In the aftermath of the U.S. setback in reusable launch vehicle technology development, Europe has chosen to step back into this arena, originally abandoned in 1999. Called ANGEL for Advanced New Generation European Launcher, the project will be part of the ESA Future Launcher Technology Program (FLTP). ANGEL will begin with a France (CNES) and Germany (DLR)-led analysis of potential design candidates, backed up by industry resources. Step one, the European review, will be followed by bringing in Japan and Russia for their expertise in step two. The November ESA ministry conference is expected to be the time when FLTP advocates will propose a 600 million Euro plan for development of research vehicles during the period 2007-2008. Will an Ariane 6 be reusable? And will later versions of Ariane 5 be used as a flying test bed for new reusable technologies? Stay tuned.

Starsem: Manifest stability

At the juncture of the 40th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's historic Vostok 1 launch of April 12, 1961, the booster that lifted him into history is still flying. The basic R-7 Semyorka is the basis of today's Soyuz and Progress launch vehicles servicing the ISS and other Russian government needs. The launcher will also be the carrier for space tourist Dennis Tito, a supreme irony for what was originally designed as a ballistic missile. But the Soyuz also has a commercial pedigree today, sold by the Starsem company in two versions, the newest with a larger fairing.

During the recent Satellite 2001 conference in Washington, Starsem Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jean-Yves Le Gall gave this column an update on the company's order book and status of operations.

It is a stable order book built around commercial as well as ESA scientific launchings, and the firm's status is sound, Le Gall reports.

Starsem's order book reveals commercial launch contracts for Globalstar, the 2003 Mars Express launch, Alcatel's Skybridge, and the METOP program. The company offers two versions of the Soyuz for commercial sale; a Soyuz/ST using the Fregat upper stage, and a Soyuz/Ikar combination. Commercial missions began in February 1999 and included six launches of Globalstar satellites. Some 24 satellites were orbited, using the Ikar variant, followed by a pair of launches of the Cluster II scientific satellites aboard the Fregat version. Two demonstration qualification launches were conducted in February and March 2000 prior to the Cluster II launches on July 16th and August 9, 2000. Soyuz can lift five tons to a 1400 km. 51.8 degree inclination low orbit, or 1.5-1.8 tons to GTO.

Le Gall noted that the commercial flights of Soyuz are built upon some 1656 launches of the Soyuz family of boosters since 1957. Since 1996, 60 launches of Soyuz variants, including manned flights to MIR and the ISS, have been conducted with a 100 percent safety record. "Soyuz is the only vehicle currently that can be used both for commercial flights and manned missions," Le Gall said. Up to 12 Soyuz vehicles can be built and launched each year, including logistics flights to ISS, manned launches, commercial missions, and Russian government use. Le Gall said that Starsem can be successful with as little as a single launch per year.

Soyuz Launch Record:

1999: Commercial launches: 6 Mir/ISS: 3 Government: 3

2000: Commercial launches: 4 Mir/ISS: 7 Government: 2

2001: (as of March 1) Mir/ISS: 2 flights

The company is owned by four shareholders: The European Aeronautic, Defense, and Space Company with a 35 percent share; The Samara Space Center "TsSKB Progress" with 25 percent; The Russian Aviation and Space Agency "Rosaviacosmos" with 25 percent; and the European launch provider Arianespace with 15 percent. Starsem has an exclusive Russian marketing agreement to sell Soyuz launch vehicles and services worldwide. Le Gall said that Fregat upgrades included a new four-meter diameter class payload fairing, a new digital flight control system, and new chamber injectors in the first stage booster engines. When the two Soyuz variants are added to the small Rokot launcher and the Ariane 5, Europe would appear to have every launch customer category spoken for with an available launch vehicle. The company-built Sputnik hotel near the Baikonur launch site offers customers full amenities, and the Starsem Payload Processing Facility is state-of-the-art.

In our next column: The Aurora downunder.

Related Links