A Russian Tsyklon 3 booster launched from Plesetsk on 24 December placed two Ukrainian satellites into lower-than-planned orbits after the third stage shut down prematurely. The Sich 1M remote-sensing satellite and KS5MF2 micro-satellite were placed in 280 x 645km (175 x 400 miles) orbits rather than the 640 x 680km planned.
The small engine on the Sich 1M will have to be used to raise the satellite's orbit, reducing its operational life from three years to one. However, it is not certain the KS5MF2's orbit can be raised, and the satellite may re-enter the Earth's atmosphere prematurely. The three-stage Tsyklon 3 is based on an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).
Russia, meanwhile, successfully launched a Proton K booster from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on 26 December carrying two standard Glonass navigation satellites and one new Glonass M. This brings the operational constellation to 16 satellites, with the goal of having 18 operational, not including in-orbit spares, by 2007. Also on 26 December, the Progress M-51 resupply vessel docked with the International Space Station after its launch from Baikonur on 23 December.
n Russia's Kosmotras has signed a $9.6 million contract to launch the Japan Space Exploration Agency's optical communications test satellite OICETS and the Index science satellite on a Dnepr booster (former SS-18 ICBM) later this year.
TIM FURNISS / LONDON
Source: Flight International
