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<\/p>\nThe Arianespace Soyuz ST-B rocket has launched the next set of four O3b communication satellites towards orbit on Friday. The spacecraft are heading to a constellation that is already populated by 16 of the birds controlled by O3b Networks. Lift off from the European Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana occurred at 17:03 UTC.<\/p>\n
This launch was designated as Soyuz Flight VS22 in Arianespace\u2019s numbering system, denoting the 22nd flight of the Russian-built launch vehicle since its introduction at the Spaceport in October 2011.<\/p>\n
By performing the 22nd Soyuz flight from the CSG, Arianespace is supporting \u2014 for the fifth time \u2014 SES in the expansion of its successful Non-Geostationary Satellite Orbit (NGSO) satellite constellation.<\/p>\n
The more powerful Soyuz-ST configuration is the standard version launched from French Guiana, with the additional performance provided by the Soyuz ST-B variant \u2013 including a Fregat-MT upper stage.<\/p>\n
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The Soyuz ST-B in launch preps at CSG \u2013 via Arianesapce<\/p>\n
The Soyuz-2 was developed from the older Soyuz models and features digital flight control systems and modernized engines. It first flew in 2004.<\/p>\n
Two variants are currently in service; the Soyuz-2-1a, and the Soyuz-2-1b which features an RD-0124 third stage engine which provides additional thrust. The RD-0124 was declared operational on 3 May 2011.<\/p>\n
A third configuration, the Soyuz-2-1v, has since joined the Soyuz family. It features an NK-33 engine in place of the RD-108A used on the core stages of the other configurations, and does not include the strapon boosters used by other configurations.<\/p>\n
The Soyuz-2 forms the basis for the Soyuz-ST rocket, which is optimized to fly from Kourou, and also incorporates a flight termination system and a modified telemetry system.<\/p>\n
Spaceflight news subscription (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n With the Soyuz ST-B utilizing the RD-0124 third stage engine, an additional 34 seconds of specific impulse (Isp) significantly increases the vehicle\u2019s overall launch performance.<\/p>\n Soyuz ST-B launch<\/p>\n The RD-0124 is a staged-combustion engine powered by a multi-stage turbopump, which is spun by gas from combustion of the main propellants in a gas generator. These oxygen-rich combustion gases are recovered to feed the four main combustion chambers where kerosene \u2013 coming from the regenerative cooling circuit \u2013 is injected.<\/p>\n Attitude control is provided by main engine activation along one axis in two planes. Liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene tanks are pressurized by the heating and evaporation of helium coming from storage vessels located in the LOX tank.<\/p>\n Avionics for the Soyuz launcher are carried in the vehicle\u2019s third stage, and are located in an intermediate bay between the oxidizer and fuel tanks.<\/p>\n As part of the Soyuz\u2019 upgrades for its operations from the Spaceport, the launcher\u2019s flight control system is modernized with a digital control system.<\/p>\n This system incorporates a digital computer and inertial measurement unit that are based on proven technology \u2013 giving the Soyuz improved navigation accuracy and control capability.<\/p>\n The new digital control system provides a more flexible and efficient attitude control system, and it gives the additional flight control authority required for the new, enlarged Soyuz ST payload fairing.<\/p>\n In addition, it improves flight accuracy for the Soyuz\u2019 first three stages, and provides the ability to perform in-flight roll maneuvers as well as in-plane yaw steering (dog-leg) maneuvers.<\/p>\n The Fregat upper stage is an autonomous and flexible upper stage designed to operate as an orbital vehicle. Flight qualified in 2000, it extends the Soyuz launcher\u2019s capability to provide access to a full range of orbits (medium-Earth orbit, Sun-synchronous orbit, geostationary transfer orbit, and Earth escape trajectories).<\/p>\n Fregat consists of six spherical tanks arrayed in a circle (four for propellant, two containing the avionics), with trusses passing through the tanks to provide structural support. The stage is independent of the Soyuz\u2019 lower three stages, having its own guidance, navigation, control, tracking, and telemetry systems.<\/p>\n The Fregat uses storable propellants (UDMH\/NTO) and can be restarted up to 20 times in flight \u2013 enabling it to carry out complex mission profiles. It can provide 3-axis stabilization or perform a spin-up of the spacecraft payload.<\/p>\n The Fregat first flew in 2000, and has been used on Soyuz-U, Soyuz-FG, Soyuz-2 and Zenit rockets.<\/p>\n The launch was performed from the purpose-built ZLS launch facility for Soyuz \u2013 located in the Spaceport\u2019s northern sector near the city of Sinnamary.<\/p>\n Construction of the launch site began in 2007, as Arianespace advanced their plans to add two launch vehicles to their family. (See large set of construction photos in L2).<\/p>\n Arianespace\u2019s Soyuz launch pad<\/p>\n The Spaceport\u2019s Soyuz launch site combines the proven design elements from the long-existing site at Baikonur Cosmodrome with satellite integration procedures that are in concert with the spacecraft processing used for Ariane missions.<\/p>\n Located 12 kilometers northwest from the existing Ariane 5 launch complex, the new Soyuz facility extends the Spaceport\u2019s operational zone further up the French Guiana coastline.<\/p>\n The launch vehicle\u2019s assembly building is 92 meters long, 41 meters wide, and 22 meters tall, allowing the vehicle to be assembled horizontally, prior to rolling out to the launch site, which is configured after the Russian Baikonur and Plesetsk Cosmodromes, albeit with a new mobile launch service tower.<\/p>\n The Soyuz\u2019 transfer to the Spaceport\u2019s launch zone is performed with the launcher riding horizontally atop a transporter\/erector rail car.<\/p>\n Soyuz was then raised into position on the pad, and in contrast with the Baikonur Cosmodrome processing flow, is protected by a gantry that moves into place for payload integration.<\/p>\n The latest O3b Networks spacecraft are being deployed by Soyuz into a circular orbit at an altitude of 8,062 km. \u2013 which is four-times closer to Earth than traditional geostationary satellites, providing substantial performance benefits due to lower latency or delay.<\/p>\n The O3b fleet of medium-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites is a proven non-geostationary constellation that provides commercial broadband services today, delivering carrier-grade services.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/2018-03-09-013339.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSee Also<\/h4>\n
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