Ukrainian sensing satellite Sich-2, whose start was delayed several times (most recently in December 2010), will be launched by carrier rocket Dnepr in February-March 2011.
This was reported by General Designer – General Director of state enterprise Design Bureau Yuzhnoye (Dnipropetrovsk, eastern Ukraine) Oleksandr Dehtiarev.
According to him, Yuzhnoye began the development of satellite Sich-2M, which is expected to start after 2012.
Dehtiarev also said that in the 1st half of 2011 carrier rocket Dnepr will take into orbit Korean satellite Komsat-5. In the 3rd quarter, by the 300th anniversary of Mikhail Lomonosov, it is scheduled to launch Dnepr with the Lomonosov satellite (developed by the Moscow State University).
Another launch of the Dnepr rocket with Russian spacecraft is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2011, Yuzhnoye’s general designer added.
Dnepr is a strategic intercontinental missile RS-20 (15A18, Voivode), converted in a spacecraft carrier. It was designed and developed at Yuzhnoye, and produced by Dnipropetrovsk-based state enterprise Yuzhmash in cooperation with other Ukrainian and Russian enterprises.
Satellite Sich-2 is designed to address the practical and scientific challenges of regional and local level to monitor crisis situations, vegetation and soil cover of land, create digital terrain maps, as well as conduct resource management and planning on urban and coastal areas.
