Meteor-M No.2-1 & rideshare payloads
Soyuz 2.1b/Fregat
Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)
Rocket Launch Video
Mission
Meteor-M No.2-1 & rideshare payloads
- Type: Earth Science
- Orbit: Sun-Synchronous Orbit
- Launch Cost: $80,000,000
This is the third spacecraft in the Russian Meteor-M series of remote sensing satellites. Weighing about 2750 kg, it is intended to gather hydrometeorological data from sun-synchronous orbit. This includes monitoring ozone layer and radiation levels in the near-Earth space, as well as monitoring ocean surface temperatures and ice conditions.
An algorithm glitch caused the Fregat upper stage to de-orbit.
Location
Cosmodrome Site 1S
Vostochny Cosmodrome, Siberia, Russian Federation
Cosmodrome Site 1S has witnessed the launch of 18 rockets, including 18 orbital launch attempts. While Vostochny Cosmodrome, Siberia, Russian Federation, has been the site for 19 rocket launches.
The Vostochny Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport above the 51st parallel north in the Amur Oblast, in the Russian Far East. It is intended to reduce Russia's dependency on the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The first launch took place on 28 April 2016 at 02:01 UTC.
Rocket
Progress Rocket Space Center Soyuz 2.1b Fregat
Soyuz-2, GRAU index 14A14, is the collective designation for the 21st-century version of the Russian Soyuz rocket. In its basic form, it is a three-stage carrier rocket for placing payloads into low Earth orbit. The first-stage boosters and two core stages feature uprated engines with improved injection systems, compared to the previous versions of the Soyuz. Digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to be launched from a fixed launch platform, whereas the launch platforms for earlier Soyuz rockets had to be rotated as the rocket could not perform a roll to change its heading in flight.
The Soyuz 2.1b represents the latest development stage of the proven rocket.
It uses the new RD-0124 engines in the first three stages, coupled with an improved injection system that significantly boosts the performance of the Soyuz.
Furthermore, she wears a new, digital startup control system.
This will allow the Soyuz 2.1b to carry around 1.2 tonnes more payload into low earth orbit compared to its predecessor.
Agency
Russian Federal Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS)
The Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities, commonly known as Roscosmos, is the governmental body responsible for the space science program of the Russian Federation and general aerospace research. Soyuz has many launch locations the Russian sites are Baikonur, Plesetsk and Vostochny however Ariane also purchases the vehicle and launches it from French Guiana.
