Successful Launch of KazEOSat-2 satellite on 19 June 2014
Successful Launch of Polish BRITE-PL satellite on 21 November 2013
Successful Launch of PICARD satellite
Marc Pircher, Head of Toulouse Space Center, regarding PICARD successful launch in his letter to Director General of ISC Kosmotras:
Dear Mr Andreev,
I wish to transmit you CNES congratulations for the success of PICARD launch and to acknowledge our great level of appreciation for the performance accomplished by Kosmotras and its different partners under these circumstances.
PICARD spacecraft was injected on the requested orbit with excellent performances: the bias values measured by CNES are 64 m on the semi axis, and 0,002° on the inclination angle. This will permit to keep a very stable orbit during the expected life time of the mission and then to optimize the visibility of the sun all along the 2 or more years of the mission. The date of launch is still compatible with the initiation of the new cycle of sun activity and will permit to collect the expected scientific data during the ascending part of that cycle.
We appreciated the perfect control by Kosmotras of the general progress of the operations during that whole campaign and the strict respect of the last agreed schedule.
The CNES team present in Yasny reported me about the quality, functionality and operationality of the AITB facilities which permitted to conduct the preparation of the satellite in excellent conditions, within a limited and optimized schedule. That team also reported me about the comfort of the hotel, the hospitality and warm welcome by both Kosmotras team and launch base personnel, concurring to make their stay as pleasant as possible.
I only regret that my very tight time schedule did not permit me to make a visit of Yasny as I would have wished to do.
You are aware that, due to the presence of the asbestos mine, CNES had to prepare a very strict prevention plan in order to respect the French law. This represented an important amount of work and also important constraints for the teams in Yasny. We appreciated the commitment of Kosmotras on this point and the efficient cooperation with CNES specialists in order to define together and then implement all the actions necessary in order to guarantee the respect of the legal level of 5 fibers/liter maximum in the launch facilities
We already had the opportunity to congratulate Kosmotras for the success of the DEMETER launch performed on June 29th, 2004, from Baikonour. DEMETER is still operating with success. The success of PICARD launch re enforces our high level of appreciation of the quality of the DNEPR launcher and of the professionalism and efficiency of ISC Kosmotras.
I thank you for transmitting my congratulation and appreciations to Kosmotras team committed in PICARD operations and also to Kosmotras industrial and governmental partners.
With my best regards,
Marc PIRCHER
June 23, 2010
THEOS Launch Guests
Among the distinguished guests attending the most recent Dnepr launch mission with THEOS satellite aboard that lifted off from the Yasny launch site on October 1, 2008 were Mr. Leonid D. Kuchma, President of the Ukraine in 1994-2004, Honorary President of ISC Kosmotras, and Mr. Viktor S. Chernomyrdin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Ukraine.Mr. Kuchma was directly involved in the development and manufacture of the SS-18 missile system: he worked in the rocket industry for a long time and among the positions he occupied during his industry career were First Deputy Designer General of Yuzhnoye State Design Office (SDOY) and Director General of Yuzhny Machine Building Plant (Yuzhmash). That was Mr. Kuchma who, in the capacity of the President of the Ukraine, initiated the Dnepr Program - use of SS-18 rockets for launching satellites into orbit - at the highest political level. From the Russian side this proposal was supported by Mr. Viktor Chernomyrdin, who was the Russian Prime Minister at that time.
ISC Kosmotras Director General Mr. Vladimir A. Andreev guided a tour of the Yasny launch base for the honorable guests (for details refer to ‘Launch Sites' section of the web-site). Of special interest to the guests was Clean Room # 1 of the Assembly, Integration & Test Building where they were shown a Dnepr Space Head planned to be used for one of the future launch missions.
On October 1, 2008 Mr. Kuchma and Mr. Chernomyrdin together with the heads of governmental entities and industrial companies - members of the Dnepr Program team watched the liftoff of the Dnepr rocket carrying THEOS satellite from the launch observation post.
The distinguishing feature of the THEOS launch by a converted SS-18 ICBM (Dnepr LV) is that it was the first ISC Kosmotras mission from the Yasny launch site that headed southward to its Sun-synchronous target orbit.
Once the successful separation of the spacecraft was confirmed, an official launch crew award ceremony was held.
October 15, 2008
SSTL’s Executive Chairman: ISCK is a key partner
Executive Chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) Sir Martin Sweeting, in his personal letter, thanked Director General of ISC Kosmotras (ISCK) Mr. Vladimir Andreev on the successful launch of the Dnepr LV with the world’s first dedicated small satellites Earth observation constellation ‘RapidEye’ aboard that was performed from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 29 August 2008.
Sir Martin Sweeting said: “I would like to express my appreciation to you regarding the long cooperation between SSTL and ISCK in furthering the field of advanced small satellites – I certainly consider ISCK a key partner in this pioneering modern approach to changing the economics of space.”
SSTL’s Executive Chairman highlighted the importance of ISCK role in development of the space business and expressed hope for future mutually beneficial cooperation: “We have enjoyed a long and constructive working relationship with ISCK and I hope that this special relationship, built over many years, will continue long into the future. The provision of affordably priced launch services is critical to the success of the new small satellite business and Russia should be proud in taking a leading role in this advanced field.”
September 2, 2008
