Russian ICBM Injects Five Foreign Birds Into Orbit

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Moscow (Interfax) Sept. 26, 2000
Russia's inter-continental ballistic missile, the RS-20 Satan (SS-18 by western classification) was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome with five foreign satellites aboard on Tuesday at 2:05 p.m., Moscow time.

One of the main aims of the project is not so much the launch of commercial satellites but to confirm an extension for operating for these types of missiles in Russia's Strategic Missiles Forces, a spokesman for the forces told Interfax.

The current launch is a third attempt, after launches on August 25 and 26 were cancelled at the last minute for technical reasons.

The RS-20, a prototype of the new booster Dnepr, is launching small satellites belonging to Italy, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. Saudi Arabia and Malaysia are launching their own satellites for the first time.

Italy is launching two satellites. The Megsat space vehicle weighing 56 kilos is designed for environment control and is equipped with transmitting devices for commercial use. The second vehicle, Unisat, weighing 10 kilos and belonging to the University of Rome will be used for educational and scientific purposes.

Another two satellites, the Saudisat-1A and Saudisat-1B weighing 10 kilos each and designed for solving educational and scientific tasks, are be launched under a contract with the Saudi Arabian Space Research Institute. The fifth vehicle, the Tiungsat satellite weighing 52 kilos and belonging to a Malaysian state company is equipped with instruments for distant probing of the Earth.

The government adopted a resolution to create the Dnepr booster on the basis of the RS-20 in October 1998.

The RS-20 will be renamed the Dnepr after a cycle of tests and certification, Russia's Strategic Missiles Forces reported.

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Russian Could Increase Commercial Satellite Launches

Moscow - Sept. 19, 2000
Russia could significantly increase the number of commercial satellite launches if a deal with the United States on protecting space technology is ratified.

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