SSETI Express. Launched  27/10/05

SSETI Express was integrated on the launch adaptor in the few days before the scheduled launch on Thursday 27th October 2005.
Travelling with Express were 4 other satellites being launched for the UK China Iran and Russia.  Also Express carried 3 small cubesats from Norway Japan and Germany. A truly international launch.

       

The Picture above left shows the satellites mounted on the launch adaptor.  The adaptor was then lifted and moved to a horizontal position where it was mounted to the launch vehicle, a 2 stage COSMOS 3M.  With the satellites in place, a  fairing is slid over to protect them from being exposed to the atmosphere as the rocket accelerates to over 10,000 miles per hour.

Above left shows the fairing being joined onto the launch vehicle. A technician takes a last look at the payload of five satellites.
Above right. After a long trip by rail, the COSMOS 3M arrives at the launch site. It just has to be lifted into the vertical position and fueled, then it will be ready to begin its journey up to an orbit of  700km.

LAUNCH.......

http://www.g6lvb.com/images/ssetilaunchcut.wmv

COSMOS 3 SL-8/C-1 SPECIFICATIONS.      - Thanks to      http://www.braeunig.us/space/specs/

First orbital launch: Aug-1964 (Cosmos 38-40); 3M debut May-1967 (Cosmos 158)
Number launched: 405 attained orbit by end-1995; 727 launches in total 1970-95, including 345 suborbital reentry tests
Launch sites: Plesetsk, Kapustin Yar
Principal uses: small military store/dump communications, navigation and unknown minor missions at medium altitudes; Intercosmos science satellites; commercial
Vehicle success rate: 94.59% orbital attempts
Performance: 1,400 kg into 180 km circular, but principally used for about 1,000 kg payloads into 800-1,500 km circular orbits
Availability: main payloads can be accommodated with 3 months' notice. Capacity of Polyot and facilities is 30 launches annually
Cost: about $10 million for complete capacity; $6,500/kg for secondary payloads
Number of stages: 2
Overall length: 32.4 m
Principal diameter: 2.40 m
Launch mass: 109,000 kg
Launch thrust: 1,726 kN sea level
Guidance: inertial, on stage 2 forward end, by Khartron

COSMOS 3 SL-8/C-1 STAGE 1
Engines: RD-216 assembly (four fixed chambers) from NPO Energomash with storable propellants. Steering by graphite vane inserted into each exhaust
Length: 22.5 m
Diameter: 2.40 m
Dry mass: 5,300 kg
Oxidizer: nitric acid/27% NTO
Fuel: UDMH
Propellant mass: 82,000 kg
Thrust: 1,726 kN
Burn time: about 130 s
Separation: cold separation, assisted by solid braking rockets