POPULAR
SpaceX aiming to launch second of two Starlink...
This Week In Spaceflight: China’s lunar plans, North...
North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...
Using data from Spitzer and TESS, scientists discover...
PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private...
Axiom 2 astronauts return from the ISS with...
China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to the Chinese Space...
Ship 25 confirmed as push for summer replay...
India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV
Soyuz 2.1a launches Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny
NASASpaceFlight.com
  • Forums
  • L2 Sign Up
  • Artemis
  • SpaceX
  • Commercial
  • ISS
  • International
    • All Chinese European Indian Russian
      Commercial

      This Week In Spaceflight: China’s lunar plans, North...

      June 2, 2023

      International

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...

      May 31, 2023

      European

      PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private...

      May 30, 2023

      Commercial

      Axiom 2 astronauts return from the ISS with...

      May 30, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to the Chinese Space...

      May 29, 2023

      Chinese

      Beidou-3 G4 gets launched and Chinese Raptor gets...

      May 17, 2023

      Chinese

      This Week In Spaceflight – May 12

      May 12, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches resupply mission, lands space plane, and...

      May 9, 2023

      European

      PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private...

      May 30, 2023

      European

      Perseverance finds Mars river could have been ‘wilder,’...

      May 20, 2023

      European

      Ariane 6’s first flight likely to slip into...

      May 15, 2023

      European

      Orbex breaks ground on Sutherland Spaceport as UK...

      May 4, 2023

      Indian

      India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV

      May 28, 2023

      Indian

      ISRO launches PSLV with Singaporean satellites

      April 21, 2023

      Indian

      OneWeb completes initial constellation with launch from India

      March 25, 2023

      Indian

      ISRO’s second SSLV mission successfully launches trio of...

      February 9, 2023

      Russian

      Soyuz 2.1a launches Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny

      May 26, 2023

      Russian

      Russia’s Progress MS-23 resupply mission arrives at space...

      May 24, 2023

      Russian

      This Week In Spaceflight – May 12

      May 12, 2023

      Russian

      US, Russian EVAs install upgrades and make history...

      May 5, 2023

  • Other
    • All Science Shuttle Uncrewed
      International

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...

      May 31, 2023

      Featured

      Using data from Spitzer and TESS, scientists discover...

      May 31, 2023

      Commercial

      Axiom 2 astronauts return from the ISS with...

      May 30, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to the Chinese Space...

      May 29, 2023

      Science

      Using data from Spitzer and TESS, scientists discover...

      May 31, 2023

      Science

      Perseverance finds Mars river could have been ‘wilder,’...

      May 20, 2023

      Science

      Webb directly images young star’s asteroid belt; discovers...

      May 12, 2023

      Science

      With help from NEOWISE, astronomers observe giant star...

      May 6, 2023

      Shuttle

      SpaceX SLC-6 takeover to mark a new chapter...

      April 26, 2023

      Shuttle

      Historic scrubs and aborts that could happen to...

      March 28, 2023

      Shuttle

      30 years after Intelsat VI rescue, Northrop Grumman...

      May 7, 2022

      Shuttle

      Axiom-1 science & the push toward greater commercialization...

      November 17, 2021

      Uncrewed

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...

      May 31, 2023

      Uncrewed

      India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV

      May 28, 2023

      Uncrewed

      Soyuz 2.1a launches Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny

      May 26, 2023

      Uncrewed

      Falcon 9 launches Arabsat 7B following weather delays

      May 26, 2023

  • Shop
POPULAR
SpaceX aiming to launch second of two Starlink...
This Week In Spaceflight: China’s lunar plans, North...
North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...
Using data from Spitzer and TESS, scientists discover...
PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private...
Axiom 2 astronauts return from the ISS with...
China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to the Chinese Space...
Ship 25 confirmed as push for summer replay...
India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV
Soyuz 2.1a launches Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny
NASASpaceFlight.com
  • Forums
  • L2 Sign Up
  • Artemis
  • SpaceX
  • Commercial
  • ISS
  • International
    • All Chinese European Indian Russian
      Commercial

      This Week In Spaceflight: China’s lunar plans, North...

      June 2, 2023

      International

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...

      May 31, 2023

      European

      PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private...

      May 30, 2023

      Commercial

      Axiom 2 astronauts return from the ISS with...

      May 30, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to the Chinese Space...

      May 29, 2023

      Chinese

      Beidou-3 G4 gets launched and Chinese Raptor gets...

      May 17, 2023

      Chinese

      This Week In Spaceflight – May 12

      May 12, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches resupply mission, lands space plane, and...

      May 9, 2023

      European

      PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private...

      May 30, 2023

      European

      Perseverance finds Mars river could have been ‘wilder,’...

      May 20, 2023

      European

      Ariane 6’s first flight likely to slip into...

      May 15, 2023

      European

      Orbex breaks ground on Sutherland Spaceport as UK...

      May 4, 2023

      Indian

      India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV

      May 28, 2023

      Indian

      ISRO launches PSLV with Singaporean satellites

      April 21, 2023

      Indian

      OneWeb completes initial constellation with launch from India

      March 25, 2023

      Indian

      ISRO’s second SSLV mission successfully launches trio of...

      February 9, 2023

      Russian

      Soyuz 2.1a launches Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny

      May 26, 2023

      Russian

      Russia’s Progress MS-23 resupply mission arrives at space...

      May 24, 2023

      Russian

      This Week In Spaceflight – May 12

      May 12, 2023

      Russian

      US, Russian EVAs install upgrades and make history...

      May 5, 2023

  • Other
    • All Science Shuttle Uncrewed
      International

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...

      May 31, 2023

      Featured

      Using data from Spitzer and TESS, scientists discover...

      May 31, 2023

      Commercial

      Axiom 2 astronauts return from the ISS with...

      May 30, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to the Chinese Space...

      May 29, 2023

      Science

      Using data from Spitzer and TESS, scientists discover...

      May 31, 2023

      Science

      Perseverance finds Mars river could have been ‘wilder,’...

      May 20, 2023

      Science

      Webb directly images young star’s asteroid belt; discovers...

      May 12, 2023

      Science

      With help from NEOWISE, astronomers observe giant star...

      May 6, 2023

      Shuttle

      SpaceX SLC-6 takeover to mark a new chapter...

      April 26, 2023

      Shuttle

      Historic scrubs and aborts that could happen to...

      March 28, 2023

      Shuttle

      30 years after Intelsat VI rescue, Northrop Grumman...

      May 7, 2022

      Shuttle

      Axiom-1 science & the push toward greater commercialization...

      November 17, 2021

      Uncrewed

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...

      May 31, 2023

      Uncrewed

      India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV

      May 28, 2023

      Uncrewed

      Soyuz 2.1a launches Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny

      May 26, 2023

      Uncrewed

      Falcon 9 launches Arabsat 7B following weather delays

      May 26, 2023

  • Shop
NASASpaceFlight.com
NASASpaceFlight.com
  • Forums
  • L2 Sign Up
  • Artemis
  • SpaceX
  • Commercial
  • ISS
  • International
    • All Chinese European Indian Russian
      Commercial

      This Week In Spaceflight: China’s lunar plans, North...

      June 2, 2023

      International

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...

      May 31, 2023

      European

      PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private...

      May 30, 2023

      Commercial

      Axiom 2 astronauts return from the ISS with...

      May 30, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to the Chinese Space...

      May 29, 2023

      Chinese

      Beidou-3 G4 gets launched and Chinese Raptor gets...

      May 17, 2023

      Chinese

      This Week In Spaceflight – May 12

      May 12, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches resupply mission, lands space plane, and...

      May 9, 2023

      European

      PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private...

      May 30, 2023

      European

      Perseverance finds Mars river could have been ‘wilder,’...

      May 20, 2023

      European

      Ariane 6’s first flight likely to slip into...

      May 15, 2023

      European

      Orbex breaks ground on Sutherland Spaceport as UK...

      May 4, 2023

      Indian

      India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV

      May 28, 2023

      Indian

      ISRO launches PSLV with Singaporean satellites

      April 21, 2023

      Indian

      OneWeb completes initial constellation with launch from India

      March 25, 2023

      Indian

      ISRO’s second SSLV mission successfully launches trio of...

      February 9, 2023

      Russian

      Soyuz 2.1a launches Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny

      May 26, 2023

      Russian

      Russia’s Progress MS-23 resupply mission arrives at space...

      May 24, 2023

      Russian

      This Week In Spaceflight – May 12

      May 12, 2023

      Russian

      US, Russian EVAs install upgrades and make history...

      May 5, 2023

  • Other
    • All Science Shuttle Uncrewed
      International

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...

      May 31, 2023

      Featured

      Using data from Spitzer and TESS, scientists discover...

      May 31, 2023

      Commercial

      Axiom 2 astronauts return from the ISS with...

      May 30, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to the Chinese Space...

      May 29, 2023

      Science

      Using data from Spitzer and TESS, scientists discover...

      May 31, 2023

      Science

      Perseverance finds Mars river could have been ‘wilder,’...

      May 20, 2023

      Science

      Webb directly images young star’s asteroid belt; discovers...

      May 12, 2023

      Science

      With help from NEOWISE, astronomers observe giant star...

      May 6, 2023

      Shuttle

      SpaceX SLC-6 takeover to mark a new chapter...

      April 26, 2023

      Shuttle

      Historic scrubs and aborts that could happen to...

      March 28, 2023

      Shuttle

      30 years after Intelsat VI rescue, Northrop Grumman...

      May 7, 2022

      Shuttle

      Axiom-1 science & the push toward greater commercialization...

      November 17, 2021

      Uncrewed

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,...

      May 31, 2023

      Uncrewed

      India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV

      May 28, 2023

      Uncrewed

      Soyuz 2.1a launches Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny

      May 26, 2023

      Uncrewed

      Falcon 9 launches Arabsat 7B following weather delays

      May 26, 2023

  • Shop
Tag:

EMK

    InternationalRussianUncrewed

    Soyuz 2.1b Launches Russian Early Warning Satellite

    by Joseph Navin November 24, 2021
    written by Joseph Navin

    At 01:09 UTC, or 4:09 A.M. local time in Moscow, a Soyuz 2.1b rocket launched carrying the Tundra 15L early warning satellite for the Russian Ministry of Defense.

    The launch occurred from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. Plesetsk is located in the Arkhangelsk oblast. The Cosmodrome has been in operation since 1957 and is predominately used for Russian military launches.

    The last launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome was the launch of a Nudol missile on Nov. 14-15. The missile intercepted and destroyed a defunct Soviet Tselina-D ELINT satellite, designated Kosmos 1408, creating space debris and threatening the Expedition 66 crew on the International Space Station (ISS).

    Another Soyuz 2.1b launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome a day prior carrying the Progress M-UM spacecraft with the Prichal module, destined for the ISS.

    The payload
    The Tundra 15L early warning satellite is also known as EMK (Edinaya Kosmicheskaya Sistema) #5. This satellite joins four other Tundra/EMK satellites currently in orbit around the earth, the first of which was launched in 2015.

    These satellites are designed and operated to provide the Russian military with an early warning capability to detect the launches of any potential ballistic missiles towards Russia. In addition, it has been reported that the Tundra/EMK satellites also have secure communication capabilities in the case of a nuclear war.

    In the past, these satellites have been deployed into Molniya orbits, which are highly elliptical orbits that last about 12 hours. These Molniya orbits are selected because this allows the satellites to spend much of their time over the northern hemisphere and less time over the southern hemisphere, as the nation of Russia is located in the northern hemisphere.

    The four other Tundra/EMK satellites have orbits of around 1626 km by 38552 km. These satellites also orbit the earth with an inclination around 63.37° degrees.

    These satellites were contracted to be built for the Russian Ministry of Defense by the RKK Energia and TsNII Kometa. This early warning system is known as Kupol and replaced the previously used Oko-1 system. The Tundra/EMK satellites also replaced both the US-KMO and US-K satellites.

    The oldest of the three types, the US-K satellites, were launched between 1972 and 2010 by both the former Soviet Union and present day-Russia. The US-K satellites were all launched by Molniya-M rockets from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The Molniya-M rocket was a derivative of the R-7 Semyorka Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.

    The US-KMO satellites launched on Proton-K rockets.

    The launch vehicle
    This mission marked the 69th launch for the Soyuz 2.1b.

    The Soyuz 2.1b is one of the Soyuz-2 variants derived from the cold war era R-7 Semyorka. The first launch of the Soyuz 2.1b type occurred from Plesetsk in 2008.

    Both the Soyuz 2.1a and Soyuz 2.1b replaced three prior R-7 derivatives, including the Soyuz-U, Soyuz-FG, and the Molniya-M. The Soyuz-2 derivatives introduced improvements from prior related launch vehicles, including the flight control system, upgraded from analog to digital.

    The Soyuz-2 series also eliminated the need for the launch table to be rotated to the proper launch azimuth prior to launch, as the launch vehicles are able to roll to the launch azimuth during ascent. This is an improvement over previous R-7 derivatives, like the Soyuz-FG.

    The Soyuz 2.1b is also known as the Soyuz ST-B when launched from the European Space Agency’s Guiana Space Centre, located in Kourou, French Guiana in South America.

    The boosters, attached to the first stage, run on an RD-107A engine, which feeds on Liquid oxygen (LOX) and kerosene (RP-1). The engines run in a gas generator cycle. Each of the boosters are known as Blok-B, Blok-G, Blok-V, and Blok-D, respectively.

    The first stage, also known as Blok-A, has a single RD-108A engine, which also runs on LOX and RP-1 in the gas generator cycle. Both the RD-107A and RD-108A engines use vernier engines to steer the launch vehicle.

    Blok-I, or the second stage, runs on a solo RD-0124 engine that also uses RP-1 and LOX. The RD-0124 operates in the staged combustion cycle. The engine is also used on the second stage of the Soyuz 2.1v.

    A Fregat upper stage is prepared for final integration for the OneWeb F11 mission at the Vostochny Cosmodrome. Credit: Roscosmos.

    For the Tundra 15L/EMK #5 satellite launch, a Fregat upper stage was used. This optional upper stage has a single S5.92 engine which runs on Unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and Dinitrogen tetroxide (N2O4), which are toxic hypergolic fuels. The Fregat upper stage is developed by NPO Lavochkin.

    The Fregat upper stage has recently been used to launch OneWeb satellites on a Soyuz 2.1b launch vehicle.

    Launch
    In the days prior to launch, the Soyuz 2.1b was rolled out by rail from the assembly facility to the launch site at Plesetsk. Once at the launch pad, the launch vehicle was raised to the vertical position.

    While not confirmed, the launch most likely occurred from Site 43.

    Once vertical, the four support trusses were raised to support the launch vehicle, and the two umbilical towers were raised and attached to the vehicle. The two service towers were then raised to surround the Soyuz 2.1b rocket.

    Unlike the Soyuz launch sites at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, both the launch pads at Plesetsk and the Vostochny Cosmodromes are painted blue instead of green.

    A Soyuz 2.1b rocket prior to launch at Plesetsk in 2018. Credit: Russian Ministry of Defense.

    Around five hours prior to launch, the fueling began on the Soyuz 2.1b rocket. This was followed by the retraction of the two service towers from the launch vehicle at around 30 minutes before liftoff.

    At 35 seconds before liftoff, the tallest umbilical tower was retracted. This was then followed by the retraction of the smaller umbilical tower at the T-15 second mark. This began the ignition sequence for the four RD-107A engines and the single RD-108A engine.

    After spooling up to full power, the RD-107A and RD-108A engines lifted the Soyuz 2.1b launch vehicle from the pad, releasing the four support trusses. The launch vehicle then rolled to the proper launch azimuth and pitched downrange.

    After the side boosters were exhausted of fuel, they separated from the Blok-A stage in a formation known as the “Korolev cross.” The Blok-A stage then continued to burn with the single RD-108A engine.

    Prior to Blok-A shutdown, the RD-0124 engine on Blok-I ignited while attached to Blok-A, known as hot staging. Blok-A soon separated from Blok-I. The payload fairing, which protects the satellite from the aerodynamic forces in the lower atmosphere, separated.

    After the fuel on Blok-I was exhausted, the RD-0124 shut down and released the Fregat upper stage. Then, with the help of the S5.92 engine, the upper stage inserted the satellite into the proper orbit.

    As with other Russian military satellites, the Tundra 15L/EMK #5 satellite will receive a Kosmos designation, likely Kosmos 2552.

    (Lead image: A Soyuz 2.1b rocket launches from Plesetsk on Oct. 26, 2020 carrying a Glonass-K satellite. Credit: Roscosmos)

    November 24, 2021
    2 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

Active Discussions

Loading activity..

NSF Starbase Live

Advertisement Northrop Grumman
Advertisement NSF Merchandise
Advertisement NovaTech
Advertisement Margaritaville Beach Resort South Padre Island
Tweets by NASASpaceflight
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • About Us
  • Cookie Policy
  • Advertising Info
  • Join The Team
  • Content Use Policy

©2005-2023 - NASASpaceflight.com

NASASpaceFlight.com
  • Forums
  • L2 Sign Up
  • Artemis
  • SpaceX
  • Commercial
  • ISS
  • International
    • All Chinese European Indian Russian
      Commercial

      This Week In Spaceflight: China’s lunar plans, North…

      June 2, 2023

      International

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,…

      May 31, 2023

      European

      PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private…

      May 30, 2023

      Commercial

      Axiom 2 astronauts return from the ISS with…

      May 30, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to the Chinese Space…

      May 29, 2023

      Chinese

      Beidou-3 G4 gets launched and Chinese Raptor gets…

      May 17, 2023

      Chinese

      This Week In Spaceflight – May 12

      May 12, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches resupply mission, lands space plane, and…

      May 9, 2023

      European

      PLD Space set to launch Spain’s first private…

      May 30, 2023

      European

      Perseverance finds Mars river could have been ‘wilder,’…

      May 20, 2023

      European

      Ariane 6’s first flight likely to slip into…

      May 15, 2023

      European

      Orbex breaks ground on Sutherland Spaceport as UK…

      May 4, 2023

      Indian

      India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV

      May 28, 2023

      Indian

      ISRO launches PSLV with Singaporean satellites

      April 21, 2023

      Indian

      OneWeb completes initial constellation with launch from India

      March 25, 2023

      Indian

      ISRO’s second SSLV mission successfully launches trio of…

      February 9, 2023

      Russian

      Soyuz 2.1a launches Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny

      May 26, 2023

      Russian

      Russia’s Progress MS-23 resupply mission arrives at space…

      May 24, 2023

      Russian

      This Week In Spaceflight – May 12

      May 12, 2023

      Russian

      US, Russian EVAs install upgrades and make history…

      May 5, 2023

  • Other
    • All Science Shuttle Uncrewed
      International

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,…

      May 31, 2023

      Featured

      Using data from Spitzer and TESS, scientists discover…

      May 31, 2023

      Commercial

      Axiom 2 astronauts return from the ISS with…

      May 30, 2023

      Chinese

      China launches Shenzhou-16 mission to the Chinese Space…

      May 29, 2023

      Science

      Using data from Spitzer and TESS, scientists discover…

      May 31, 2023

      Science

      Perseverance finds Mars river could have been ‘wilder,’…

      May 20, 2023

      Science

      Webb directly images young star’s asteroid belt; discovers…

      May 12, 2023

      Science

      With help from NEOWISE, astronomers observe giant star…

      May 6, 2023

      Shuttle

      SpaceX SLC-6 takeover to mark a new chapter…

      April 26, 2023

      Shuttle

      Historic scrubs and aborts that could happen to…

      March 28, 2023

      Shuttle

      30 years after Intelsat VI rescue, Northrop Grumman…

      May 7, 2022

      Shuttle

      Axiom-1 science & the push toward greater commercialization…

      November 17, 2021

      Uncrewed

      North Korea’s Chollima-1 rocket fails to reach orbit,…

      May 31, 2023

      Uncrewed

      India launches new-generation navigation satellite aboard GSLV

      May 28, 2023

      Uncrewed

      Soyuz 2.1a launches Kondor-FKA n°1 satellite from Vostochny

      May 26, 2023

      Uncrewed

      Falcon 9 launches Arabsat 7B following weather delays

      May 26, 2023

  • Shop