Space Travel News  
Russia launches European satellites into space

by Staff Writers
Moscow (AFP) Nov 2, 2009
Russia has successfully launched a Rokot rocket carrying two European satellites into space from its military spacedrome of Plesetsk, the RIA Novosti news agency reported early Monday.

"The launch of the Rokot rocket carrying SMOS and Proba-2 satellites made for the European Space Agency was successful," a Russian space official was quoted as saying.

Rokot also successfully placed both satellites in orbit, officials said.

SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) is due to collect radio signals emitted by water cells on the Earth's surface, allowing it to determine changes in the water cycle due to global warming and other climate changes.

The satellite will provide maps of soil humidity from its 758-kilometre- (470-mile-)high orbit, as well as measure ocean salinity with its 69 linked antennas.

Proba-2 is part of the Project for Onboard Autonomy, and is due to test space equipment in real spaceflight conditions.

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Launch Pad at Space-Travel.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


SMOS And Proba-2 Ready For Launch
Paris, France (ESA) Nov 02, 2009
The Russian State Commission has given the go-ahead to fuel the Rockot launcher that will take ESA's SMOS and Proba-2 satellites into orbit. This formal authorisation confirms that launch can take place on 2 November at 02:50 CET (01:50 UT). The go-ahead to fuel follows the launch dress rehearsal, which took place in the Mission Control Centre near the Plesetsk launch site on 28 October. ... read more







The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2009 - SpaceDaily. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement