Jonathan's Space Report May 30 1990 (no.40) ---------------------------------------------------- Launch of STS-35/Columbia was scrubbed yesterday during fuelling due to hydrogen leaks near the orbiter/ET attach point. A new launch date has not been set. The launch of the ROSAT x-ray astronomy satellite is scheduled for Jun 1. The Hubble Space Telescope is in its Orbital Verification phase. The first WF/PC image gave 0.2 arcsec images; controllers are working to improve the focus and stability of the telescope, check out the instrument electronics, and resolve problems with acquiring guide stats. Command errors sent the HST into safemode on May 27, but operations were resumed the next evening. Anatoli Solov'yov (Komandir) and Aleksandr Balandin (Bortinzhener) continue in orbit aboard the Mir complex. The Soyuz TM-9 transport is currently at the station. Progress-42 was due to undock a few days ago. Launch of the Kristall module is due for May 31. Kristall will carry an EVA ladder to assist the planned spacewalk repair of loose insulation blankets on the Soyuz TM-9 SA (descent module). Solov'yov and Balandin have been in space for 107 days. Kosmos-2078 was launched on May 15 by Soyuz from Baykonur; it is a photographic mapping survey satellite. Kosmos-2079, Kosmos-2080, and Kosmos-2081 are GLONASS navigation satellites, the Soviet copy of Navstar. They were launched on May 19 by a single Proton vehicle into a 20,000 km orbit. Kosmos-2082, launched on May 22, is a large signals intelligence satellite in an 800-km orbit. This was the first use of the new Zenit launch vehicle since late 1988; no reason has been given for the hiatus in Zenit launches. Topic of the week: Zenit ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- There are two variants of the Zenit vehicle; a one-stage version used as a strapon for the Energiya launch vehicle, and a two-stage version used as a satellite launch vehicle. A three-stage variant is due to fly in 1993. The Zenit 2 has carried two types of payload into orbit: a large signals intelligence satellite which I call Ferret E, and a series of heavy low orbit payloads which I believe were related to Buran systems development. The first two Ferret E craft were launched by 4-stage Proton before Zenit was operational. All Zenit launches have been successful with the exception of Kosmos-1714, when the second stage failed to restart and the payload was left in an elliptical transfer orbit. Zenit has been offered for commercial use, and may be launched from Australia's planned Cape York spaceport. RN Zenit 1 Launch History: No Launch Date Payload Code Site 1 1987 May 15 Energiya strap-on KB 2 1987 May 15 Energiya strap-on KB 3 1987 May 15 Energiya strap-on KB 4 1987 May 15 Energiya strap-on KB 5 1988 Nov 15 Energiya/Buran strap-on KB 6 1988 Nov 15 Energiya/Buran strap-on KB 7 1988 Nov 15 Energiya/Buran strap-on KB 8 1988 Nov 15 Energiya/Buran strap-on KB RN Zenit 2 Launch History: No Launch Date Payload Code Site 1 1985 Apr 13 suborbital test KB 2 1985 Jun 21 suborbital test KB 3 Oct 22 Kosmos-1697 Ferret E3 KB 4 Dec 28 Kosmos-1714 Ferret E4 KB 5 1986 Jul 30 Kosmos-1767 Korabl' C1 KB 6 Oct 22 Kosmos-1786 Korabl' C2 KB 7 1987 Feb 14 Kosmos-1820 Korabl' C3 KB 8 Mar 18 Kosmos-1833 Ferret E5 KB 9 May 13 Kosmos-1844 Ferret E6 KB 10 Aug 1 Kosmos-1871 Korabl' C4 KB 11 Aug 28 Kosmos-1873 Korabl' C5 KB 12 1988 May 15 Kosmos-1943 Ferret E7 KB 13 Nov 23 Kosmos-1980 Ferret E8 KB 14 1990 May 20 Kosmos-2082 Ferret E9 KB (c) 1990 Jonathan McDowell