Among the distinguished guests attending the most recent Dnepr launch mission with THEOS satellite aboard that lifted off from the Yasny launch site on October 1, 2008 were Mr. Leonid D. Kuchma, President of the Ukraine in 1994-2004, Honorary President of ISC Kosmotras, and Mr. Viktor S. Chernomyrdin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to the Ukraine.Mr. Kuchma was directly involved in the development and manufacture of the SS-18 missile system: he worked in the rocket industry for a long time and among the positions he occupied during his industry career were First Deputy Designer General of Yuzhnoye State Design Office (SDOY) and Director General of Yuzhny Machine Building Plant (Yuzhmash). That was Mr. Kuchma who, in the capacity of the President of the Ukraine, initiated the Dnepr Program - use of SS-18 rockets for launching satellites into orbit - at the highest political level. From the Russian side this proposal was supported by Mr. Viktor Chernomyrdin, who was the Russian Prime Minister at that time.
ISC Kosmotras Director General Mr. Vladimir A. Andreev guided a tour of the Yasny launch base for the honorable guests (for details refer to ‘Launch Sites' section of the web-site). Of special interest to the guests was Clean Room # 1 of the Assembly, Integration & Test Building where they were shown a Dnepr Space Head planned to be used for one of the future launch missions.
On October 1, 2008 Mr. Kuchma and Mr. Chernomyrdin together with the heads of governmental entities and industrial companies - members of the Dnepr Program team watched the liftoff of the Dnepr rocket carrying THEOS satellite from the launch observation post.
The distinguishing feature of the THEOS launch by a converted SS-18 ICBM (Dnepr LV) is that it was the first ISC Kosmotras mission from the Yasny launch site that headed southward to its Sun-synchronous target orbit.
Once the successful separation of the spacecraft was confirmed, an official launch crew award ceremony was held.
October 15, 2008
SSTL’s Executive Chairman: ISCK is a key partner
Executive Chairman of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL) Sir Martin Sweeting, in his personal letter, thanked Director General of ISC Kosmotras (ISCK) Mr. Vladimir Andreev on the successful launch of the Dnepr LV with the world’s first dedicated small satellites Earth observation constellation ‘RapidEye’ aboard that was performed from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 29 August 2008.
Sir Martin Sweeting said: “I would like to express my appreciation to you regarding the long cooperation between SSTL and ISCK in furthering the field of advanced small satellites – I certainly consider ISCK a key partner in this pioneering modern approach to changing the economics of space.”
SSTL’s Executive Chairman highlighted the importance of ISCK role in development of the space business and expressed hope for future mutually beneficial cooperation: “We have enjoyed a long and constructive working relationship with ISCK and I hope that this special relationship, built over many years, will continue long into the future. The provision of affordably priced launch services is critical to the success of the new small satellite business and Russia should be proud in taking a leading role in this advanced field.”
September 2, 2008
