Tim Furniss/LONDON
The first commercial launch of the Dnepr, a former SS-18K ballistic missile, will be made from a silo at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan between 21 and 25 April. The launcher is operated by ISC Kosmotras, a consortium of 20 Russian and Ukrainian companies.
The 37.3m-high Dnepr booster will carry Surrey Satellite Technology's (SSTL) first 350kg Minisatellite series spacecraft, called the UoSAT 12.
The demonstration launch is being made at a "competitive price" which SSTL is unwilling to reveal. The UK-based space company has previously flown three smaller microsatellites on Russian Tsyklon and Zenit boosters. SSTL says: "We are looking forward to continued co-operation with Kosmotras" for further launches.
The UoSAT 12 is aimed at demonstrating advanced low-earth orbit digital communications and high-resolution multispectral earth-observation payloads, with novel propulsion, attitude control and navigation experiments.
The Dnepr, developed by NPO Yuzhnoye of the Ukraine, is based on the R-36M2 ballistic missile. The missile has made 157 launches with a 99% success rate. More than 100 redundant missiles are available to Kosmotras.
The three-stage liquid-propellant missile can place 950kg into low-earth orbit (LEO), but, with a new upper stage, such as the Fregat, it could carry about 4,400kg into LEO.
US company Teledesic, is considering launches for its 204-840 satellite constellation.
Meanwhile, Russia's Polyot organisation has formed a company, called Air Launch, to perform satellite deliveries from an Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft.
It is seeking international partners for the venture, which will provide transportation of 1,200kg payloads to 200km orbit for $5,000 per kilogramme. The design of the booster has not been finalised and bids are expected to be lodged by the Energia, Khrunichev and Makeyev companies.
Source: Flight International
