Rockot lifts off from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in May 2000 on a demonstration flight. Photo: Eurockot

The launch of the SERVIS-1 spacecraft will be performed with the Rockot launch vehicle, Eurockot Launch Services of Bremen, Germany has announced following the signing of a Launch Service Agreement with the Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer (USEF) of Tokyo, Japan.

The launch of SERVIS-1 is now planned for the 2003 time frame and will take place from the dedicated facilities of Eurockot at Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia. SERVIS-1 is an acronym for the first flight of the "Space Environment Reliability Verification Integrated System" programme, and is being developed by USEF under the contract from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

The objective of the SERVIS-1 mission is to develop technologies for the use of commercial off-the-shelf parts under space environment conditions. Rockot will launch the spacecraft into a sun-synchronous orbit with an altitude of 1000 km. USEF selected Eurockot to provide the launch services following an international competition. The signing of the Launch Services Agreement with USEF marks the first contract of Eurockot in Japan and the Asian market. The contract was concluded through the contribution of Eurockot's representative in Asia and Oceania, Mitsui Bussan Aerospace.

Eurockot Launch Services is the joint venture of Astrium and Khrunichev and provides launch services to operators of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites using the flight-proven Rockot launch vehicle. Eurockot maintains launch facilities at Plesetsk Cosmodrome that match international standards following substantial investment.

Eurockot is presently preparing the launch of the GRACE satellites for the German Aerospace Centre DLR. The dual launch of the joint NASA/DLR GRACE mission will be the next campaign for Eurockot now scheduled for spring 2002. Also in 2002, a dual launch of Iridium satellites for Motorola Inc. will be undertaken by Eurockot.