We are dealing with the "versions of experts" who have already found the reason for the unsuccessful launch of the Meteor M satellite from the new Russian cosmodrome.
The spaceports were confused - the "Fregat" upper stage was programmed to start from Baikonur … The "Luch" satellite relay was specially switched on so that they would not know on earth what was happening with the satellites … The GLONASS / GPS navigation system deliberately drowned the "Meteor" … The upper stage and the rocket “They did not understand each other” - they had incompatible flight missions … And in general, this Vostochny is an unhappy cosmodrome. In general, no version has appeared since November 28, when the Meteor M meteorological satellite and 18 other small devices were not launched into orbit. Even on Sunday evening in the bathhouse the men's company is already discussing not the usual ladies' charms and vicissitudes of football, but how we are in space about everything … (lost).
Andrei Mazurin, executive director for launching and operation of the ground space infrastructure of Roskosmos, told KP observer Alexander Milkus about what actually happened to the rocket, upper stage and satellites.
Andrei Valentinovich, how could the Fregat upper stage - I remind you, reliable and tested many times - could, instead of an impulse to lift the spacecraft, give out an impulse for braking? Whose fault is it?
- The launch is built in this way. The launch vehicle has its own control system. It brings the space warhead - and it includes both the upper stage and the satellite - to the desired point, calculated by ballistics. Subsequently, after separation from the rocket, the upper stage is turned on. Its task is to spread spacecraft in orbits.
Like a tug …
- What is the value of "Fregat" - it is universal. It has a large number of inclusions, it can deliver different satellites to different orbits. But after separation from the rocket, he himself determines his position and then builds his own coordinate system. And then he goes to the desired point.
Preparation for launch of the Soyuz-2.1b space rocket with the Fregat upper stage and the Russian meteorological spacecraft Meteor-M. Photo by ITAR-TASS / Oleg Urusov.
Promotional video:
If it went into orbit in the wrong orientation - for example, it needs to fly up to the left, and it separated from the rocket so that the structure was directed upward to the right, the Fregat should turn into the correct position.
… We are talking over a cup of coffee, Mazurin picks up a long bag of sugar and squeezes it with his fingers, so that one end looks sideways towards the window. And then turns it in the opposite direction - to the door.
- Something like this should have happened - the "Frigate" had to turn in a different direction and begin to climb, - he explains.
But all the same, he could not confuse the floor with the ceiling and direct himself to the ground?
- No, I couldn't. But he needs time to get into the right position. And then already move into the intended orbit.
Then how did he fall?
- It could have turned out that he simply did not have time to take the desired position, and at this time his engines turned on. That is, it was still unfolding, and at that time an impulse was given. He directed the entire structure towards the ground.
That is, the engines were turned on ahead of time?
- Quite possible. Now the state commission is establishing the reasons for the abnormal operation of the upper stage. After December 15, the official conclusions of the commission should be made public.
Roskosmos launch statistics. Photo: RUSHAN KAYUMOV / kp.ru
Myth 1. The rocket and the upper stage "did not understand each other"
- “Experts” write that the control systems of the Soyuz 2.1b missile and the upper stage were not synchronized and the equipment simply did not understand each other
- The rocket worked normally. There are no questions for her. And the angles that she turned (the rocket in flight turned in accordance with the program so as to bring its load to the desired point - Ed.) - these are the angles laid down in advance.
The flight mission of both the missiles and the upper stage were coordinated and interconnected. It could not be otherwise. And what happened is the subject for examination by the commission.
Myth 2. They confused the East with Baikonur
- There was another version on the Internet that the program was loaded into the "Fregat", as if it started from Baikonur. Therefore, he began to unfold so strangely.
- For this upper stage, the flight task for launching from Baikonur was not even counted. It is impossible to confuse here - the flight mission for the "Fregat" was developed specifically for the start from the East.
We launch "Frigates" from four cosmodromes - Baikonur, Plesetsk, Kura and Vostochny, and each launch has its own mission.
The "shooting azimuth" (that is, at what point the missile is aimed - Ed.) From Baikonur, of course, is not the same as from Vostochny. But there cannot be such a mistake - to program for launching from another cosmodrome. The calculations for Baikonur for this "Fregat" were not even carried out.
Launch of the Soyuz 2.1b carrier rocket from the launch pad of the Vostochny cosmodrome. Photo: REUTERS.
Myth 3. The GLONASS / GPS sensor did not work
- They write that the navigation system on the "Fregat" was turned off, as the sensor, as it turned out, failed at the last minute and was cut off
- In "Fregat" the control system has satellite navigation equipment. It is used in the flight program of the upper stage when a long launch cycle is envisaged. When you need to launch into high orbits and it takes a long time. Then, using satellite navigation, a reconciliation takes place, whether we go to the right point, and, if necessary, the error is eliminated. Simply because when there is a prolonged satellite launch into orbit, error accumulates.
What is the long stage?
- For example, when GLONASS satellites are put into an orbit of 20 thousand kilometers. And in this case, it was taken out to 850 kilometers. And the navigation equipment was not used. There was no need for it. It was laid down on the ground, the state commission that made the decision on the launch knew about it.
Myth 4. The telemetry about the flight was not received on time, because they decided not to use the "Luch" relay satellite
- There is a system for receiving telemetric information using retransmission. It is called the "Luch-Subscriber System". Telemetry data from the rocket is transmitted using a relay satellite. Such equipment was installed on the Soyuz 2.1 b rocket. And she did a good job. Although this system is still being tested.
For "Fregat", such equipment was tested during the launch of the satellite "Kanopus-V-IK" from the Baikonur cosmodrome on July 14, 2017. She also worked well. But the "Fregat", which was used for launch from Vostochny, was manufactured long ago, and this equipment was not installed on it. Such equipment will be installed in the new "Frigates".
Myth 5. The error was made due to the fact that the devices were not checked by the military acceptance
A military satellite was launched from Plesetsk on December 2 with the same Soyuz 2.1 b missile. And now experts write that everything was fine, as it was received by the military. But civilians make mistakes
- We have control over the military acceptance of the missile, the upper stage, and the payload. It has been introduced for all space vehicles, both for federal vehicles and for launch vehicles. And by the way, ground equipment is checked and accepted by the military.
QUESTION - RIB
The average person gets the impression that almost every launch is emergency. Let's see the statistics …
- This year we have this first unsuccessful launch. A total of 17 launches were carried out. Talking about a losing streak, about systemic problems is not worth it. It should be borne in mind that during launches from Vostochny, we are still conducting flight design tests.
Explain this term. How does such a launch differ from a regular one?
- Regular operation is work on well-functioning documentation. When all the components of the launch are verified. For example, when a rocket is brought to the launch site, its installer lifts and sets it right where it is needed. During flight tests, testing takes place, bringing the technology when the rocket meets for the first time and the launch, when the rocket enters the given orbit for the first time. The situation when two components did not work synchronously - the upper stage and the rocket - is also an element of testing. The rocket is new, the ground equipment is new.
But there was already a launch from Vostochny in April 2016 …
- Do you remember then there was a small glitch, which is also related to testing? Then the cable was not wired correctly, and the signal did not go through. The problem was eliminated, and the rocket worked normally. These are the elements of the test.
But if this is a test mode, was it worth risking the Meteor M satellite, is it important for our meteorological group? And I'm sorry for other satellites too …
- We always take into account two components - these are the risks that may be during testing, and the cost. In this case, what we are testing - both ground equipment and the rocket - passed the tests, everything worked out. The flight tests of the complex were successful. Questions arose in the operation of the upper stage, which has been flying for many years, and before there were no complaints about it.
Will the launch of the Canopus spacecraft, which was to be launched from Vostochny on December 22 with the same Fregat upper stage, be postponed?
- Until the causes of the accident are finally clarified and an action plan has been developed that will allow us to avoid such incidents in the future, of course, we will not be able to launch the Canopus. As of today, the state commission has stopped all launches that used the Fregat upper stage.
They write that the State Commission will not be able to say with 100% certainty what happened, because you do not have enough telemetry data …
- Telemetry information on the "Fregat" from the moment of separation from the rocket to the exit from the radio visibility zone is in good quality. And in full. It allows you to draw conclusions about what happened on board. Today experts are analyzing it. And we have no doubts that this information will not be enough to draw final conclusions.
For Roshydromet, the loss of Meteor M is very significant. When can we launch a new satellite like this?
- The next "Meteor" is being manufactured here. In terms of launches, it stands for 2018.
ALEXANDER MILKUS