Starsem_launch The new Fregat upper stage successfully completed its second and final test flight, clearing the way for future commercial operations.
According to the updated information from Russian Aviation and Space Agency (Rosaviacosmos), the launch of the Soyuz rocket, carrying the Fregat upper stage, took place at 1:28 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (18:28 GMT) from launch pad 6 of Area 31 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.
The first ignition of the Fregat upper stage took place at 1:38 p.m. EST (18:38 GMT) and lasted approximately 3 minutes. The maneuver placed the upper stage and a mock-up payload representing the weight of a pair of Cluster satellites into an initial low circular orbit.
Between 2:46 p.m. and 2:54 p.m. EST (19:46 and 19:54 GMT) the Fregat's engine fired again, sending the vehicle into highly elliptical orbit. There, around 3:00 p.m. EST (20:00 GMT), the separation of the payload from the upper stage was simulated. An actual separation of the payload from Fregat will not be executed during in the mission.
The Fregat completed its first successful mission on February 9 this year.
| Launch Update: |
| 3:47 p.m. EST: The Fregat upper stage successfully completed its second and final test flight clearing the way for its future commercial operations. |
Today's launch was planned to simulate real commercial missions slated to deliver two pairs of European science satellites, called Cluster, into a highly elliptical orbits in June and July 2000. This flight carried an inert weight to simulate the mass of the payload.
The four original Cluster spacecraft, which were designed to study interaction between the sun and Earth, were lost in the launch failure of the Ariane 5 rocket during its first mission.
The Paris-based
Starsem company, a joint venture between the French and Russian aerospace industries, used a Soyuz-Fregat launcher combination in addition to its flight-proven version of the Soyuz rocket, which is equipped with a smaller upper stage called Ikar. The Fregat allows the delivery of bigger payloads into orbit. Besides a pair of launches with the Cluster spacecraft, Starsem has booked the launch of the Mars Express spacecraft for the European Space Agency (
ESA). Planned for June 2003, it will also ride a Soyuz-Fregat combination.Another mission carrying a cluster of Globalstar communications satellites is under consideration. Bernard Luciani, the Director for International Business Development at Starsem told SPACE.com. It would use the Soyuz-Ikar combination.
"We hope to get more orders [to launch commercial payloads] before Mars Express goes up in 2003," Luciani said in the telephone interview.
The Soyuz is the most reliable rocket in the Russian space launcher fleet. It is based on the R 7 -- the first Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile, which has been flying since May 1957. The R 7 rocket was the basis for the craft that delivered the world's first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, and the first piloted spacecraft. All Russian piloted missions are launched by R 7-derived launchers.
The Starsem venture has been so optimistic about the Soyuz launcher that it is currently considering building an entirely new launch complex for the booster in French Guiana. The site, located in the equatorial region, would allow maximum use of the Earth's rotation to boost the launcher's performance. All European Ariane rockets take off from Kourou, French Guiana.
"We are expecting the decision by the French government on the Soyuz launch site in French Guiana before this summer," Luciani said, "Since the government supported the creation of Starsem, we don't see any potential political problems."
Even after the government decision, Starsem will have to conduct extensive feasibility studies before going ahead with the project," Luciani said.
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