Cause of the accident of navigation satellites could become a “cosmic” accident – Moskovsky Komsomolets

As versions of what scientists call a collision with a meteor or space debris

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Europe until freezes launch of its satellite navigation system “Gillileo” using Russian rockets “Soyuz-ST-B” from Kourou in French Guiana. This time the reason was not economic sanctions, and the banal error in our upper stage, which does not have lasted two European satellite to orbit. Most likely, they now turn to garbage.

Photo: morguefile.com

According to one version, the failure occurred precisely razgonnike “Fregat” reported “MK” in the NPO. Lavochkin, where the upper stage was made.

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Launch vehicle “Soyuz-ST “developed in the Samara Space-Rocket Center” Progress “, designed specifically for launches from the Guiana Space Centre. This is a modification of “Soyuz-2″. It modified telemetry system under European receiving stations, as well as the weather conditions in Guyana, where the very high humidity. Upper stage “Fregat-MT” developed in NPO. Lavochkin and also adapted for operation in the Guiana Space Centre in conjunction with the “Soyuz-ST».

Navigation satellites “Galileo”, launched into space on August 22 ended up neraschёtnoy on orbit. Instead of a circular orbit height of 23 thousand kilometers “Frigate” “planted” them on an elliptical with a perigee of 13,000 kilometers and an apogee of 26,000 km. Despite the fact that the satellites have their own propulsion systems that can correct the orbit, they still did not last long. “Milena” and “Doreza” – these names were given to satellites – are likely to be considered lost. At least in the company «Arianespace», engaged in running, do not say anything until the withdrawal of the desired orbit.

Source in the NPO. Lavochkin said “MK”, ​​that the failure of “Frigate” probably occurred “under the influence of a powerful mechanical disturbance” or just hit. It could cause flies celestial body, such as a meteor or some piece of space debris. As a result, the unit with navigation satellites on board heavily banked. The angular velocity sensor included in gyrostabilization booster, tried to compensate for the violation of stabilization, but they did not succeed.

It should be noted that the state of emergency – only the second in a row of 38 launches rocket “Soyuz” and first happened because of a failure of the upper stage “Fregat».