* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Russian launches

Blobrana · L

Between 25 and 28 spacecraft are to be launched in accordance with Russia's space exploration program in 2007.

"We have reached the number of 25-28 launches a year. We would like to maintain this level" - deputy chief Vitaly Davydov, Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos).

At the State Council's upcoming session in April, Roscosmos plans "to seriously address the issue of launching a large-scale program of efforts aimed at ensuring the effective use of operating space systems and complexes".

Source: Moscow Daily News Bulletin

Blobrana · L

Military launches in 2006:

The Cosmos-2420 satellite was launched on May 3rd from Plesetsk.

Three Glonass satellites may be launched in December.

A Soyuz-2 carrying "a radically new military spacecraft" (possibly a new communication satellite) may be launched from Plesetsk during the third quarter of 2006 .
(the name "Meridian" has been mentioned on some blogs)

At least two launches may take place at Baykonur - the Resurs-DK satellite on a Soyuz-U on June 15 and a US-PU naval reconnaissance satellite on a Tsyklon-2 rocket on June 22 (this one will replace Cosmos-2405 that just completed its mission)

The Tselina-2 naval reconnaisance satellite aboard a Zenith-2 launcher, from Baykonur, is tentatively scheduled to launch in June.

The Space Forces are also planning to launch one more optical reconnaissance satellite this year - Don (Orlets-1) aboard a Soyuz-U rocket from Plesetsk. The last time a satellite of this type was launched was in August 2003.
This will probably happen after Cosmos-2420/Kobalt completes its mission (normally in 120 days).

Blobrana · L

The Russian Federal Space Agency has completed the launch schedule of booster rockets over the next three months.

The launch timetable and the plan for preparing booster rockets and spacecraft was detailed and cleared with the Space Troops HQ on the 21 February.

Two launches under the manned flight programme will take place at the Baykonur cosmodrome between March and May 2006.
On 30 March, a Soyuz-FG booster rocket with a Soyuz-TMA spaceship will blast off to the International Space Station with Expedition 13 crew - commander Pavel Vinogradov and flight engineer Jeffrey Williams - and Brazilian astronaut Marcos Pontes of visit expedition 10.
On 24 April, a Soyuz booster rocket is due to blast off with a Progress-M resupply craft to deliver food, water and equipment necessary for the work of the ISS crew.

In late March, Roskosmos specialists will start their preparations for the launch of the Resurs-DK spacecraft and a Soyuz booster rocket as part of the Federal Space Programme.
For mid- April, work has been scheduled to prepare for the launch of a Soyuz- 2.1a booster rocket and a Metop craft as part of the Starsem programme (the commercial arm of the Soyuz company). These craft will be launched as early as summer.

In mid-April, preparations will start at the Baykonur cosmodrome for the launch of the Hot Bird 8 spacecraft, Proton-M booster rocket and Briz-M booster module under the Khrunichev Centre programme.

Under the Federal Space Programme, a Kompas-2 spacecraft is due to be launched by a Russian navy submarine in the second half of May.

An Israeli spacecraft will be launched by a Space Troops crew using a Start-1 booster rocket from the Svobodnyy cosmodrome.

No launches of spacecraft from the Plesetsk cosmodrome are scheduled for the spring period under the Federal Space Programme or other programmes.

Source: BBC