Rockot
Encyclopedia
The Rokot also transliterated as a the pun Rockot, is a Russia
n space launch vehicle
that can launch a payload of 1,950 kilograms into a 200 kilometre high Earth orbit with 63°
inclination
. It is a derivative of the UR-100N (SS-19 Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missile
(ICBM), supplied and operated by Eurockot Launch Services
. The first launches started in the 1990s from Baikonur Cosmodrome
out of a silo. Later commercial launches commenced from Plesetsk Cosmodrome
using a launch ramp specially rebuilt from one for the Kosmos-3M rocket. The cost of a commercial launch is about $14 million.
s, its length 29 metres and its maximum diameter 2.5 metres. The liquid-fueled rocket comprises three stages. The lower two are based on the Soviet UR-100N ICBM; the first stage uses an RD-244 engine, while the second stage uses an RD-235. The third stage is a Briz-KM ( meaning Breeze-KM), which has a mass of about 6 tonnes when fuelled, and is capable of flying for 7 hours and reigniting its engine six times during flight, allowing different satellites to be placed into different orbits. All stages use UDMH
(unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine
) as fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide
as oxidiser. The Strela is a similar rocket, also based on the SS-19.
formed a company with German DaimlerBenz Aerospace to market Rokot launches for commercial use. Later, the company was renamed to Eurockot Launch Services
. Eurockot bought 45 Rokots from the Russian strategic missile forces to build its inventory. In 2000, Eurokot was partly bought by the German company Astrium GmbH, a shareholder of Arianespace
. Astrium now holds 51% of Eurockot's shares, while Khrunichev holds 49%.
Although there are several silos in Baikonour capable of launching Rokots, it was decided to build an open, non-siloed launch pad at Plesetsk Cosmodrome
instead. This is because of concerns that the amount of noise generated during a silo-based launch would damage satellites. In the new pad, Rokot is wheeled up to the structure in a vertical position, and then embraced by its launch tower. The payload is lifted by a crane and placed on top of the bottom two stages. The procedure is in contrast to other Russian launchers, which had traditionally been assembled horizontally and then transferred to the launch site via railways. The first launch from Plesetsk took place on 16 May 2000.
After 6 entirely successful launches, a launch failure occurred on 8 October 2005, leading to the loss of the European Space Agency
's Cryosat
spacecraft. The launch vehicle 2nd stage main engine was not shut down properly, resulting in a catastrophic failure and automatic termination of the launch mission by the on-board computer. The payload was lost. After the failed CryoSat launch, all Rokot launches were suspended until the failure was identified. The root cause was unambiguously identified; it was a failure in programming of the Briz-KM (which was contracted to the company JSC "Khartron"
). The failure of this high-profile mission led to major reforms in Khrunichev: the director of the company Alexander Medvedev was dismissed, new launch procedures were introduced, the lines of management were straightened out to catch errors and the new Khrunichev chief, Viktor Nesterov, was required to report directly to the head of the Russian Space Agency, Anatoli Perminov. Corrective measures for Rokot's return-to-flight were implemented for the South Korea
n Kompsat-2 earth observation satellite launch which took place successfully on 28 July 2006. The Korean side reportedly praised the level of service they received, encouraging the Rokot team to rebuild its order book.
Another launch failure occurred in February 2011, when a Briz-KM malfunction resulted in the Geo-IK-2 No.11 satellite being placed into a lower orbit than planned.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n space launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
that can launch a payload of 1,950 kilograms into a 200 kilometre high Earth orbit with 63°
Degree (angle)
A degree , usually denoted by ° , is a measurement of plane angle, representing 1⁄360 of a full rotation; one degree is equivalent to π/180 radians...
inclination
Inclination
Inclination in general is the angle between a reference plane and another plane or axis of direction.-Orbits:The inclination is one of the six orbital parameters describing the shape and orientation of a celestial orbit...
. It is a derivative of the UR-100N (SS-19 Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missile
Intercontinental ballistic missile
An intercontinental ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a long range typically designed for nuclear weapons delivery...
(ICBM), supplied and operated by Eurockot Launch Services
Eurockot Launch Services
Eurockot Launch Services GmbH is a commercial spacecraft launch provider and was founded in 1995. Eurockot uses an expendable launch vehicle called the Rockot to place satellites into Low-Earth orbit . Eurockot is jointly owned by EADS Astrium, which holds 51 percent, and by Khrunichev State...
. The first launches started in the 1990s from Baikonur Cosmodrome
Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level...
out of a silo. Later commercial launches commenced from Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:...
using a launch ramp specially rebuilt from one for the Kosmos-3M rocket. The cost of a commercial launch is about $14 million.
Specifications
Rokot's total mass is 107 tonneTonne
The tonne, known as the metric ton in the US , often put pleonastically as "metric tonne" to avoid confusion with ton, is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. The tonne is not an International System of Units unit, but is accepted for use with the SI...
s, its length 29 metres and its maximum diameter 2.5 metres. The liquid-fueled rocket comprises three stages. The lower two are based on the Soviet UR-100N ICBM; the first stage uses an RD-244 engine, while the second stage uses an RD-235. The third stage is a Briz-KM ( meaning Breeze-KM), which has a mass of about 6 tonnes when fuelled, and is capable of flying for 7 hours and reigniting its engine six times during flight, allowing different satellites to be placed into different orbits. All stages use UDMH
UDMH
Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine is a toxic volatile hygroscopic clear liquid, with a sharp, fishy, ammoniacal smell typical for organic amines. It turns yellowish on exposure to air and absorbs oxygen and carbon dioxide. It mixes completely with water, ethanol, and kerosene. In concentration...
(unsymmetrical Dimethylhydrazine
Hydrazine
Hydrazine is an inorganic compound with the formula N2H4. It is a colourless flammable liquid with an ammonia-like odor. Hydrazine is highly toxic and dangerously unstable unless handled in solution. Approximately 260,000 tons are manufactured annually...
) as fuel and dinitrogen tetroxide
Dinitrogen tetroxide
Dinitrogen tetroxide is the chemical compound N2O4. It is a useful reagent in chemical synthesis. It forms an equilibrium mixture with nitrogen dioxide; some call this mixture dinitrogen tetroxide, while some call it nitrogen dioxide.Dinitrogen tetroxide is a powerful oxidizer, making it highly...
as oxidiser. The Strela is a similar rocket, also based on the SS-19.
History
The first suborbital test launch succeeded on 20 November 1990 in Baikonur Cosmodrome. On 26 December 1994 Rokot brought its first satellite into Earth orbit. In 1995, Khrunichev State Research and Production Space CenterKhrunichev
Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center is a Moscow-based producer of spacecraft and space-launch systems, including the Proton and Rokot rockets. The company's history dates back to 1916, when an automobile factory was established outside Moscow...
formed a company with German DaimlerBenz Aerospace to market Rokot launches for commercial use. Later, the company was renamed to Eurockot Launch Services
Eurockot Launch Services
Eurockot Launch Services GmbH is a commercial spacecraft launch provider and was founded in 1995. Eurockot uses an expendable launch vehicle called the Rockot to place satellites into Low-Earth orbit . Eurockot is jointly owned by EADS Astrium, which holds 51 percent, and by Khrunichev State...
. Eurockot bought 45 Rokots from the Russian strategic missile forces to build its inventory. In 2000, Eurokot was partly bought by the German company Astrium GmbH, a shareholder of Arianespace
Arianespace
Arianespace SA is a French company founded in 1980 as the world's first commercial space transportation company. It undertakes the production, operation, and marketing of the Ariane 5 rocket launcher as part of the Ariane programme....
. Astrium now holds 51% of Eurockot's shares, while Khrunichev holds 49%.
Although there are several silos in Baikonour capable of launching Rokots, it was decided to build an open, non-siloed launch pad at Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome
Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:...
instead. This is because of concerns that the amount of noise generated during a silo-based launch would damage satellites. In the new pad, Rokot is wheeled up to the structure in a vertical position, and then embraced by its launch tower. The payload is lifted by a crane and placed on top of the bottom two stages. The procedure is in contrast to other Russian launchers, which had traditionally been assembled horizontally and then transferred to the launch site via railways. The first launch from Plesetsk took place on 16 May 2000.
After 6 entirely successful launches, a launch failure occurred on 8 October 2005, leading to the loss of the European Space Agency
European Space Agency
The European Space Agency , established in 1975, is an intergovernmental organisation dedicated to the exploration of space, currently with 18 member states...
's Cryosat
CryoSat
CryoSat is an ESA programme which will monitor variations in the extent and thickness of polar ice through use of a satellite in low Earth orbit. The information provided about the behaviour of coastal glaciers that drain thinning ice sheets will be key to better predictions of future sea-level rise...
spacecraft. The launch vehicle 2nd stage main engine was not shut down properly, resulting in a catastrophic failure and automatic termination of the launch mission by the on-board computer. The payload was lost. After the failed CryoSat launch, all Rokot launches were suspended until the failure was identified. The root cause was unambiguously identified; it was a failure in programming of the Briz-KM (which was contracted to the company JSC "Khartron"
Khartron
JSC "Khartron" is a one of the leading design engineering bureaus of CIS , which develops and produces spacecraft control systems.- History and achievements :Khartron Corp...
). The failure of this high-profile mission led to major reforms in Khrunichev: the director of the company Alexander Medvedev was dismissed, new launch procedures were introduced, the lines of management were straightened out to catch errors and the new Khrunichev chief, Viktor Nesterov, was required to report directly to the head of the Russian Space Agency, Anatoli Perminov. Corrective measures for Rokot's return-to-flight were implemented for the South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n Kompsat-2 earth observation satellite launch which took place successfully on 28 July 2006. The Korean side reportedly praised the level of service they received, encouraging the Rokot team to rebuild its order book.
Another launch failure occurred in February 2011, when a Briz-KM malfunction resulted in the Geo-IK-2 No.11 satellite being placed into a lower orbit than planned.
Launch table
| Date (UTC) | Type | Launch site | Payload | Payload type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rokot/Briz-K | Ba LC131 Baikonur Cosmodrome The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level... |
experimental payload | Suborbital, success | ||
| 20 December 1991 | Rokot/Briz-K | Ba LC175/1 Baikonur Cosmodrome The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level... |
experimental payload | Suborbital, success | |
| 26 December 1994 | Rokot/Briz-K | Ba LC175/1 Baikonur Cosmodrome The Baikonur Cosmodrome , also called Tyuratam, is the world's first and largest operational space launch facility. It is located in the desert steppe of Kazakhstan, about east of the Aral Sea, north of the Syr Darya river, near Tyuratam railway station, at 90 meters above sea level... |
Radio-ROSTO | Amateur radio satellite | success, first orbital mission |
| 22 December 1999 | Rokot/Briz-K | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
RSVN-40 | experimental payload | no launch, rocket irreparably damaged during preparation |
| 16 May 2000 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
SimSat-1 and 2 | Iridium-mock-ups | success |
| 17 March 2002 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
GRACE Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment The Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment , a joint mission of NASA and the German Space Agency, has been making detailed measurements of Earth's gravity field since its launch in March 2002.... -1 and 2 |
research satellite | success |
| 20 June 2002 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
Iridium-97 and 98 Iridium (satellite) Iridium Communications Inc. is a company, based in McLean, VA, United States which operates the Iridium satellite constellation, a system of 66 active satellites used for worldwide voice and data communication from hand-held satellite phones and other transceiver units... |
communication satellites | success |
| 30 June 2003 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
MIMOSA MIMOSA MIMOSA is a Czech scientific microsatellite. The satellite is nearly spherical with 28 sides and carries a microaccelerometer to monitor the atmospheric density profile by sensing the atmospheric drag on the approximated sphere. It has a fairly eccentric orbit, with an initial perigee of... , DTUsat DTUsat DTUsat was a CubeSat built by students from the Technical University of Denmark. It was launched on 30 June 2003 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on a Rockot launcher. Contact with the satellite was never established.... , MOST Microvariability and Oscillations of STars telescope The Microvariability and Oscillations of STars telescope, better known simply as MOST, is Canada's first and only space telescope. It is also the smallest space telescope in the world... , Cute-I, QuakeSat QuakeSat Quakesat is an earth observation nanosatellite based on 3 CubeSats. It was designed to be a proof-of-concept for space-based detection of ELF signals, thought by some to be earthquake precursor signals. The science behind the concept is disputed.... , AAU CubeSat AAU CubeSat AAU CubeSat was a CubeSat built and operated by students from Aalborg University in Denmark. AAU CubeSat was launched on 30 June 2003 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on a Russian "Rockot" rocket.... , CanX-1, Cubesat XI-IV, Monitor-E Monitor-E Monitor-E is the first Russian satellite of a fleet of newly designed, small Earth observing satellites. It was launched August 26, 2005 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, and placed in a Sun synchronous orbit of 540 km.- Design :... mockup |
NLS Nanosatellite Launch System The Nanosatellite Launch System is a series of satellite launch missions coordinated by the Space Flight Laboratory of the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies... satellites and Monitor-E-Mockup |
success |
| 30 October 2003 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
SERVIS-1 SERVIS-1 SERVIS-1, or Space Environment Reliability Verification Integrated System 1, is a Japanese satellite designed for testing the performance of commercial off-the-shelf products in the space environment. It has a mass of about 840kg, and was launched on 30 October 2003 from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome by... |
Japanese test satellite | success |
| 26 August 2005 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
Monitor-E1 Monitor-E Monitor-E is the first Russian satellite of a fleet of newly designed, small Earth observing satellites. It was launched August 26, 2005 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, and placed in a Sun synchronous orbit of 540 km.- Design :... |
earth observation satellite | success |
| 8 October 2005 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
CryoSat CryoSat CryoSat is an ESA programme which will monitor variations in the extent and thickness of polar ice through use of a satellite in low Earth orbit. The information provided about the behaviour of coastal glaciers that drain thinning ice sheets will be key to better predictions of future sea-level rise... |
earth observation satellite | failure, launch terminated after 2nd stage main engine was not shut down correctly, resulting in an explosion, causing the vehicle to exceed its flight envelope limit and thereby causing the automatic termination of the launch and the re-entry of the combined Rokot 2nd stage/3rd stage/CryoSat spacecraft stack |
| 28 July 2006 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
KOMPSAT 2 | earth observation satellite | success |
| 23 May 2008 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
3 Gonets Gonets Gonets is a Russian civilian low Earth orbit communication satellite system. It consists of a number of satellites, derived from Strela military communication satellites... , and Yubileiny Yubileiny Yubileiny is a Russian technology development satellite which was built by NPO PM to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite to be placed into Earth orbit. It launched , 23 May 2008 aboard a Rockot rocket from LC-133 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.... |
success | |
| 17 March 2009 http://www.esa.int/esaLP/SEMAC1P4KKF_LPgoce_0.html | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
GOCE Goce Goce is an opera composed by Kiril Makedonski in tribute to Gotse Delchev. The work was commissioned to be the very first opera performed by the Macedonian National Opera Company. It premiered on May 24, 1954 and it is the first opera to be written in the Macedonian language.... |
ESA earth observation satellite Earth observation satellite Earth observation satellites are satellites specifically designed to observe Earth from orbit, similar to reconnaissance satellites but intended for non-military uses such as environmental monitoring, meteorology, map making etc.... |
success |
| 6 July 2009 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133/3 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
3 Rodnik (TBC) | success | |
| 2 November 2009 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
SMOS Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity satellite The Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity Satellite is a part of ESA's Living Planet Programme intended to provide new insights into Earth's water cycle and climate... , PROBA-2 Proba-2 PROBA2 is the second satellite in the European Space Agency's series of PROBA low-cost satellites that are being used to validate new spacecraft technologies while also carrying scientific instruments. PROBA2 is a small satellite developed under an ESA General Support Technology Program contract... |
SMOS: ESA earth-observation satellite; PROBA-2: sun-observation satellite testing a new spacecraft platform | success |
| 2 June 2010 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133/3 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
SERVIS-2 SERVIS-2 SERVIS-2, or Space Environment Reliability Verification Integrated System 2, is a Japanese technological research satellite which was launched in 2010. It was constructed by Mitsubishi Electric, and will be operated by the Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer, USEF... |
Japanese test satellite | success |
| 8 September 2010 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133/3 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
Gonets-M No.2 Kosmos 2467 Kosmos 2468 |
Communications satellites | success |
| 1 February 2011 | Rokot/Briz-KM | Pl LC133/3 Plesetsk Cosmodrome Plesetsk Cosmodrome is a Russian spaceport, located in Arkhangelsk Oblast, about 800 km north of Moscow and approximately 200 km south of Arkhangelsk.-Overview:... |
Geo-IK-2 No.11 | Geodesy Geodesy Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal... satellite |
failure, upper stage malfunction, reached lower orbit than planned. |
External links
- www.eurockot.com Website of Eurockot Launch Service Provider
- www.russianspaceweb.com/rockot.html Rockot history
- Space.com article on CryoSat launch failure