Launch
Russian Space Forces
Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat-M | Meridian-M No.21L
- Mission
- rocket
- Pad
- Agency
Mission
Meridian-M No.21L
Communications
Elliptical Orbit
Note: Payload identity uncertain. Meridian is a series of communications satellite for military and civilian use.
Status
Go for Launch
Current T-0 confirmed by official or reliable sources.
Pad
43/3 (43L)
RUS
Latitude: 62.9273
longitude: 40.45
Map
Location
Europe/Moscow
Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport located in Mirny, Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk. Originally developed as an ICBM site for the R-7 missile, it also served for numerous satellite launches using the R-7 and other rockets. Its high latitude makes it useful only for certain types of launches, especially the Molniya orbits, so for much of the site's history it functioned as a secondary location, with most orbital launches taking place from Baikonur, in the Kazakh SSR. With the end of the Soviet Union, Baikonur became a foreign territory, and Kazakhstan charged $115 million usage fees annually. Consequently, Plesetsk has seen considerably more activity since the 2000s.
1682
0
Location Image
Rocket
Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M
The 2.1a version includes conversion from analog to digital flight control system and uprated engines on the booster and the first stage with improved injection systems. The new digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to launch from a fixed rather than angled launch platform and adjust its heading in flight. A digital control system also enables the launch of larger commercial satellites with wider and longer payload fairings such as the ST-type fairing. These fairings introduce too much aerodynamic instability for the old analog system to handle.
Family: Soyuz
Variant: Fregat-M
Details
Min stage: 3
Max stage: 3m
Length: 46.3m
Diameter: 2.95
First Flight: Oct. 19, 2010
Total launch count: 19
Successful launches: 18
Failed launches: 1
Pending launches: 1
Consecutive successful launches: 9
Low Earth Orbit (LEO) capacity: 7020kg
Launch cost: US$80000000
Manufacturer
Progress Rocket Space Center
Commercial
RUS
Progress Rocket Space Centre, formerly known as TsSKB-Progress, is a space science and aerospace research company which is known for manufacturing launch vehicles and satellites. Most notably, Progress Rocket Space Centre is the manufacturer of Soyuz launch vehicles.
1996
CEO: Dmitry Baranov
Agency
Russian Space Forces
The Russian Space Forces are a branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces, that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and protection for Russia. Having been reestablished following August 1, 2015 merger between the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces after a 2011 dissolving of the branch. The Russian Space Forces were originally formed on August 10, 1992 and the creation of the Russian Armed Forces.
RUS
Type: Government
Details
Commander: Aleksandr Golovko
1992
Total launch count: 148
Successful launches: 140
Consecutive successful launches: 60
Failed launches: 8
Pending launches: 2
