* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: ELISA satellites

Blobrana · L

A Soyuz rocket lifted off on Friday from Europe's space base in French Guiana, placing into orbit six low-orbit satellites with military or joint military-industrial use.
It was the second-ever launch of the Russian-made rocket from the European Space Agency (ESA) pad in South America.
The 2.2-tonne payload included France's Pleiades 1 satellite, designed to generate 3-D and colour images from low Earth orbit for both military and industrial use.
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The second Russian-built Soyuz rocket launched from French Guiana blasted off late on Friday carrying six military spy satellites, space officials said.
The rocket blasted off at 11.03 p.m. (0203 GMT Saturday) from a launch pad at the European Space Agency's (ESA) launch centre near Kourou, French Guiana, on the northeast coast of South America.
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Blobrana · L

Arianespace to launch ELISA satellites
Astrium has selected Arianespace to launch four satellites of the space segment of the ELISA demonstrator.
The four ELISA satellites will be placed in heliosynchronous orbit by a Soyuz rocket to be launched from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. They will be auxiliary passengers on the launch of the first Pléiades satellite in late 2009.
Astrium is lead manager for the program, working with co-contractor Thales for French MoD procurement agency DGA. Astrium is prime contractor for the demonstration program, which comprises four satellites, each weighing about 135 kg. The satellites are built on a Myriade platform designed by French space agency CNES.

Arianespace Press release