Watch the Launch

Pion-NKS No. 1 (Kosmos 2550)

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Government/Top Secret

Low Earth Orbit 43/4 (43R) Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

The Russian Pion-NKS (14F139) satellites are the naval component of the next generation ELINT satellite system Liana. As a replacement for both the passive ELINT US-PM and the active radar US-A, they carry both ELINT sensors as well as an active radar.

Updates

spacevogel • June 25, 2021, 9:08 p.m.

Launch success confirmed


spacevogel • June 25, 2021, 8:01 p.m.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 24, 2021, 12:57 a.m.

New launch time.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 21, 2021, 3:58 p.m.

NOTAMs issued.


Cosmic_Penguin • June 18, 2021, 1:30 a.m.

Added launch per TASS report, drop zones and insider sources (https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=36678.msg2253618#msg2253618).


Soyuz 2.1b

Family:
Configuration:

Soyuz-2 is the 21st-century version of the Russian Soyuz rocket. In its basic form, it is a three-stage carrier rocket for placing payloads into low Earth orbit. The 2.1b version adds an upgraded engine (RD-0124) with improved performance to the second stage.

Specifications
  • Minimum Stage
    2
  • Max Stage
    3
  • Length
    46.3 m
  • Diameter
    2.95 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    312.0 T
  • Thrust
Family
  • Name
    Soyuz 2.1b
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Soyuz 2.1b
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
    $80000000
  • Low Earth Orbit
    8200.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
    3250.0 kg
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    4900.0 kg

Progress Rocket Space Center

Progress Rocket Space Center

(PRSC)

CEO: Dmitry Baranov Founded: 1996 Successes: 44 Failures: 1 Pending: 0

Agency Type:

Progress Rocket Space Centre, formerly known as TsSKB-Progress, is a space science and aerospace research company which is known for manufacturing launch vehicles and satellites. Most notably, Progress Rocket Space Centre is the manufacturer of Soyuz launch vehicles.

INFO WIKI

Related News

Spaceflight Now

Russia launches military satellite for naval surveillance

Russia’s military launched the first of a new type of ship-locating radar imaging satellite Friday aboard a Soyuz rocket.

NASA Spaceflight

Russia’s Soyuz launches Pion-NKS naval intelligence satellite

Russia launched the first satellite for its long-delayed next-generation ocean reconnaissance system on Friday. The Pion-NKS No.901 satellite lifted off atop a Soyuz-2-1b carrier rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia at 22…

Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

43/4 (43R)


Long March 11
Go
6 hours, 33 minutes ago
Unknown Payload
Oriental Spaceport mobile launch ship - Sea Launch

Details TBD.


Falcon 9
Success
2 days, 6 hours ago
Starlink Group 11-14
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 2 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-81
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Electron
Success
3 days, 7 hours ago
The Nation God Navigates (iQPS Launch 5)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1B - Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

Synthetic aperture radar Earth observation satellite for Japanese Earth imaging company iQPS.


Ariane 62
Success
4 days, 6 hours ago
Sentinel-1D
Ariane Launch Area 4 - Guiana Space Centre, French Guiana

Sentinel-1D carries an advanced radar technology to provide an all-weather, day-and-night supply of imagery of Earth’s surface as part of the Sentine…


Long March 7A
Success
5 days, 23 hours ago
Yaogan 46
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Classified Earth observation satellite officially reported as for "national resources/hydrology/meteorology surveying & disaster management" purposes.


LVM-3 (GSLV Mk III)
Success
6 days, 15 hours ago
CMS-03 (GSAT-7R)
Satish Dhawan Space Centre Second Launch Pad - Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India

Communications Satellite for the Indian Navy, replacing GSAT-7 for secure real-time links between Indian warships, submarines, aircraft, and shore-ba…


Falcon 9
Success
6 days, 22 hours ago
Bandwagon 4 (Dedicated Mid-Inclination Rideshare)
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Dedicated rideshare flight to a mid-inclination orbit with dozens of small microsatellites and nanosatellites for commercial and government customers.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Starlink Group 11-23
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 28 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Long March 2
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Shenzhou 21
Launch Area 4 (SLS-1 / 921) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Tenth crewed flight to the Chinese space station.