Soyuz lifts off from Kourou for first time
Posted: Fri, Oct 21, 2011, 6:25 PM ET (2225 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket, launching from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana for the first time, placed two Galileo navigation satellites into orbit on Friday. The Soyuz-STB rocket lifted off from the spaceport near Kourou, French Guiana, at 6:30 am EDT (1030 GMT) Friday carrying the first two Galileo In Orbit Validation (IOV) satellites. Nearly four hours later the two satellites separated from the Fregat upper stage in circular orbits at an altitude of over 23,000 kilometers and inclined 54.7 degrees to the Equator. The satellites are part of four planned IOV satellites that will test out technologies required for the full satellite navigation system. The launch is also the first from Kourou for the Soyuz, which had previously launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.
A Soyuz rocket, launching from Europe's spaceport in French Guiana for the first time, placed two Galileo navigation satellites into orbit on Friday. The Soyuz-STB rocket lifted off from the spaceport near Kourou, French Guiana, at 6:30 am EDT (1030 GMT) Friday carrying the first two Galileo In Orbit Validation (IOV) satellites. Nearly four hours later the two satellites separated from the Fregat upper stage in circular orbits at an altitude of over 23,000 kilometers and inclined 54.7 degrees to the Equator. The satellites are part of four planned IOV satellites that will test out technologies required for the full satellite navigation system. The launch is also the first from Kourou for the Soyuz, which had previously launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan and Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, January 14
Firefly’s Blue Ghost Prepped For Lunar Mission Debut
Aviation Week — 4:22 am ET (0922 GMT) Britt, Tuberville resolution challenges Biden's reversal on Huntsville as Space Command HQ
WABM-TV Birmingham, AL — 4:21 am ET (0921 GMT) Alabama lawmakers mark anniversary of Space Command HQ recommendation with new resolutions
WZDX-TV Huntsville, AL — 4:21 am ET (0921 GMT) On key Space Command decision anniversary, Alabama officials urge Trump to make Huntsville permanent HQ
Huntsville Times — 4:21 am ET (0921 GMT) Launch of Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin rocket postponed due to 'vehicle subsystem issue'
BBC — 4:18 am ET (0918 GMT) |
