Roscosmos

[pmd1980]

Soyuz-FG with spacecraft Soyuz MS-07
On December 17, 2017 at 10:21 MT launch vehicle Soyuz-FG and manned spacecraft Soyuz МS-07 with the crew of long-duration expeditions ISS-44/45 successfully lifted off from Gagarin’s Launch Pad of BAIKONUR space center.

The spacecraft was successfully put into low Earth orbit and is headed for the International Space Station (ISS). The spacecraft crew consists of Anton SHKAPLEROV (Russia), Scott TINGLE (USA) and Norishige KANAI (Japan).

Onboard the International Space Station Soyuz MS-07’s crew will be met by ROSCOSMOS cosmonaut Alexandr MISURKIN, Joseph ACABA and Mark VANDE HEI. Therefore, the Expedition 54 (ISS-54) crew complement will be augmented from three to six crewmembers.

According to telemetry data, the spacecraft insertion into low-Earth orbit and separation from the third stage of the launch vehicle occurred on schedule. Deployment of all antennas and solar array panels was detected immediately after the separation. The systems and assemblies of the upgraded spacecraft operate normally. The crew reports a good health status.

Spacecraft Soyuz MS-07 will approach the ISS using a long two-days rendezvous capability. A fully automatic docking with the Mini Research Module (MRM1) Rassvet is scheduled for December 19 at 11:43 MT.

Credit: Roscosmos

[pmd1980]

Zenit-2SB with the Angosat-1
On December 26, 2017 at 22:00 Moscow time, Zenit-2SB launch vehicle successfully lifted off from BAIKONUR Cosmodrome. The launch mission is to deliver an Angosat satellite to the target orbits. According the flight program, two stages of Zenit-2SB have taken the ascent unit into low orbit just short of eight minutes and thirty-seven seconds after liftoff. From this point in the mission, the Fregat-SB performs planned mission maneuvers to advance the satellite to the planned orbit. Separation of the Angosat satellite is scheduled to occur approximately 9 hours after lift-off. Angosat is a spacecraft developed by RSC Energia in the interests of the Republic of Angola. It is designed to provide broadcasting coverage in C- and Ku-bands on the territory of the Republic of Angola, as well as the entire African continent. The Angosat project calls for constructing a communications satellite with a transponder, launching it into the geostationary orbit and building a round infrastructure for communications and TV broadcasting.
Credit: Roscosmos, Космический центр "Южный"