soyuz rocket conducting the maiden flight from Russia’s new Vostochny Cosmodrome re-entered the atmosphere on Saturday, April 30, 2016 after spending just over two days in orbit. The Soyuz rocket lifted off from Vostochny at 2:01 UTC on Thursday and successfully achieved orbit less than nine minutes after launch with the Block I third stage entering an orbit of 187 by 203 Kilometers, inclined 97.3°. Starting out in this Low Earth Parking Orbit, the Volga upper stage successfully executed a pair of engine burns to lift its three satellite payloads into a Sun Synchronous Orbit near 490 Kilometers in altitude. Separation of the Lomonosov, AIST-2D and SamSat-218D satellites occurred around two hours into the flight and Volga successfully executed a deorbit maneuver for a targeted re-entry over the Pacific Ocean seven hours after launch. Re-Entry of the empty Block I stage occurred at 11:00 UTC on Saturday off the west coast of southern Africa. The 6.7-meter long rocket stage burned up to a large extent when slamming into the atmosphere at a speed of 7.8 Kilometers per second, any surviving fragments will have impacted in the ocean, well off the South African coast. NORAD ID: 41467 Object: SL-4 R/B Origin: Russia Type: Modified Block I Soyuz Upper Stage Mass: 2,355 Kilograms Launch: April 27, 2016 – 02:01:21 UTC Launch Site: 1S Vostochny Cosmodrome Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 2-1A Ascent Duration: 8 Minutes & 46 Seconds (Soyuz) Payload: Lomonosov (MVL-300), AIST-2D, SamSat-218A Initial Orbit: 187 x 203 km, 97.3° Last Orbit Data: 168 by 182km, 97.3° Orbital Lifetime: 36 Orbits Re-Entry Prediction: April 30, 2016 – 11:00 UTC +/-1 Minute Re-Entry Location: Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of southern Africa Image: Spaceflight101/Orbitron http://spaceflight101.com/re-entry-soyuz-rocket-stage-from-first-vostochny-launch/ Minor dings, nothing that can't be fixed....otherwise....excellent launch and "Grand Opening".... Unobscured Vision and Jim K 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim K Global Moderator Posted May 3, 2016 Global Moderator Share Posted May 3, 2016 11 minutes ago, Draggendrop said: Minor dings, nothing that can't be fixed....otherwise....excellent launch and "Grand Opening".... Unless you're Igor Komarov, Dmitry Rogozin, or Leonid Shalimov. Unobscured Vision and Draggendrop 2 Share Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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