Starsem SA Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M MetOp-B
Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M
Status
Success
Date
17 SEP 2012
16:28
Mission Overview
MetOp is a series of three polar orbiting meteorological satellites developed by the European Space Agency (ESA).
Rocket
Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M
Mission Type
Earth Science
Orbit
Sun-Synchronous Orbit
Stages
3
Livestream
Rocket Details
The 2.1a version includes conversion from analog to digital flight control system and uprated engines on the booster and the first stage with improved injection systems. The new digital flight control and telemetry systems allow the rocket to launch from a fixed rather than angled launch platform and adjust its heading in flight. A digital control system also enables the launch of larger commercial satellites with wider and longer payload fairings such as the ST-type fairing. These fairings introduce too much aerodynamic instability for the old analog system to handle.
Height
46.3 m
Diameter
2.95 m
Launch Mass
312 T
Thrust
4,149 kN
