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Relic Russian ICBM To the Rescue for Science

Posted by timothy on from the swords-into-satellites dept.

helio writes "Japanese space agency, JAXA, has announced that the agency will use DNEPR space launch system to launch OICETS (Optical Inter-Orbit Communications Engineering Test Satellite). Initially OICETS was to be launched with Japan's H-IIA rocket, however the delay in their development and a lack of time in the schedule force JAXA to utilize Russian's DNEPR system. For those who are too young to remember Cold War, DNEPR space launch system used to be Russian's inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBM). As you may guess, the OICETS satellite will be launched from a silo."

8 of 149 comments (clear)

  1. Sigh. by mumblestheclown · · Score: 2, Informative

    If it's a relic, then it's not Russian, it's Soviet. If you want to call it current then it could be Russia, but then there would be some irony, as the name DNEPR is the name of the most important river in Ukraine, which is (in case any of you were sleeping while recent news was transpiring), a completely different country (much to Russia's consternation). In fact, if the Russians haven't yet changed the name of the DNEPR system, it only goes to further evidence their thinly veiled ambitions on Ukraine.

  2. Sealaunch, Redstone, Titan and others by starbird · · Score: 4, Informative

    There have been a number of rockets that were originally designed as ICBMs and then used for commercial and other purposes, it's not that uncommon. The original Redstone rockets used for Mercury came right from the USAF. Instead of being loaded with a nuclear payload they recieved a capsule. Same with Gemini and its Titan rockets.

    Sealaunch uses Zenit for the first stage in their launcher. They wre originally designed as a quick launch ICBM by the Soviets. The launch facility was a truck and the whole system was designed to fit inside of a rail tunnel, to stay out of sight from american spy satellites.

    1. Re:Sealaunch, Redstone, Titan and others by LWATCDR · · Score: 3, Informative

      "USAF developed Atlas as an IRBM."
      Actually no the Atlas was an ICBM not an IRBM the Air Force IRBM was the Thor that ended up being made into the Delta. The Air Force also got the Jupiter IRBM after it was taken away from the Army.

      Also the new Atlas V is very different than the original Atlas. For one the Atlas used what is called 1 1/2 staging. It used three rocket engines feeding from one set of tanks. It then dropped the two booster engines. The tank was also very unusual in that it was a "balloon" style tank made of super thin stainless steel it was pressurized to give it strength. Then new Atlas uses a single Russian engine and a conventional structure. So if the structure is different and the engines are different what is the same?
      BTW for reference take a look at this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_ICBM
      And from the Wikipedia listing "The newest version of Atlas, the Atlas V, is an Atlas in name alone as it contains little Atlas technology. It no longer uses balloon tanks nor 1.5 staging, but incorporates a rigid framework for its first stage booster much like the Titan family of vehicles. Ironically, given Atlas's origin as a military weapon, the Atlas III and Atlas V use Russian-designed engines." Hey I did not even write that entry :) Oh and the Atlas always used RP/LOX and never used alcohol.
      "Titan was the only liquid fueled ICBM for the US." No the Titan I, Titan II, and Atlas where all ICBMs so it was three. The Titan I and Titan II where in the same family but very different machines. They used different fuels and the Titan II used storeables while the Titan I had to be fuel right before launch. The Titan I had a very short life span.
      "Now the ultimate irony will be when NASA starts using a few MX Peacekeeper rockets as launchers..."
      Already happening.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  3. India Too! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    You do realize that India also can launch Geostationary satellites. The GSLV project of ISRO (Indian version of NASA) can launch such payloads into sky.

  4. DNEPR-1 by dmitriy · · Score: 2, Informative

    DNEPR-1 is a civilian name for a rocket named (by NATO) Satan.

    Some people think it is way sexier than Delta-4 Heavy.

    Here's more stuff about this relic Russian (actually, Ukrainian) ICBM

  5. ICBM re-use by Migraineman · · Score: 4, Informative

    Both the US and the former-Soviets have programs to dispose of ICBMs through commercial-use conversions. The US turns Peacekeeper ICBMs into Taurus launch vehicles. Stanford University launched a bunch of picosats on the first Minotaur - a hybrid of the Minuteman ICBM and Pegasus upper stages. The DNEPR has launched a couple of small satellites already, and has a number of Cubesats on-deck. You can coordinate getting a Cubesat on a DNEPR launch through OSSS or TransOrbital.

  6. Re:Minor FYI on "DNEPR" by samekt · · Score: 2, Informative

    the Gambia, the Niger, the Sudan, the Yemen, and the Ukraine

  7. Hi Dick by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Oh, look everyone: It's Richard Gere, the "phrusa.org" troll!

    mod him to oblivion.