Fri, Nov 12, 2004
Bigger Payload, More Flexibility
This week's successful maiden flight
of an improved Soyuz vehicle marked an important milestone in the
program to bring this Russian workhorse vehicle into Arianespace's
commercial launcher family.
The Soyuz 2-1a version lifted off from Russia's Plesetsk
Cosmodrome on November 8, and carried a test payload. It used a
digital flight control system with a high-speed onboard
computer.
This new control system provides additional mission flexibility,
and also will enable Soyuz to be equipped with a larger payload
fairing for its future use in commercial Arianespace missions from
the Spaceport in French Guiana.
Arianespace Chief Executive Jean-Yves Le Gall congratulated the
Russian Space Agency, the Samara Space Center (which develops and
produces Soyuz) and all engineers and technicians who participated
in the Soyuz 2-1a mission.
The Soyuz 2-1a maiden launch will be followed by the validation
of further improvements to the Soyuz launcher, including a more
powerful third stage that increases overall launch vehicle
performance and provides the capability to carry heavier payloads.
The flight of this Soyuz configuration -- designated Soyuz 2-1b --
is planned in 2006 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia.
Both new Soyuz versions will become part of Arianespace's
expanded commercial launcher family operating from French Guiana -
with an inaugural flight of the improved vehicle planned in 2007
from a new launch pad that currently is under construction at the
Spaceport.
The Soyuz at French Guiana will become Arianespace's
medium-class launch vehicle for commercial and governmental
flights. By adding Soyuz to its family of launchers, Arianespace
will be able to cost-effectively perform a full range of missions,
meeting the company's goal of offering the capability to launch
"any mass, to any orbit, any time." Soyuz will join the heavy-lift
Ariane 5 and the lightweight Vega launcher (which is scheduled to
begin service in 2007).
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