The European Space Agency’s MetOp-A satellite is expected to be launched on 7 October on the second flight of a Starsem-provided Soyuz-2-1a booster, but the maiden flight of the 2-1b version has been delayed again.
Eutmetsat’s MetOp-A is the first of three polar-orbit meteorological satellites that will operate until 2020.
The MetOp-A launch was scheduled for 17 July, but had to be called off after three consecutive failures due to electrical problems with the Samara Space Centre-built 2-1a booster’s ground system.
First flown in November 2004, this version of the Soyuz 2 has digital flight controls and the MetOp-A launch will use the larger 4.11m (13.4ft)-diameter, 11.4m-long upper-stage payload fairing, known as ST, for the first time.
“The new [7 October launch] date was established last week following various planning meetings between the partners: ESA [European Space Agency], Eumetsat, [French space agency] CNES, US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Starsem,” says ESA.
The Soyuz-2-1b, which uses the new RD-0124 third-stage engine, was expected to launch this month from Baikonur’s Pad 31 on its maiden flight. Its payload is CNES’s extra-solar observation spacecraft Convection Rotation and Planetary Transits.
Major Starsem shareholder, Arianespace, was not available to comment on the delay.
The RD-0124 engine completed integration and hot firing tests in March and April. Assuming successful completion of these tests, a September launch was expected. Manufactured by the Design Bureau of Chemical Automatics in Voronezh, south-west Russia, the RD-0124 replaces the RD-0110 third-stage engine and provides an additional 34s specific impulse, increasing overall launcher performance.
Source: Flight International