By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : Russia will launch two European satellites Nov 2 from the Plesetsk space center in northwest Russia, a report said Tuesday.
The dry run of the launch began early October at the space center as per schedule.
“The launch is scheduled for Nov 2. A deal to launch Rockot with the SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) spacecraft [primary payload] and the Proba-2 mini-satellite was concluded between the ESA (European Space Agency) and Eurockot Launch Services GmbH (a joint venture of the Khrunichev center and EADS Astrium),” a Khrunichev center report said.
Once in orbit at an altitude of 756 km, the 665-kg SMOS will provide global high resolution maps showing variations in soil moisture and saline levels in the world’s oceans.
The 130-kg Proba-2 (Project for On-Board Autonomy) research satellite will test new technologies for autonomous space missions.
The launch vehicle is a modified version of the Russian RS-18 (SS-19 Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missile.