Oct. 29 Dnepr - Multi-payload

[Zipi]

Launch time: TBD
Launch site: Yasny, Russia

An ISC Kosmotras Dnepr rocket will launch the Sich 2 Earth observation satellite for Ukraine, the NigeriaSat 2 and NigeriaSat X remote sensing satellites for Nigeria, the RASAT demonstration satellite for Turkey, the EduSAT spacecraft for the University of Rome, and other payloads.

Live Streaming

TV Tsenki Live1: http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live.php
TV Tsenki Live3: http://www.tv-tsenki.com/live3.php (usually better than Live1)

Dnepr Launch Vehicle

ISC Kosmotras Dnepr Launch Vehicle Page: http://www.kosmotras.ru/en/rn_dnepr/
ISC Kosmotras Dnepr Program Page: http://www.kosmotras.ru/en/program_dnepr/
Astronautix Dnepr Infos: http://www.astronautix.com/lvs/r36m.htm#Dnepr
Dnepr Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dnepr_rocket
NPO InterCoS Dnepr LV Page: http://www.npointercos.jp/DneprLV.html
Yuzhnoye Dnepr Page: http://www.yuzhnoye.com/?id=28&path=Aerospace...

Ejection from silo/canister

GAS generator ejects Dnepr out from its silo or canister.

First Stage

One RD-264 engine burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH

Astronautix RD-264 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd264.htm

Second Stage

One RD-0255 engine burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH

Astronautix RD-0255 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd0255.htm
RD-0255 Manufacturer KBKhA: http://www.kbkha.ru/?lang=en

Third Stage

One RD-869 engine burning N[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]4[/sub]/UDMH

Astronautix RD-869 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/engines/rd869.htm
RD-869 Designer Yuzhnoye: http://www.yuzhnoye.com/?lang=en

Yasny Launch Base

ISC Kosmotras Yasny Launch Base Page: http://www.kosmotras.ru/en/yasniy/
Yasny Launch Base Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dombarovskiy
Russianspaceweb Yasny Page: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/dombarovskiy.html
Astronautix Yasny Page: http://www.astronautix.com/sites/domvskiy.htm
NPO InterCoS Yasny Page: http://www.npointercos.jp/Yasny.html
Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?t=h&q=50.8, ... 27788&z=16

 

[EarthlingX]

NigeriaSat 2 :
space.skyrocket.de : NigeriaSat 2

Press release, by Surrey Satellite Technology :
http://www.sstl.co.uk : Highly advanced NigeriaSat-2 small satellite launch date announced

Tue, 11 May 2010


NigeriaSat against Earth


NigeriaSat 2 and NigeriaSat X under test

SSTL has today announced that it will launch the NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X satellites on behalf of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) by a Dnepr launch vehicle from Yasny, Russia on 29th October 2010.

NigeriaSat-2 is the most advanced small satellite ever to be launched, defining new standards in Earth observation and avionics. The spacecraft, which is based upon SSTL’s flagship SSTL-300i platform, will be used primarily for resource management and mapping of the Nigerian territory.

Its mission objectives include providing high resolution maps of Nigeria every four months, monthly monitoring of Nigerian crops for food supply security, and supporting the development of the Nigerian national Geographical Information System (GIS) by providing high quality geospatial data.

The NigeriaSat-2 spacecraft utilises one of the most capable platforms in its class, which when combined with its two SSTL-built optical payloads provides highly capable and flexible multi-mode operation for spot imaging, strip imaging, area mode imaging and stereo mode imaging.

High resolution images are provided by SSTL’s Very High Resolution Imager (VHRI). This sophisticated multispectral imaging payload was developed from the highly successful imager onboard Beijing-1. It provides 2.5m ground sample distance (GSD) panchromatic imagery and 5.0m GSD 4-band multi-spectral imagery at 20km swath widths. The satellite’s wide area mapping capability comes from a 32m GSD 4 band Disaster Monitoring Constellation imager that has a very large 300km swath width and can capture up to 400 scenes per day.

The small satellite’s imaging capability is further enhanced by the SSTL-300i satellite platform’s avionics, allowing 45° roll/pitch off-pointing for high resolution spot imaging and also stereo mode imaging. Stereo mode imaging is an exciting new development that makes it possible to build digital terrain maps which include, for example, heights of buildings, hills and mountains - useful in the planning of wireless communications.

NigeriaSat-2 also features dual 105Mbps downlinks, which can also be operated as a 210 Mbps data connection for fast transfer of large images to either the SSTL or Nigerian groundstation. The new satellite can be controlled both directly from Nigeria and also from SSTL’s groundstation to provide rapid imaging, with a typical 3-day turnaround from satellite tasking to GIS-ready images.

The NigeriaSat-2 programme includes ground segment equipment and advanced training, and follows on from the successful NigeriaSat-1 programme to provide data continuity for end users.

NigeriaSat-X will be launched into the Disaster Monitoring Constellation, where it will assist with disaster relief and global environmental monitoring campaigns alongside satellites from other consortium members ASAL (Algeria), BLMIT (China), Deimos Space (Spain), and SSTL (UK).

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DblvW8qYsso[/youtube]


NigeriaSat X :
space.skyrocket.de : NX (NigeriaSat X)

NX (NigeriaSat X) is an small satellite to advance the Nigerian space capability, which started with NigeriaSat 1. The training satellite NX is being developed by a team of 25 Nigerian trainee engineers at SSTL under a program to provide hands-on experience in all aspects of spacecraft development.

The NX satellite is based on the SSTL-100 platform and features a 22 meter multispectral imaging system with an 600 km swath.

Working on NX, image by SSTL

http://www.globalsecurity.org : Nigeriasat-X EMS100 (Enhanced Micro Satellite 100)

 

[EarthlingX]

RASAT :

http://www.uzay.tubitak.gov.tr : First satellite designed and built in Turkey: RASAT ( lots of details about the satellite and payloads )

directory.eoportal.org : RASAT (Earth Observation Satellite) (more details)

Figure 2: Block diagram of the BILGE architecture (image credit: TUBITAK-UZAY)

 

[EarthlingX]

EduSat :

http://www.asi.it : EduSAT project

EduSAT is a programme that includes the project, the realization and the launch of a microsatellite with one or more didactic payload on board.

events.eoportal.org : EduSat (Educational Satellite)

Figure 1: Illustration of the EduSat microsatellite (image credit: GAUSS)

EduSat is a cooperative microsatellite project proposed and coordinated by the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and funded by the Ministry for Education and Research.

 

[EarthlingX]

Sich 2

space.skyrocket.de : Sich 2

Sich 2 [Yuzhnoye]

The Sich 2 is a small Earth remote sensing satellite based on Yuzhnoye's MS-2-8 micro satellite plattform. It is built under the National Space Program. The launch was planned for 2008, but has been delayed to late 2009 or early 2010.

http://www.nkau.gov.ua : Sich project ( at National Space Agency of Ukraine )


http://www.yuzhnoye.com : MS-2-8

The Earth remote sensing microsatellite with optoelectronic instruments of high-resolution multi-band observation.

http://www.interfax.com.ua : Ukraine to launch Sich-2 earth observation satellite in October

19.04.2010

The launch of Ukraine's Sich-2 earth observation satellite has been scheduled for October 2010, the press service of the National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU) has said.

According to the NSAU, Dnipropetrovsk-based Pivdenne Design Bureau, which developed the 350-kilogram satellite, is currently completing the tests of the Sich-2.

According to the Kosmotras international consortium, Ukraine's Sich-2 earth observation satellite will be launched into a solar-synchronous orbit in 2010 as part of a cluster launch of Ukrainian-Russian Dnepr rocket from the Yasny airbase (Orenburg region, Russia).

Apart from the Turkish and Ukrainian satellites, the NigeriaSat-2 and NigeriaSat-X spacecraft of Britain's SSTL and the EduSat of the Rome University will be launched in the cluster.

The National Space Agency of Ukraine announced earlier that the Sich-2 satellite might become a part of the international group of remote Earth-sensing satellites together with Belarusian BelKA satellite and Egypt's EgyptSat-1, which was developed by Ukraine.

 

[EarthlingX]

space.skyrocket.de : PQ-Gemini++ 1, 2, 3, 4

PQ-Gemini++ are four 5 cm cubesats each having a mass of 120 g and carrying the following experiments:

* Magnetic Torque despin and attitude stabilization.
* Record Magnetic Induction Proximity Tracking data.
* Phase Lock 300 Baud Data stream of satellite group and Phase Lock RF with mathematical offsets.
* Optically verify Attitude Control.
* Monitor Deorbit Drag deployment.

Wiki Micro-Space (operator/contractor)

Micro-Space is based in Denver Colorado. Micro-Space is a Colorado Corporation (for Profit), incorporated in February 1977 as "Spectron Instrument Corporation". The name of this corporation was changed to "Micro-Space, Inc." in 1998

Home page : http://www.micro-space.com/


http://www.googlelunarxprize.org : Micro-Space "PQ-Gemini++" Satellites Manifested for Orbital Flight October 29, 2010

Thu, 05/27/2010 - 17:25 — rpspeck

Micro-Space is currently manifested to fly TWO tiny CubeSats "Ride Sharing" launch with EduSat, Sich-2 and other spacecraft, to be flown on a Dnepr into Sun Synchronous (near Polar) Orbit, Oct. 29, 2010. Payload Integration for this satellite group is being handled by Morehead State University, involving Dr. Ben Malphrus (Space Science Center director) and professor Bob Twiggs. Micro-Space will also be delivering two similar spacecraft to Morehead State University, and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Additional research systems will be added by the two universities.

The complete, four satellite "PQ-Gemini ++" mission group, in addition to validating general satellite systems, will be capable of demonstrating Micro-Space interferometric techniques to characterize orbital differences using only precision range data between ultralight spacecraft in preparation for autonomous rendezvous. Additional systems will allow the relative positions, distance and rotational alignment of the four satellites to be continuously monitored. This information is necessary for the final, docking procedures. Other developmental steps will follow, leading to ultralight Sample Return Missions on the Moon and Mars.

The tiny size of these satellites, 5 cm cubes massing 120 grams, is totally in tune with the Micro-Space strategy of radically downsizing space systems to minimize launch cost and make mission financing feasible. Even with today's high transportation cost to orbit, exploration is affordable when spacecraft are downsized from the mass of a Volkswagen to that of a lunch box. The cost effectiveness grows further when the systems are reduced to the mass of a modern cell phone! Grams or even milligrams of material from a selected spot on a planet or moon can be analyzed with great precision using modern techniques.

Micro-Space is discussing with several organizations both return sample analysis and Lunar Prospecting. The latter will be aimed at locating concentrations of extractable Lunar Gems and Minerals. High grade Titanium, rare earth metals and Helium Three (a potential Fusion Reactor Fuel) are all known to exist on the Moon. Low cost flight of concentrated ores to the Earth is feasible using Solar Powered, electromagnetic "Rail guns", and other technologies.

Propellant to complete rendezvous and docking is not allowed in this satellite cluster launch. Arrangements are being negotiated for launch next year of small Micro-Space spacecraft with propulsion systems to demonstrate the complete rendezvous and docking process as will be used with “Planetary Ascent Vehicles” carrying prospecting samples. Negotiations with this launch supplier also cover subsequent launch of our “Lunar Lander” and Lunar Transfer spacecraft, as well as the Planetary Ascent and Return vehicles.

Our corporate sponsors include “Legacy Stone Products, Inc.”, of Denver, Colorado, which has purchased an option for “The First Moon Rocks returned by Micro-Space to Earth for Architectural Use.” A small slice of this unique material can highlight the “Old World” look of classic stone with its “Space Age” reality!

 

[EarthlingX]

space.skyrocket.de : LatinSat A, B, C, D / AprizeSat 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

LatinSat, later renamed AprizeSat, is a constellation of little Low-Earth-Orbit satellites (64 satellites planned) to achieve a global communication system of data transmission and fixed and mobile asset tracking and monitoring (GMPCS).

AprizeSat 3 and 4 feature AIS (Automatic Identification System) receivers to gather position data from ships.

Contractor :
Wiki : SpaceQuest, Ltd.

SpaceQuest, Ltd. is a spacecraft components and engineering company located in Fairfax, Virginia, which focuses on the operations of small satellites.

The company builds spacecraft components, primarily by modifying off-the-shelf components and launching them. If the component functions successfully in space, it is labeled as "Space Qualified". They also design and outfit complete spacecrafts, many of which are amateur radio satellites, which can be accessed by users worldwide.

Home page : http://www.spacequest.com/


http://www.aprizesat.com : AprizeStar technology

The AprizeStar Satellite Data System is comprised of four operational segments:

* A Space Segment consisting of small, inexpensive little LEO (low-Earth orbit) satellites
* A Launch Segment that gets these satellites into orbit in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible today
* A User Segment that is comprised of small electronic devices that transmit and receive short messages to and from Aprize satellites
* A Ground Segment that is made up of: 1) a Network Operations Center (NOC) that controls the global satellite network; 2) Regional Satellite Nodes (RSN) that send commands to the satellites and receive user data from the satellites and; 3) a Data Center (DC) that collects, organizes, stores and distributes user data to customers