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Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat-M | Meridian-M No.18
Russian Space ForcesLaunch Successful

Meridian-M No.18

Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M

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Historical mission record

This page records Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat-M | Meridian-M No.18 and its reported outcome: Launch Successful. The date above is a historical record.

Source record updated . This is a source update, not a confirmed launch time.

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Mission status
Launch Successful

Status reported by the mission data provider.

LAUNCH SITEPlesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

Mission

The Meridian series of communications satellites is reported to be the replacement for all the Molniya-1T, the Molniya-3 and Molniya-3K satellite series and possibly also for the communication component of the Parus. They are launched into highly eccentric Molniya-orbits. Meridian is the highly eccentric orbit (HEO) component of the Integrated Satellite Communications System (ISSS), where they work in conjunction with the geostationary Raduga-1M (Globus-M) satellites. The bus structure is reportedly pressurized, possibly based on the Uragan-M bus. Meridian satellites carry three transponders operating in different frequency bands.

Launch vehicle
Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M
Mission type
Communications
Destination orbit
Low Earth Orbit
Launch pad
43/4 (43R)
Provider
Russian Space Forces

The vehicle

Published configuration and flight history.

Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M
Launch vehicle

Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M

The 2.1a version includes conversion from analog to digital flight control system and uprated engines on the booster and the first stage with improved injection systems. The new digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to launch from a fixed rather than angled launch platform and adjust its heading in flight. A digital control system also enables the launch of larger commercial satellites with wider and longer payload fairings such as the ST-type fairing. These fairings introduce too much aerodynamic instability for the old analog system to handle.

Height
46.3 m
Diameter
2.95 m
Stages
3
Recorded launches
19
First flight
2010-10-19

Recorded timing

This is a mission record, not an upcoming calendar appointment.

3h windowPublished target
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Target ·

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Launch site & orbit

Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

The mission in perspective

Launch site & orbit

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Understand this orbit
NASA Blue Marble map of Earth's continents and oceans
Representative orbit · accelerated illustrationNo live tracking or simulated ascent. NASA Blue Marble.

Coverage & sources

Links supplied by the mission data provider.
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Further reading

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