Soyuz-2.1a Successfully Launches from Vostochny Cosmodrome

Soyuz-2.1a Successfully Launches from Vostochny Cosmodrome

Photo: Roscosmos

Soyuz-2.1a was launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome today at 5:07 Moscow Time for the first time this year. The successful launch was ensured by the RD-107A/RD-108A rocket engines by the Samara enterprise PJSC Kuznetsov, which is part of the United Engine Corporation of Rostec State Corporation.

In addition to the Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle, the rocket also included the Fregat upper stage, Russian spaceborne remote sensing and civilian Earth imaging satellites Kanopus-V No. 3 and Kanopus-V No. 4, and nine smaller satellites of hosted payload: four American LEMUR 3U CubeSat satellites and four German S-NET and one D-Star One satellites. 

The Fregat upper stage placed the main payload, Kanopus-V No. 3 and Kanopus-V No. 4, into the calculated orbits an hour after the start. Then the upper stage delivered the S-Net, Lemur and D-Star One satellites to the target orbits according to the flight task plan. The RD-107A/108A engines installed at the first and second stages of the launch vehicle operated in normal mode, without divergencies.

Specialists of the service center of PJSC Kuznetsov, which ensure the operation of cosmodrome power units, took an active part in preparing the rocket for launch, having installed and checked the engine systems. In addition, their tasks included checking and accepting the pneumatic test boards and the starting pneumatic panels manufactured by PJSC Kuznetsov, which provide air, nitrogen and helium to the launch vehicle.