Session
Technical Session X: Delivery Systems
Abstract
September 26, 2000 marked the launch of Dnepr launch vehicle ( converted SS-18 ICBM) with a group of small spacecraft. The rocket was launched from a silo located on Baikonur Cosmodrome. Five spacecraft were injected into a 650 km circular orbit inclined 65 degrees – MegSat-1 and UniSat (Italy), SaudiSat-1A and 1B (Saudi Arabia), and TiungSat-1 (Malaysia). For the purposes of rational use of the SS-18s being eliminated under the START treaty, an International Space Company Kosmotras was established in 1997 by the decision of the governments of Russia and Ukraine, which incorporated rocket and space industry enterprises of both countries. The Dnepr launch vehicle is 34.3 meters in length, 3 meters in diameter and its launch weight is 211 metric tons. It is equipped with liquid propellant engines. The Dnepr Program is one of the major conversion programs. The basis of the Dnepr Program is formed by all SS-18 assets available in Russia and silo launchers at Baikonur Cosmodrome. The SS-18 system has more than 20 years of successful launch history with the last Dnepr launch being 159th one. The last rocket launched differed from the standard SS-18 by its modified control system and flight program. An Encapsulated Payload Module (EPM) containing five spacecraft mounted on individual adapters was installed under its fairing. The use of EPM allows for the integration of all satellites with the launch vehicle adapter and their electrical checks in a separate clean room, with subsequent transportation of the hermetically sealed EPM to the Space Head Module Processing Facility for installation into the Space Head Module. Consecutive separation of the satellites in the course of the third stage motor operation (throttled-back operation mode) ensured their deployment into individual orbits. The September 26, 2000 Dnepr launch was the second one under the Dnepr Program. It was the next step of the program evolution – mastering the so-called “cluster” launches of spacecraft owned by different customers. Small satellites are expected to take a greater share among other payloads planned for launch in the near future. Small satellite builders always face a challenging task of finding a suitable launch opportunity. Basically, their payloads are piggy-back launched, while ISC Kosmotras offers them dedicated Dnepr launches, where a group of small spacecraft is launched as a primary payload.
Cluster Launches of Small Satellites on Dnepr Launch Vehicle
September 26, 2000 marked the launch of Dnepr launch vehicle ( converted SS-18 ICBM) with a group of small spacecraft. The rocket was launched from a silo located on Baikonur Cosmodrome. Five spacecraft were injected into a 650 km circular orbit inclined 65 degrees – MegSat-1 and UniSat (Italy), SaudiSat-1A and 1B (Saudi Arabia), and TiungSat-1 (Malaysia). For the purposes of rational use of the SS-18s being eliminated under the START treaty, an International Space Company Kosmotras was established in 1997 by the decision of the governments of Russia and Ukraine, which incorporated rocket and space industry enterprises of both countries. The Dnepr launch vehicle is 34.3 meters in length, 3 meters in diameter and its launch weight is 211 metric tons. It is equipped with liquid propellant engines. The Dnepr Program is one of the major conversion programs. The basis of the Dnepr Program is formed by all SS-18 assets available in Russia and silo launchers at Baikonur Cosmodrome. The SS-18 system has more than 20 years of successful launch history with the last Dnepr launch being 159th one. The last rocket launched differed from the standard SS-18 by its modified control system and flight program. An Encapsulated Payload Module (EPM) containing five spacecraft mounted on individual adapters was installed under its fairing. The use of EPM allows for the integration of all satellites with the launch vehicle adapter and their electrical checks in a separate clean room, with subsequent transportation of the hermetically sealed EPM to the Space Head Module Processing Facility for installation into the Space Head Module. Consecutive separation of the satellites in the course of the third stage motor operation (throttled-back operation mode) ensured their deployment into individual orbits. The September 26, 2000 Dnepr launch was the second one under the Dnepr Program. It was the next step of the program evolution – mastering the so-called “cluster” launches of spacecraft owned by different customers. Small satellites are expected to take a greater share among other payloads planned for launch in the near future. Small satellite builders always face a challenging task of finding a suitable launch opportunity. Basically, their payloads are piggy-back launched, while ISC Kosmotras offers them dedicated Dnepr launches, where a group of small spacecraft is launched as a primary payload.
