Jacques van Oene
November 12th 05, 03:02 PM
Starsem successfully launches Venus Express
Baikonur, November 9, 2005
On Wednesday morning, November 9, Starsem successfully launched the Venus
Express interplanetary probe for the European Space Agency (ESA).
The 1,703rd Soyuz rocket (using a Soyuz-Fregat version) was launched today
from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch vehicle lifted off on
schedule at 03:33 UTC, or 04:33 am in Paris.
Starsem and its Russian partners confirmed that the Fregat upper stage
precisely injected the Venus Express spacecraft into the intended liberation
orbit, 1 hour and 38 minutes after liftoff. The Fregat orbital stage was
ignited twice in succession to carry out this mission.
Venus Express is Europe's second planetary exploration mission, following
Mars Express, also launched by Starsem in June 2003. The Venus Express
spacecraft will take 162 days to reach this planet.
Built by EADS Astrium, Venus Express weighed about 1,270 kg at launch. The
spacecraft will study the atmosphere and clouds of Venus to a degree of
precision never before achieved.
The latest successful Soyuz launch once again demonstrates the capabilities
of the Samara Space Center (TsSKB-Progress) and its operating staff, working
under the authority of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos.
Venus Express was the second successful mission this year for Starsem. On
August 14, in conjunction with Arianespace, Starsem placed the American
Galaxy 14 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit.
Starsem is a joint venture responsible for the international marketing and
operation of the Soyuz launcher. Its shareholders are Arianespace, EADS, the
Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos and the Samara Space Center
(TsSKB-Progress).
--
--------------------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info
Baikonur, November 9, 2005
On Wednesday morning, November 9, Starsem successfully launched the Venus
Express interplanetary probe for the European Space Agency (ESA).
The 1,703rd Soyuz rocket (using a Soyuz-Fregat version) was launched today
from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The launch vehicle lifted off on
schedule at 03:33 UTC, or 04:33 am in Paris.
Starsem and its Russian partners confirmed that the Fregat upper stage
precisely injected the Venus Express spacecraft into the intended liberation
orbit, 1 hour and 38 minutes after liftoff. The Fregat orbital stage was
ignited twice in succession to carry out this mission.
Venus Express is Europe's second planetary exploration mission, following
Mars Express, also launched by Starsem in June 2003. The Venus Express
spacecraft will take 162 days to reach this planet.
Built by EADS Astrium, Venus Express weighed about 1,270 kg at launch. The
spacecraft will study the atmosphere and clouds of Venus to a degree of
precision never before achieved.
The latest successful Soyuz launch once again demonstrates the capabilities
of the Samara Space Center (TsSKB-Progress) and its operating staff, working
under the authority of the Russian Federal Space Agency, Roscosmos.
Venus Express was the second successful mission this year for Starsem. On
August 14, in conjunction with Arianespace, Starsem placed the American
Galaxy 14 satellite into geostationary transfer orbit.
Starsem is a joint venture responsible for the international marketing and
operation of the Soyuz launcher. Its shareholders are Arianespace, EADS, the
Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos and the Samara Space Center
(TsSKB-Progress).
--
--------------------------------------
Jacques :-)
www.spacepatches.info