Interbol 2, Magion5 & Victor

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

05:22:01

Thursday August 29, 1996

Mission Details

Launch Notes

Last flight of Molniya-M /Block SO-L.

Interbol 2

The Interbol Project is a multi-national effort that consists of four spacecraft: two main spacecraft of the Prognoz series, made in Russia, each with a small subsatellite (Magion) made in Czechoslovakia. The main objective is to study the physical mechanisms responsible for the transmission of solar wind energy to the magnetosphere, its storage there, and subsequent dissipation in the tail and auroral regions of the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and atmosphere during magnetospheric substorms. A ground-based support group will provide coordinated and simultaneous ground-based data of many types, including observations from auroral and polar cap regions. Interball is an IACG-related mission. Key physical parameters will be generated, and will be available for exchange with other projects. Campaigns for intercomparison with the Wind and Geotail spacecraft are expected. One pair of spacecraft, Tail Probe and its subsatellite S2-X (X for the first letter of the Russian word for ``Tail''), was launched into the magnetospheric tail. The second pair, Auroral Probe and S2-A (A for ``Auroral''), will have an orbit that crosses the auroral oval to observe the acceleration of auroral particles and the flow of electric currents that connect the magnetospheric tail with the conducting ionosphere. To study the equilibrium tail structure, during about half of each year the Tail Probe pair will cross the main parts of the magnetotail every four days. The Auroral Probe pair will support the Tail Probe pair with auroral region measurements. Each main spacecraft has more than twenty scientific instruments. The spacecraft is cylindrical, with spin axis toward the sun (within 10 degrees), and with spin period of ~120 s. The electric and magnetic field sensors are on booms connected to the ends of the solar panels.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

Magion 5

Magion 5 is an experimental sub-satellite of Interbol 1.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

Victor

Victor is an experimental vehicle, intended to evaluate in-orbit behaviour of low-cost space technologies. It weights 32 kg in-orbit (34.5 kg mounted onto the LV), and has dimensions 340 × 340 × 450 mm. It carries two video cameras, oriented for earth-imaging, as well as transceivers in both UHF and S bands. Electrical power is provided by four 88-Si cells solar panels, with an end-of-life electrical power of 8W. Its position is determined by means of a 3-axis, flux-gate magnetometer, as well as both solar and horizon sensors, while its attitude is 3-axes controlled by magnetic coils and reaction wheels, with an expected pointing precision of 0.5 deg.

Low Earth Orbit

1 Payload

35 kilograms

Rocket

Retired
Molniya-M/Block SO-L

Active 1972 to 1996

RKK Energiya logo

Manufacturer

RKK Energiya

Rocket

Height: 41.26m

Payload to Orbit

LEO: 6,200 kg

GTO: 2,400 kg

Liftoff Thrust

4,391 Kilonewtons

Fairing

Diameter: 2.58m

Height: 6.74m

Stages

4

Strap-ons

4

Launch Site

Site 43/3

Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia

Fastest Turnaround

2 days 17 hours

Stats

Molniya-M


259th

Mission

2nd

Mission of 1996

1996


54th

Orbital launch attempt