Soyuz launches Israeli satellite
Posted: Sun, Dec 28, 2003, 10:12 AM ET (1512 GMT)
A Russian Soyuz rocket launched an Israeli communications satellite on Saturday. The Soyuz-Fregat lifted off from Baikonur, Kazakhstan at 4:30 pm EST Sunday (2130 GMT, 2:30 am local time Sunday) and released the Amos 2 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) six hours and 45 minutes later. The launch was the first time that the Soyuz booster was used for a GTO mission; the launch vehicle is normally used for missions into low Earth orbit. Amos 2 is a 1,374-kg spacecraft with 14 Ku-band transponders that will be located in geosynchronous orbit at 4 degrees west longitude. The spacecraft will serve portions of the Middle East, Europe, and the eastern US, supplementing the Amos 1 satellite already at that orbital location. Amos 2 was scheduled to launch on an Ariane 5, but satellite delivery delays and limited launch opportunities in the Arianespace launch manifest led to the decision to transfer the launch to a Soyuz marketed by Starsem, a Franco-Russian joint venture partially owned by Arianespace.
A Russian Soyuz rocket launched an Israeli communications satellite on Saturday. The Soyuz-Fregat lifted off from Baikonur, Kazakhstan at 4:30 pm EST Sunday (2130 GMT, 2:30 am local time Sunday) and released the Amos 2 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) six hours and 45 minutes later. The launch was the first time that the Soyuz booster was used for a GTO mission; the launch vehicle is normally used for missions into low Earth orbit. Amos 2 is a 1,374-kg spacecraft with 14 Ku-band transponders that will be located in geosynchronous orbit at 4 degrees west longitude. The spacecraft will serve portions of the Middle East, Europe, and the eastern US, supplementing the Amos 1 satellite already at that orbital location. Amos 2 was scheduled to launch on an Ariane 5, but satellite delivery delays and limited launch opportunities in the Arianespace launch manifest led to the decision to transfer the launch to a Soyuz marketed by Starsem, a Franco-Russian joint venture partially owned by Arianespace.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 12
Final ‘go’ for Vega launch
ESA — 10:27 am ET (1527 GMT) Our spaceship has arrived: Museum of Flight takes delivery of Soyuz capsule
GeekWire — 9:01 am ET (1401 GMT) Glenn reflects on his mission, future of space
Zanesville (OH) Times-Recorder — 8:59 am ET (1359 GMT) A lawyer's idea of marketing
Las Cruces (NM) Sun-News — 8:59 am ET (1359 GMT) 'Hang me for so-called omission... but let them go through democratic process'
Indian Express — 8:57 am ET (1357 GMT) |