Gonets-M2+Rodnik M+Strela-3(Rockot launched on Sept. 8,2010)

[Zipi]

Launch window: 3:30 UTC September 8 (11:30 pm EDT September 7)
Launch site: Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia

A Russian government Rockot vehicle will launch a spacecraft for the Gonets satellite communications constellation.

Gonets Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonets
Official English Gonets Page: http://gonets.ru/english.php
Official Gonets Website: http://translate.google.com/translate?j ... nets.ru%2F
(without Google Translation: http://gonets.ru/)
Satellite manufacturer ISS Reshetnev Gonets D1 Page: http://www.iss-reshetnev.com/?cid=leoca&caid=26
Satellite manufacturer ISS Reshetnev Gonets M Page: http://www.iss-reshetnev.com/?cid=leoca&caid=36
ISS Reshetnev News article about testing Gonets M2: http://www.npopm.ru/?cid=news&nid=846&s ... 5587b0c2e8
(without Google translation: http://www.npopm.ru/?cid=news&nid=846&s ... 5587b0c2e8)

Gonets system explanation: (narration in Russian)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAI6r2dA6YQ[/youtube]

Older Gonets D1 model at left and current Gonets M at right.



Rockot Launch Vehicle

Rockot first and second stages are taken from old Russian UR-100N ICBM (SS 19 (RS 18)).

Rockot LV Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rokot
Eurockot Lv Photo Gallery: http://www.eurockot.com/alist.asp?cat_i ... =5&subm=51
UR-100N Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UR-100N
Khrunichev's Rockot Page: http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=43&lang=en
Khrunichev's Rockot Photo Gallery: http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=134&lang=en
Plesetsk Kosmodrome's Rokot Page: http://translate.google.com/translate?j ... etzk.ru%2F
(without Google translation: http://www.plesetzk.ru/rn/rokot)

Lift-off mass: 107500kg
Payload parking orbit mass (H circ=200 km, i=63°): 1950kg (Breeze KM), 2300kg (Breeze KC)
Injection error by Orbit height: +1% to 2%
Injection error by Inclination: +0.03% to 0.05%
Payload Fairing diameter/length: 2.5m x 2.62m / 6.74m

First Stage

One RD-244 engine burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH.

Astronautix RD-0244 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd0244.htm
Engine Manufacturer KBKhA: http://www.kbkha.ru/?lang=en

Second Stage

One RD-235 engine burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH

Astronautix RD-0235 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd0235.htm
Engine Manufacturer KBKhA: http://www.kbkha.ru/?lang=en

Third Stage

Eurockot has Breeze-KM upper stage which has one RD-2000 engine burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH. It can be started up to 8 times during the flight which provides excellect accuracy to payload orbit placement.

Khrunichev's Breeze-KM Page: http://www.khrunichev.ru/main.php?id=50&lang=en
Breeze-M Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Briz-M

Plesetsk Cosmodrome

Plesetsk Cosmodrome Official Page: http://translate.google.com/translate?h ... etzk.ru%2F
(without Google translation: http://www.plesetzk.ru/)
Plesetsk Cosmodrome Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plesetsk_Cosmodrome
Russianspaceweb Plesetsk Page: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/plesetsk.html
Astronautix Plesetsk Page: http://www.astronautix.com/sites/plesetsk.htm
Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=62.91666 ... ,40.516667

 

[Zipi]

Re: Sept. 8 Rockot - Gonets

SiberianTiger has posted his excellent launch announcement: http://www.orbiter-forum.com/showthread.php?t=18031

I have updated my earlier post based some bits of information from SiberianTiger's announcement. SiberianTiger also had a picture of the other satellites onboard this Rockot:

They are two Rodnik military communication satellites which probably are an upgraded version of Strela-3 communications satellite.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Sept. 8 Rockot - Gonets

en.rian.ru : Russian Rokot carrier rocket to orbit Gonets-M satellite on September 8

21:18 06/09/2010

A Russian Rokot carrier rocket will take off from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia on September 8 to put a Gonets-M satellite into orbit, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Pre-launch preparations are currently being completed at the space center in the Arkhangelsk region, Lt. Col. Alexander Zolotukhin said.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Sept. 8 Rockot - Gonets

en.rian.ru : Russian Rokot carrier rocket with three satellites blasts off from Plesetsk space center

07:58 08/09/2010

MOSCOW, September 8 (RIA Novosti)

The Kosmos satellites will be used to provide communication for military purposes

A Russian Rokot carrier rocket blasted off from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia early on Wednesday to put a Gonets-M and two Kosmos satellites into orbit, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.

The launch took place on schedule at 07:30am Moscow time (03:30 GMT), Lt. Col. Alexei Zolotukhin said, adding that the satellites are expected to separate from the carrier rocket at 09:14am Moscow time (05:14 GMT).

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Gonets-M & 2*Rodnik sats (Rockot launched on Sept. 8, 2010)

tv-zvezda.ru : From Plesetsk successfully launched rocket (Russian, video)
Google translated link (video not working)

September 8, 2010, 18:18

Departments of cosmic forces conducted a successful launch at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Launcher Rockot, developed by experts of the center Khrunichev, inserted into orbit two devices for military use (of) "Cosmos" series and the companion "Messenger" (Gonets) , which is designed for communication and data transfer.

 

[Zipi]

Currently best information about two military satellites is that they were Strela-3 and Rodnik satellites.

http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index. ... #msg635853

http://www.rosles-re.ru/files/file/1009 ... Launch.pdf