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Arianespace are the current masters at launching two large satellites in one go, with most Ariane 5 launches involving and upper and lower passenger, separated by the SYLDA dual-passenger dispenser system.<\/p>\nInternational Launch Services (ILS) and ISS Reshetnev have announced they are evaluating the technical feasibility into launching two large satellites at the same time on a Proton-M launch vehicle. The announcement comes just days after United Launch Alliance (ULA) President Michael Gass noted his company is also looking into dual satellite launches.<\/p>\n
Dual Launch:<\/p>\n
As rockets continue to increase their upmass capability, while satellite manufacturers find ways into reducing the weight of their spacecraft, utilizing the efficiency of a launch vehicle\u2019s power is a continual consideration for launch service providers.<\/p>\n
Arianespace are the current masters at launching two large satellites in one go, with most Ariane 5 launches involving and upper and lower passenger, separated by the SYLDA dual-passenger dispenser system.<\/p>\n
The SYLDA is a light-weight structure adding around 500 kg of mass to the mission. It is assembled from composite sandwich panels, and is capable of carrying an upper satellite weighing up to 6.5 metric tonnes in the dynamic and thermal environment encountered in-flight.<\/p>\n
Astrium Space Transportation Composites Centre in Les Mureaux, near Paris manufacture the SYLDA\u2019s for Arianespace, with a new generation known as the \u201c+2100\u201d \u2013 600 mm longer than the standard \u201cA\u201d version \u2013 enabling Arianespace to broaden the range of launch services it can offer its customers.<\/p>\n
There are several versions of the Ariane 5 SYLDA. The most recent launch \u2013 that launched the ABS-2 and Athena-Fidus satellites \u2013 used the SYLDA 5B version with a height of 6.10 meters, while the launch of the 25B\/Es\u2019hail-1 and GSAT-7 satellites used the D version with a height of 5.5 meters. The A version is 6.4 meters long.<\/p>\n
During the recent Defense Subcommittee hearing into the National Security Space Launch Programs, ULA\u2019s Mr. Gass also noted his company is looking at dual launches.<\/p>\n
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\u201cLooking to the future, ULA is investing in new technology. We are investing internal funds into developing the capability to launch two GPS satellites at once, cutting launch costs almost in half,\u201d he told lawmakers last week.<\/p>\n
The competitive nature of launch services revolves around reliability and cost, with ILS known to be one of cheaper options, although their prolific Proton-M launch vehicle is prone to the occasional failure.<\/p>\n
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Being able to launch two satellites at the same time is aimed at making the company even more competitive, with the agreement to evaluate that possibility \u2013 in collaboration with JSC Academician M.F. Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems (ISS Reshetnev) \u2013 signed on Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis agreement puts in a place a solid foundation for our cooperation with ISS Reshetnev \u2013 one of the most prolific spacecraft manufacturers \u2013 in meeting the commercial demand for a cost effective solution to launching lighter spacecraft,\u201d noted ILS President Phil Slack.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an innovative approach that will certainly be of great benefit to our existing customers and new entrants alike.\u201d<\/p>\n
The evaluations appear to be based on the lower passenger providing the support for the upper passenger, rather than the inclusion of a structure like Arianespace\u2019s SYLDA.<\/p>\n
ILS note they will \u201cmutually cooperate\u201d on identifying spacecraft that can be dual launched in a stacked configuration \u201cwith the lower spacecraft supporting the upper spacecraft\u201d.<\/p>\n
![\"Z6\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Z62.jpg\")
Per the agreement, ILS would identify non-Russian spacecraft that could be paired with ISS Reshetnev-built spacecraft and together, the companies would assess the technical feasibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur familiarity with ILS, Khrunichev and the Proton launch vehicle creates the perfect scenario which will be advantageous for all of those involved,\u201d added ISS Reshetnev General Director, Nikolay Testoyedov.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will allow ISS Reshetnev satellites to be launched in a timely manner with competitive pricing for the companion spacecraft. We look forward to further collaborating with ILS and providing outstanding access to space.\u201d<\/p>\n
ILS opened their 2014 campaign with the successful launch of the TURKSAT-4A communications satellite last month, via the 85th launch of an ILS Proton-M.<\/p>\n
The Proton-M will be back in action on March 15, via a Russian government launch of the Express AT1 and Express AT2 communications satellites. ILS\u2019 next launch is scheduled for May, with the mission tasked with lofting the ASTRA 2G communications satellite for SES of Luxembourg.<\/p>\n
(Images via ILS and Arianespace).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
International Launch Services (ILS) and ISS Reshetnev have announced they are evaluating the technical feasibility into launching two large satellites at the same time on a Proton-M launch vehicle. The announcement comes just days after United Launch Alliance (ULA) President Michael Gass noted his company is also looking into dual satellite launches. Dual Launch: As rockets […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29992,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[8941,7899],"class_list":["post-39630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-ils","tag-proton-m"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39630"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39630"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39630\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}