On December 16, 2023 at 17:18 Beijing time (15:18 Baikonur time), the "Soyuz-2" carrying the "Arctic-M-2" hydrometeorological satellite1b" The "Fregate" upper stage launch vehicle was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome 31 6 station, and the second stage of the rocket core separated from the upper stage and the satellite assembly in 9 minutes and 22 seconds, (planned time) 4 hours and 44 minutes, and after three ignitions, the upper stage successfully put the satellite into a highly elliptical orbit (HEO).
Schematic diagram of the "Arctic-M-2" satellite (top).
Arctic-M-2 "(Arktika-M No.2) Hydrometeorological satellites are developed by the L**ochkin Design Bureau, based on the "Navigator" satellite platform, equipped with optical imaging payloads and other instruments and equipment, which are used to obtain visible and infrared images of clouds and cloud surfaces, and are responsible for monitoring and forecasting solar flares, radiation conditions and geomagnetic fields. The star has a mass of 2077 kg and a design service life of 7 years.
After being put into use, the satellite will operate at a perigee of 600 to 3,000 km, an apogee of 37,400 to 39,800 km, and an inclination of 633 degrees of high elliptical orbit (HEO), i.e. the lightning orbit (or Monia orbit) commonly used by the former Soviet Union and Russia. The lightning orbit is characterized by the extremely short process of the satellite passing through the perigee, and the long process of the satellite reaching and leaving the apogee, which allows the satellite to cover the ground area below the apogee for more than 12 hours.
The satellite belongs to the second satellite of the "Arctic" constellation, which consists of a total of 4 satellites, and the first satellite, the "Arctic-M-1" satellite, was launched on February 28, 2021 and put into service on September 3 of the same year. By 2031, two more satellites of the Arctic constellation will be deployed. The constellation monitors the Earth's surface and the Arctic region, including the Northern Sea Route, around the clock, in all weathers, and provides continuous and reliable communications. In addition, these satellites are capable of transmitting signals from the International Distress Alert Detection System (COSPAS-SARSAT) radio beacons.
Union 2The "1b" launch vehicle is designed and manufactured by the Progress Rocket Space Center, which is a medium-sized two-stage semi-cryogenic liquid launch vehicle, consisting of the core first stage, the core second stage and four boosters, and the power system is all liquid oxygen kerosene propellant. The arrow is 46 years long3 meters, the maximum diameter of the core stage is 299 meters, take-off mass of 312 tons, with the installation of the "Fregate" upper stage, geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) capacity of 325 tons.
The launch is the 2023 "Soyuz 2The 6th launch of the 1b rocket, the 4th launch of the upper stage of Fregate, the 9th launch of the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the 17th launch of Russia, the 206th launch of the world.
Author: Mulan Xingzhou.