IRIS

Spacecraft n°:

Russia spacecraft n°:

Launch data: Designation  35867 / 09049C Launch date  17 Sep 2009 - 15:55 UT Launch site  B, LC-31/6 Launch vehicle  Soyuz-2-1b / Fregat Mission  Techn / Imaging Earth orbit on: Perigee / Apogee   km Eccentricity   Inclination   deg Period   min

Mission details:

• Fregat then made two further burns at about 1746 and 1835 UTC to descend to 490 x 504 km where it deployed Sumbandila, a South African imaging satellite, and deployed the Lavochkin/Astrium IRIS experment, two rigidizing masts carrying dummy solar arrays, in a test of inflatable structure technology. The Fregat was expected to make a final burn to deorbit itself on Sep 18, but was still in a 491 x 503 km orbit as of Sep 23, 2009.