Success
Meridian-M No.18
Communications
Russian Space Forces(VKS)Government
Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M
LEOorbit
The Meridian series of communications satellites is reported to be the replacement for all the Molniya-1T, the Molniya-3 and Molniya-3K satellite series and possibly also for the communication component of the Parus. They are launched into highly eccentric Molniya-orbits. Meridian is the highly eccentric orbit (HEO) component of the Integrated Satellite Communications System (ISSS), where they work in conjunction with the geostationary Raduga-1M (Globus-M) satellites. The bus structure is reportedly pressurized, possibly based on the Uragan-M bus. Meridian satellites carry three transponders operating in different frequency bands.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at 5:57 AM
Replay
Links
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#5,871
VKS Mission
#104
Pad Launch
#297
Location Launch
#1,629
Designator
2019-046
Launch Window
NET
Jul 30, 2019, 5:57 AM
Precision
Minute
Schedule Changes
1 update
Lift Off
5:00 AM
Window Open
8:00 AM
Window Close
Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M Specs
The 2.1a version includes conversion from analog to digital flight control system and uprated engines on the booster and the first stage with improved injection systems. The new digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to launch from a fixed rather than angled launch platform and adjust its heading in flight. A digital control system also enables the launch of larger commercial satellites with wider and longer payload fairings such as the ST-type fairing. These fairings introduce too much aerodynamic instability for the old analog system to handle.
Length
46.3 m
Diameter
2.95 m
Launch Mass
312 t
Thrust
4,149 kN
LEO Capacity
7,020 kg
Launch Cost
$80M
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
2010
Fastest Turnaround
13d 7h
Total Launches
20
Successful
19
Failed
1
Consecutive Success
10
Maiden flight: Oct 19, 2010
Russian Space Forces
The Russian Space Forces are a branch of the Russian Aerospace Forces, that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and protection for Russia. Having been reestablished following August 1, 2015 merger between the Russian Air Force and the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces after a 2011 dissolving of the branch. The Russian Space Forces were originally formed on August 10, 1992 and the creation of the Russian Armed Forces.
Founded
1992
Administrator
Commander: Aleksandr Golovko
Total Launches
156
Successful
148
Failed
8
Pending
1
Consecutive Success
68
Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation
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 30, 2019, 8:57 AM
Total Launches
1,685
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
62.9256, 40.5778