THE ROCKOT LAUNCH VEHICLE -THE SUCCESSFUL GERMAN/RUSSIAN PARTNERSHIP IN SPACE TRANSPORTATION

摘要

Eurockot is a German-Russian joint venture company established to provide LEO launch services using the Russian Rockot launch vehicle. Following the successful debut of the commercial configuration of the Rockot vehicle in 2000 and the successful launches of further twelve satellites during the GRACE, Iridium and Multiple Orbit missions in 2002 and 2003, further launch contracts for Japan (SERVIS-1), Korea (KOMPSAT-2) and the European Space Agency ESA (CryoSat) have been concluded, thus establishing Eurockot as the premier provider of launch services in this segment. The Rockot launch vehicle is a three stage liquid fuelled rocket based on the former Russian SS-19 strategic missile. Rockot can place payloads of more than 2000 kilograms in low earth orbits (LEO) and has the capability to serve sun-synchronous, near polar and highly inclined orbits from its launch site. Launches are performed from state-of-the-art facilities at Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia. Eurockot is also in a position to offer high altitude orbits. In particular for payloads with a mass of up to approximately 440 kg even earth escape/planetary mission with reliable, competitive and flight qualified systems can be offered by adding a solid boost stage to the Rockot launcher in co-operation with the major provider of these stages. In this paper the performance envelope, interfaces and potential design solutions will be discussed.