Russia to launch two European satellites
October 6th, 2009 - 7:01 pm ICT by IANSMoscow, Oct 6 (RIA Novosti) Russia will launch two European satellites Nov 2 from the Plesetsk space center in northwest Russia, a report said Tuesday.
The dry run of the launch began early October at the space center as per schedule.
“The launch is scheduled for Nov 2. A deal to launch Rockot with the SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) spacecraft [primary payload] and the Proba-2 mini-satellite was concluded between the ESA (European Space Agency) and Eurockot Launch Services GmbH (a joint venture of the Khrunichev center and EADS Astrium),” a Khrunichev center report said.
Once in orbit at an altitude of 756 km, the 665-kg SMOS will provide global high resolution maps showing variations in soil moisture and saline levels in the world’s oceans.
The 130-kg Proba-2 (Project for On-Board Autonomy) research satellite will test new technologies for autonomous space missions.
The launch vehicle is a modified version of the Russian RS-18 (SS-19 Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missile.
- Russia launches two European satellites - Nov 02, 2009
- Russian rocket puts European satellite into orbit - Mar 18, 2009
- European satellite to provide new insights into how water is cycled around Earth - Nov 02, 2009
- ISRO to launch French satellite - Apr 03, 2012
- Russian military satellite to fall Saturday - Apr 06, 2012
- Russia folds Soyuz-U launch programme - May 19, 2012
- Russia launches navigation satellite - Feb 26, 2011
- Russian military satellite falls in Pacific - Apr 08, 2012
- Russia postpones launch of navigation satellite - Dec 22, 2010
- Launch of CryoSat-2 ice satellite successful - Apr 09, 2010
- Man escapes as satellite piece crashes through roof - Dec 25, 2011
- Russia plans three space launches in August - Jul 30, 2011
- Russia's space industry in crisis: Official - Dec 24, 2011
- Russia launches military communication satellite - May 05, 2011
- Russia launches navigation satellite - Oct 03, 2011
Tags: 130 kg, eads, eads astrium, eurockot launch services, european satellites, european space agency, high resolution maps, intercontinental ballistic missile, launch vehicle, modified version, northwest russia, nov 2, ocean salinity, research satellite, ria novosti russia, russian rs, soil moisture, space center, space missions, stiletto