Spacetrack Directory Name | GONETS M 12 |
Alternative name | GONETS-M 12 |
Follow GONETS M 12 | GONETS M 12 Tracker |
Pass predictions GONETS M 12 | Pass predictions GONETS M 12 |
Orbit launches | 2015-03-31 g.02:00 (9 years ago) |
Days in orbit | 3525 |
Starting point | PLMSC (Plesetsk Missile and Space Complex, Russia) |
Categories | |
Perigee | 1482 km |
Apogee | 1506 km |
Orbit slope (inclination) | 82.49° |
Laps per day | 12 |
Orbit | LEO (Polar) |
Height GONETS M 12 | 1506.27 km |
Soyuz-2 (GRAU index 14A14) is the 21st-century version of the Russian Soyuz rocket. In its basic form, it is a three-stage carrier rocket for placing payloads into low Earth orbit. Compared to the previous versions of the Soyuz, the first-stage boosters and two core stages feature uprated engines with improved injection systems. Digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to be launched from a fixed launch platform, whereas the launch platforms for earlier Soyuz rockets had to be rotated as the rocket could not perform a roll to change its heading in flight.
Soyuz-2 is often flown with an upper stage, which allows it to lift payloads into higher orbits, such as Molniya and geosynchronous orbits. The upper stage is equipped with independent flight control and telemetry systems from those used in the rest of the rocket. The NPO Lavochkin manufactured Fregat is the most commonly used upper stage.
Soyuz-2 rockets were first launched from Site 31 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and Site 43 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, launch facilities shared with earlier R-7 derived rockets including the Soyuz-U and Molniya. Commercial Soyuz-2 flights are contracted by Starsem, and have launched from Site 31 at Baikonur and ELS (l'Ensemble de Lancement Soyouz), which has been built at the Guiana Space Centre on the northern coast of South America. The Soyuz-2 version ST-B can deliver 3,250 kg (7,170 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit from this equatorial site. In 2016 the new Vostochny Cosmodrome started operating Soyuz-2 flights as well, from its first launch pad called Site 1S.
The Soyuz-2 has replaced the Molniya-M, Soyuz-U and Soyuz-FG since 2010, 2017 and 2019 respectively. TsSKB-Progress halted production of Soyuz-U in April 2015; the final flight of a Soyuz-U rocket took place on 22 February 2017, carrying Progress MS-05 to the International Space Station. According to CNES officials interviewed in May 2018, launches of Soyuz from Guiana may be replaced by the Ariane 6 medium-lift version A62 in 2021.
In the table below we show the frequencies GONETS M 12.
Downlink | Mode |
---|---|
387.062 MHz | FM |
387.625 MHz | FM |
387.837 MHz | FM |
266.951 MHz | FM |