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Zenit booster puts Russian military satellite into space BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW Posted: June 10, 2004 Delayed numerous times by technical troubles over the past few months, a Zenit 2 rocket finally launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome early Thursday carrying a classified Russian military payload. Liftoff occurred at 0128 GMT (9:28 p.m. EDT Wed.), and the rocket deployed its cargo into orbit at 0141 GMT, officials said.
It has been dubbed Kosmos 2406, which is the name that had been given to a military spacecraft launched earlier this year. But Russian space officials have shuffled the names, creating some confusion along the way. The Ukrainian-built, two-stage Zenit is a highly automated vehicle that began flying in the mid-1980s. It has suffered several spectacular failures but today's launch went as planned, according to Russian reports. A three-stage version of the Zenit is used by the Sea Launch group to carry commercial communications satellites into space from a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean. |
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The Cassini spacecraft's arrival at Saturn is previewed in this detailed news conference from NASA Headquarters on June 3. (50min 01sec file)
Cassini's make-or-break engine firing to enter orbit around Saturn is explained with graphics and animation. Expert narration is provided by Cassini program manager Robert Mitchell. (3min 33sec file)
The scientific objectives of the Cassini mission to study the planet Saturn, its rings and moons are explained by Charles Elachi, director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. (4min 54sec file)