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Dec. 3, 2020
Soyuz-2 launches Gonets-M & ERA-1
On Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 4:14 Moscow time, the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle (manufactured by the Progress rocket and space center, part of the Roscosmos State Corporation) was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region. the spacecraft block of the low-orbit commercial satellite communication system "Gonets-M" and the service platform of the nano-sized spacecraft "ERA-1" developed in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense, designed to test advanced microdevices and microsystems of orientation and astronavigation.
All prelaunch operations and the launch of the Soyuz-2 rocket took place in the normal mode. The means of the ground-based automated control complex of the Aerospace Forces monitored the launch and flight of the launch vehicle. Two minutes after the launch, the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket was taken for escort by ground-based facilities of the V.I. German Titov of the Aerospace Forces of the Aerospace Forces.
At the estimated time, the Fregat upper stage (manufactured by the Lavochkin association, part of the Roscosmos State Corporation) routinely separated from the third stage of the Soyuz-2 launch vehicle and two hours later successfully launched the spacecraft into the calculated orbit. After launching into orbit, the spacecraft of the Russian Ministry of Defense was assigned the serial number "Cosmos-2548", and the "Gonets-M" satellites were transferred to the control of the customer, who will control them during the orbital flight. Specialists of the Main Testing Space Center. German Titov carried out operations to de-orbit the Fregat upper stage.
Launch of the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket with spacecraft at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Pavel Cherenkov, General Director of the Gonets Satellite System (part of the Roscosmos State Corporation), on the launch: “Congratulations to all colleagues and partners on the successful launch of three Gonets-M spacecraft. According to the information received, their separation from the upper stage took place normally, they were taken over by our duty shifts. After the specified flight operations are completed, they will be entered into the communication system. The replenishment of the grouping created an important resource for the viability of the system and created some redundancy opportunities.
For us, as an operator of the Gonets system, this is extremely important, since we can confidently guarantee our users the provision of services at the highest level. This year, we also commissioned four new regional stations, which dramatically improved the operation of the ground segment. Therefore, the Gonets system is ready to provide services for various segments with scalability both in terms of the list of services and the number of subscribers. "
Soyuz-2 launches Gonets-M & ERA-1
The officers of the Space Control Center of the Space Forces of the Aerospace Forces entered into the Main catalog of space objects of the Russian space control system information about the spacecraft launched into orbit, and began to analyze and process information about new space objects for their acceptance by ground means of the Main Center for Space Situation Intelligence Space Forces Aerospace Forces.
The Upper Stage "Fregat" ensures the efficient performance of all tasks related to the launch of one or several spacecraft into working orbits or trajectories departing from the Earth. The entire launching process is carried out autonomously, without interference from the Earth. The highest reliability and, practically, ideal launching accuracy, give the upper stage an undeniable competitive advantage over world analogues. This launch was the 90th for the Fregat upper stage.
Gonets-M satellite
The launch took place for the second time this year. Three satellites "Gonets-M", launched into orbit on September 28, 2020, have been successfully introduced by specialists of the "Gonets" satellite system into the communication system and are used for their intended purpose. The launches were carried out within the framework of the Federal Space Program of Russia for 2016–2025, which provides for the maintenance of the Gonets-D1M MSPSS orbital group in operational readiness and in the regular composition.
As part of the Gonets-D1M system, the Gonets-M spacecraft will serve for organizing personal communication services, including data transmission from mobile and stationary objects, as well as for industrial, environmental and scientific monitoring in hard-to-reach areas.
ROSCOSMOS Press Release: https://www.roscosmos.ru/29637/
Images, Video, Text, Credits: ROSCOSMOS/Russian Defense Ministry/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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