Communications
The Molniya-3 group of four satellites was used to create the Orbita communications system for northern regions of the Soviet Union. The land segment used a 12 m diameter parabolic antenna, pointed automatically at the satellite using autonomous electromechanical equipment. Although primarily for civilian applications, later versions were part of the Soviet YeSSS Unified Satellite Communications System. Trials of this version began in the 1980's, with the system being accepted by the military in 1983-1985.
Orbital Attempt
#4,482
PRSC Mission
#35
Pad Launch
#259
Location Launch
#1,514
Designator
2001-030
Jul 20, 2001, 12:17 AM
1 update
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
1965
Fastest Turnaround
4h 18m
Total Launches
272
Successful
259
Failed
13
Consecutive Success
4
Maiden flight: Oct 4, 1965
Progress Rocket Space Centre, formerly known as TsSKB-Progress, is a space science and aerospace research company which is known for manufacturing launch vehicles and satellites. Most notably, Progress Rocket Space Centre is the manufacturer of Soyuz launch vehicles.
Founded
1996
Administrator
CEO: Dmitry Baranov
Total Launches
45
Successful
44
Failed
1
Pending
0
Consecutive Success
3
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport located in Mirny, Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk. Originally developed as an ICBM site for the R-7 missile, it also served for numerous satellite launches using the R-7 and other rockets. Its high latitude makes it useful only for certain types of launches, especially the Molniya orbits, so for much of the site's history it functioned as a secondary location, with most orbital launches taking place from Baikonur, in the Kazakh SSR. With the end of the Soviet Union, Baikonur became a foreign territory, and Kazakhstan charged $115 million usage fees annually. Consequently, Plesetsk has seen considerably more activity since the 2000s.
Timezone
Europe/Moscow
Local Launch Time
Jul 20, 2001, 4:17 AM
Total Launches
1,685
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
62.9256, 40.5778