Rokot
Rokot was a Russian space launch vehicle derived from the UR-100NU intercontinental ballistic missile, consisting of the missile's two liquid-fueled stages augmented by a Briz-KM upper stage.[1] Developed by the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, it was primarily launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome and capable of delivering payloads of approximately 1,800 kilograms to low Earth orbits at inclinations around 63 degrees.[1] Operational from 1990 to 2019, Rokot conducted 34 missions, including commercial launches through the Eurockot joint venture and deployments of scientific satellites such as GRACE for NASA and GOCE for the European Space Agency, achieving a high success rate before retirement due to reliance on Ukrainian-manufactured components.[1]Design and Capabilities
Vehicle Configuration and Stages
The Rokot is a three-stage, liquid-propellant launch vehicle derived from the first two stages of the Soviet-era UR-100N (SS-19 Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missile, with a separately developed upper stage.[2][1] The overall configuration measures 29.15 meters in length, with a diameter of 2.5 meters and a liftoff mass of 107 metric tons, enabling payloads up to approximately 1,950 kilograms to low Earth orbit at 200 kilometers altitude and 63-degree inclination.[2][1] All stages utilize hypergolic nitrogen tetroxide (N₂O₄) oxidizer and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) fuel for reliable ignition without atmospheric dependence.[2] The first stage consists of the UR-100N booster section, featuring three RD-0233 main engines and one RD-0234 vernier engine clustered at the base for thrust vector control.[2] It has a diameter of 2.5 meters and length of 17.2 meters, delivering sea-level thrust of 1,870 kilonewtons and vacuum thrust of 2,070 kilonewtons over a 121-second burn time.[2] This stage provides initial ascent from launch sites such as Plesetsk Cosmodrome, separating after burnout to leave the vehicle at suborbital velocity.[1] The second stage, also from the UR-100N upper section of the ICBM, employs a single RD-0235 main engine supplemented by four RD-0236 vernier engines for attitude control.[2] Measuring 2.5 meters in diameter and 3.9 meters in length, it produces 240 kilonewtons of vacuum thrust from the main engine and 15.76 kilonewtons total from the verniers, with burn durations of 183 seconds for the main and up to 200 seconds for the verniers.[2] Ignition occurs in vacuum following first-stage separation, propelling the upper composite toward orbital insertion.[2] The third stage is the Breeze-KM (Briz-KM) upper stage, a Khrunichev-developed module distinct from the ICBM heritage of the lower stages, capable of multiple restarts for precise orbit adjustments.[2][1] It features a single 20-kilonewton S5.98M main engine with a dry mass of 1,320 kilograms and maximum propellant load of about 4,975 kilograms (3,310 kilograms oxidizer and 1,665 kilograms fuel), supporting burn times up to 1,000 seconds across as many as eight ignitions.[2] Earlier missions occasionally used the related Breeze-K stage, but the Breeze-KM became standard for enhanced payload performance and mission flexibility in commercial operations.[1] The payload fairing, typically 2.5 meters in diameter and up to 6.7 meters long, encapsulates the upper stage and satellite during ascent.[2][1]| Stage | Origin/Engines | Propellants | Dimensions (Dia. × Length) | Key Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | UR-100N; 3× RD-0233 + 1× RD-0234 | N₂O₄/UDMH | 2.5 m × 17.2 m | 1,870 kN (SL thrust); 121 s burn[2] |
| Second | UR-100N; 1× RD-0235 + 4× RD-0236 | N₂O₄/UDMH | 2.5 m × 3.9 m | 240 kN (vac. main thrust); 183 s main burn[2] |
| Third (Breeze-KM) | Khrunichev; 1× S5.98M (20 kN) | N₂O₄/UDMH | ~1.5 m × ~2 m (est.) | Up to 1,000 s total burn; multiple restarts[2][1] |
Propulsion Systems
The Rokot launch vehicle employs liquid-propellant propulsion systems across its three stages, utilizing a hypergolic combination of nitrogen tetroxide (N₂O₄) oxidizer and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) fuel for reliable ignition without igniters.[3][4] The first two stages derive from the UR-100N intercontinental ballistic missile's design, featuring closed-cycle, turbopump-fed engines developed by the Khimavtomatiki Design Bureau, while the third stage integrates the Briz-KM upper stage with a restartable engine from Khrunichev.[5] The first stage propulsion consists of three primary RD-0233 engines and one RD-0234 vernier engine, all gimbaled for thrust vector control. Each RD-0233 delivers approximately 470 kN of sea-level thrust, yielding a total of 1,870 kN at liftoff, with vacuum performance reaching 2,070 kN and specific impulses of 285 seconds at sea level and 310 seconds in vacuum.[3][6] The stage burns for 121 seconds, propelling the vehicle to an altitude of about 60 km before separation.[4]| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Engines | 3 × RD-0233 + 1 × RD-0234 |
| Propellants | N₂O₄/UDMH |
| Sea-level thrust (total) | 1,870 kN |
| Vacuum thrust (total) | 2,070 kN |
| Specific impulse (SL/vac) | 285 / 310 s |
| Burn time | 121 s |
| Parameter | Main Engine (RD-0235) | Verniers (4 × RD-0236) |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum thrust | 240 kN | 15.76 kN (total) |
| Specific impulse (vac) | 320 s | 293 s |
| Burn time | 183 s | 200 s |
Performance Parameters
The Rokot launch vehicle possesses a liftoff mass of 107 metric tons and stands 29.15 meters tall, with an external diameter of 2.50 meters across its stages and a payload fairing of 2.5 meters diameter by 2.62 meters height.[9] All three stages employ storable liquid propellants consisting of nitrogen tetroxide (N₂O₄) as oxidizer and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) as fuel, enabling a total delta-V sufficient for insertion into low Earth orbits (LEO) and sun-synchronous orbits (SSO).[9] [10] Payload capacity to circular LEO varies by altitude and inclination, with maximum performance of 1,950–2,140 kilograms achievable to a 200-kilometer orbit at 63.2 degrees inclination from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.[9] [11] Capacity decreases at higher altitudes or inclinations; for instance, approximately 1,200 kilograms can be delivered to an 820-kilometer SSO at 98.7 degrees.[9] The following table summarizes representative payload performance for circular orbits:| Orbit Altitude (km) | Inclination (degrees) | Payload Capacity (kg) |
|---|---|---|
| 200 | 63.2 | 1,950–2,140 |
| 400 | 63.2 | ~2,000 |
| 1,000 | 99.5 | ~1,500 |
| 820 (SSO) | 98.7 | ~1,200 |
Development and Production
Origins from UR-100N ICBM
The UR-100N (RS-18, NATO: SS-19 Stiletto), a Soviet liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, served as the foundational basis for the Rokot launch vehicle. Developed by OKB-52 under Vladimir Chelomey starting in the late 1960s, with production at the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, the UR-100N entered service in 1975 following its first flight test in 1977. Approximately 360 units were manufactured by 1991, featuring two stages powered by hypergolic propellants (UDMH and nitrogen tetroxide), with the first stage using RD-0234 engines and the second employing RD-0235 engines for precise orbital insertion capabilities in its original missile role.[1][4] Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the 1991 START I treaty, which mandated the decommissioning of significant numbers of strategic missiles including the UR-100N, Russian authorities sought to repurpose surplus hardware for peaceful space applications to offset economic pressures and utilize existing infrastructure. The conversion program, aimed at transforming these ICBMs into commercial and government launchers, aligned with broader post-Cold War efforts to convert military assets amid arms reduction obligations. This initiative preserved technical expertise and silos at sites like Baikonur, while addressing the treaty's requirements for missile elimination by redirecting them to non-nuclear uses.[1][4] Khrunichev led the adaptation, renaming the vehicle Rokot ("Rumble") and integrating a Briz-K upper stage to enable payload delivery to low Earth orbit, with modifications including updated guidance systems, payload fairings, and control refinements to the existing UR-100NU (15A35 variant) missile blocks for the first two stages. Official development sanction came from the Russian government on December 16, 1992, followed by further approval on July 1, 1995, enabling three test launches from Baikonur silos in the early 1990s to validate the configuration. These changes retained the ICBM's high reliability—rooted in its operational history—but shifted focus to orbital missions, yielding a payload capacity of approximately 1,800 kg to a 200 km orbit at 63° inclination.[1][4]Upper Stage Development and Integration
The Briz-K upper stage was initially integrated with the Rokot vehicle for its early demonstration launches from 1990 to 1994, providing basic orbital insertion capability using a liquid-propellant propulsion system derived from Soviet-era designs.[5] To address limitations in payload mass and injection accuracy, Khrunichev's Salyut Design Bureau initiated development of the improved Briz-KM variant, with its technical project officially approved in 1995.[5] [10] The Briz-KM featured a restartable S5.92 main engine with a thrust of approximately 20 kN, burning nitrogen tetroxide (N2O4) and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), and supported multiple ignition cycles for up to seven hours of operation.[13] [8] The fueled mass of the Briz-KM reached 6.77 metric tons, enabling Rokot to deliver up to 1.95 metric tons to a 200 km circular orbit, a significant enhancement over the Briz-K configuration.[5] Development emphasized compatibility with the UR-100N-derived first and second stages, including hydraulic and electrical interfaces for stage separation and attitude control.[10] Flight testing of Briz-KM began in the late 1990s, with operational integration on commercial missions starting around 2000, replacing Briz-K entirely by the mid-2000s.[1] Payload integration with the Briz-KM occurs at Khrunichev facilities or the Plesetsk launch site, where the satellite or dispenser is secured to a custom adapter on the stage's forward compartment, followed by installation of separation mechanisms and electrical connectors.[14] The assembly is then encapsulated within a composite payload fairing, typically 2.5 meters in diameter, before mating to the Rokot second stage via pyrotechnic and mechanical interfaces.[8] This process ensures vibration isolation and thermal protection during ascent, with the Briz-KM igniting shortly after second-stage burnout—around five minutes post-launch—to perform initial orbit circularization and subsequent transfer burns.[15] In a 2017 example with the Sentinel-5P satellite, integration involved mounting the payload to the Briz-KM on October 2, encapsulation on October 3, and full vehicle stacking shortly thereafter, culminating in a successful launch on October 13.[14] A later upgrade to Briz-KM2, introduced by 2019, incorporated a Russian-developed flight control system to eliminate reliance on Ukrainian-sourced avionics, improving autonomy and reliability for military payloads.[1] This variant maintained the core propulsion architecture while enhancing guidance precision through inertial measurement units and star trackers.[13] Overall, Briz-KM integration has supported Rokot's high reliability, with the upper stage responsible for final orbit insertion in all post-1990s missions.[7]Production and Conversion Process
The Rokot launch vehicle originated from the conversion of decommissioned UR-100N (SS-19 Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missiles, which were originally produced at the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center in Moscow. Khrunichev manufactured approximately 360 such missiles by 1991 before their phase-out under arms reduction treaties.[1] Post-Cold War, the Russian Ministry of Defense transferred surplus UR-100N missiles to Khrunichev for repurposing into space launch vehicles, a process initiated in the early 1990s to utilize existing hardware amid economic constraints. The core conversion entailed retaining the ICBM's first and second stages—powered by RD-0233/RD-0234 and RD-0235 engines, respectively—while adapting the missile body for orbital missions. Military-specific components, such as the reentry vehicle and warhead bay, were removed and replaced with a payload adapter and interface for the Briz-K or Briz-KM upper stage, enabling precise satellite insertion into low Earth orbit.[1][10] Further modifications included upgrading the guidance and control systems from ballistic targeting to orbital navigation, incorporating redundant avionics for reliability, and certifying the structure for commercial payloads up to 1,950 kg into sun-synchronous orbits. These changes were performed at Khrunichev's facilities, where the ICBMs underwent disassembly, inspection for structural integrity, component refurbishment, and reassembly with the upper stage—itself produced by Khrunichev using hypergolic propellants. Payload fairings, often borrowed from other programs like Angara after early testing incidents, were integrated during final preparation.[1] This conversion approach leveraged the missiles' storable propellants and silo-launch heritage, minimizing new manufacturing costs, though it relied on depleting stockpiles; by the 2010s, Khrunichev shifted toward Rokot variants like Rokot-M, incorporating newly built stages to avoid dependence on retired ICBMs.[16]Operational History
Early Flights and Testing (1990s)
The Rokot launch vehicle underwent initial testing in the 1990s using converted silos at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, focusing on validating the integration of the Briz-KM upper stage with decommissioned UR-100N intercontinental ballistic missile first and second stages. These early flights were suborbital or low-orbit demonstrations rather than commercial operations, aimed at proving the vehicle's capability for space access amid post-Soviet economic constraints and arms reduction treaties that provided surplus ICBMs for conversion. All three 1990s missions originated from vertical silo launchers, a configuration inherited from the missile's original design, before transitioning to horizontal rail-based surface launches at Plesetsk in the 2000s.[15][1] The inaugural flight occurred on November 20, 1990, from silo 29 at Baikonur Site 131, executing a suborbital test with the Naryad-V payload to assess basic ascent performance and upper stage functionality. This mission successfully reached space, demonstrating the Rokot's structural integrity and propulsion sequencing without achieving orbital insertion.[15][1][10] A second suborbital test followed on December 20, 1991, launched from silo 58 at Baikonur Site 175, carrying a Grand Prix or Naryad-related test article and attaining an apogee of approximately 1,000 km to further evaluate guidance, control, and stage separation under extended flight conditions. The mission met its objectives, confirming the vehicle's reliability for potential anti-satellite or reconnaissance applications tied to the Naryad system development.[15][1][10] Rokot achieved its first orbital insertion on December 26, 1994, from silo 58 at Baikonur Site 175, deploying the 70 kg Radio-ROSTO RS-15 amateur radio microsatellite into a 1,894 by 2,151 km orbit at 64.8° inclination, possibly alongside a Naryad subpayload. This success marked the vehicle's transition from pure testing to operational potential, with the Briz-KM upper stage performing multiple burns to circularize the orbit and validate payload deployment sequences.[15][1][10]Commercial Operations via Eurockot
Eurockot Launch Services, a joint venture formed in 1994 between Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and Germany's DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (later Airbus Defence and Space), was established to market and operate the Rokot launch vehicle for international commercial customers.[1] Operations utilized the Rokot-KM variant, featuring the Briz-KM upper stage for precise orbit insertion, with all launches conducted from a dedicated pad at Plesetsk Cosmodrome to enable polar and sun-synchronous orbits suitable for Earth observation satellites.[1] The first Eurockot-managed Rokot flight occurred on May 16, 2000, marking the operational debut of the Briz-KM stage, though subsequent missions from 2002 onward focused primarily on commercial payloads.[1] Eurockot executed 14 commercial Rokot launches between 2002 and 2018, deploying over 20 satellites for agencies including the European Space Agency (ESA) and various national programs, with payloads typically ranging from 100 kg to 1,200 kg per mission.[17] These missions demonstrated the vehicle's reliability for small-to-medium satellites, achieving a 100% success rate in Eurockot operations, and included multi-payload deployments such as the June 30, 2003, flight that orbited eight microsatellites and CubeSats.[1] Key customers valued Rokot's cost-effectiveness and accuracy, with the Briz-KM enabling injections into orbits as low as 250 km and inclinations up to 98 degrees.[1]| Date | Primary Payload(s) | Notes/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| March 17, 2002 | GRACE (Tom), GRACE (Jerry) | NASA/ESA/DLR gravity mission; success |
| June 20, 2002 | Iridium satellites (2) | Commercial constellation; success |
| June 30, 2003 | MIMOSA, MOST, CubeSat, CUTE-1, Can X-1, AAU CubeSat, DTUsat, Quakesat | Multi-satellite demo; success |
| October 30, 2003 | SERVIS-1 | Japanese tech demo; success |
| August 26, 2005 | Monitor-E | Russian Earth observation; success |
| July 28, 2006 | KompSat-2 | Korean imaging satellite; success |
| March 17, 2009 | GOCE | ESA gravity mission; success |
| November 9, 2009 | SMOS, Proba-2 | ESA ocean/atmosphere and tech demo; success |
| June 2, 2010 | SERVIS-2 | Japanese radiation test; success |
| February 16, 2016 | Sentinel-3A | ESA Copernicus ocean/land; success |
| October 13, 2017 | Sentinel-5 Precursor | ESA atmospheric monitoring; success |
| April 25, 2018 | Sentinel-3B | ESA Copernicus; success, final Eurockot mission |
Military and Government Missions
The Rokot launch vehicle served primarily as a reliable platform for Russian Ministry of Defense missions, deploying classified military satellites for communications and geodesy from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome after initial testing phases. These operations emphasized secure, low-Earth orbit insertions for payloads supporting naval and ground force communications, as well as high-precision geodetic measurements to refine Earth's gravitational models for navigation and targeting applications. Unlike commercial Eurockot ventures, government missions utilized the full Briz-KM upper stage capability for multi-satellite deployments, with all post-2000 orbital attempts succeeding.[1] Key military communications missions involved the Rodnik series (also known as Strela-3 variants), which provided store-and-forward messaging for Russian forces. On July 6, 2009, Rokot orbited Kosmos 2451, 2452, and 2453 into a 1,500 km sun-synchronous orbit for naval communications relay.[1] Similar Rodnik triplets followed: Kosmos 2482–2484 on January 15, 2013; Kosmos 2488–2490 on December 25, 2013; Kosmos 2496–2498 on May 23, 2014; and Kosmos 2507–2509 on September 24, 2015, all achieving nominal 1,500 km circular orbits.[1] A classified Strela-3 satellite launched July 28, 2012, supplemented these for tactical data links. The final Rodnik deployment occurred November 30, 2018, with Kosmos 2530, 2531, and 2532, using three Briz-KM burns to reach a 1,500 km orbit after liftoff at 07:14 UTC from Pad 133/3.[7][18]| Date | Payloads | Purpose | Orbit Achieved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-01-15 | Kosmos 2482, 2483, 2484 | Rodnik military communications | 1,500 km, 82.5° polar |
| 2013-12-25 | Kosmos 2488, 2489, 2490 | Rodnik military communications | 1,500 km, 82.5° polar |
| 2014-05-23 | Kosmos 2496, 2497, 2498 | Rodnik military communications | 1,500 km, 82.5° polar |
| 2015-09-24 | Kosmos 2507, 2508, 2509 | Rodnik military communications | 1,500 km, 82.5° polar |
| 2018-11-30 | Kosmos 2530, 2531, 2532 | Rodnik military communications | 1,500 km, 82.5° polar |
Launch Infrastructure
Primary Launch Sites
The primary launch site for the Rokot launch vehicle is Plesetsk Cosmodrome, located in northern Russia approximately 800 km north of Moscow, which supports polar and high-inclination orbits ideal for Rokot's payload capabilities of up to 1,950 kg into low Earth orbit.[1][19] Dedicated facilities at Plesetsk, including Launch Complex 133 (specifically Pad 133/3), were adapted from former UR-100N ICBM infrastructure for Rokot operations, enabling both commercial and military missions under Eurockot management.[7][20] The first Rokot launch occurred from Plesetsk Site 133 on May 16, 2000, at 20:27 Moscow Time (17:27 UTC), successfully orbiting the SimSat-1 demonstration satellite despite heavy snowfall conditions at the site.[1] Subsequent missions, including Eurockot's commercial flights like the November 2, 2009, launch of ESA's SMOS and Proba-2 satellites, utilized the same complex, which featured specialized preparation buildings and a silo-converted launch pad for rapid integration of the Briz-KM upper stage.[21] Over 30 Rokot launches took place exclusively from Plesetsk through its retirement, with the final mission on December 26, 2019, deploying three classified military satellites (Kosmos 2550, 2551, and 2552) into sun-synchronous orbit.[22][23] Although some documentation references Baikonur Cosmodrome as a potential site due to its role in original UR-100N operations, no operational Rokot launches occurred there; Plesetsk's northern latitude and infrastructure exclusivity ensured all flights benefited from direct access to high-inclination trajectories without downrange overflight restrictions.[9] This site selection prioritized mission flexibility for payloads requiring inclinations between 63° and 98°, aligning with Rokot's conversion from a silo-launched ICBM to a space launch vehicle.[1]Ground Support and Facilities
The Rokot launch infrastructure at Plesetsk Cosmodrome features a dedicated launch complex, including a refurbished pad originally adapted from the Kosmos-3M facility at Site 133, enabling above-ground launches without silos.[1][10] This setup supports vertical vehicle integration, with a mobile service tower for mating the upper composite to the booster stages, retracting approximately 10 minutes prior to liftoff, and a stationary mast for structural support.[9] An undertable room (26 m²) adjacent to the pad provides customer access for final payload checks, equipped with air conditioning to maintain spacecraft thermal conditions up to 30 seconds before ignition.[9] Payload and vehicle processing occurs at the nearby Integration Facility (MIK), located 6 km from the pad, featuring a general hall (500 m²) for booster and fairing assembly, and a clean room bay certified to ISO Class 8 (with optional Class 7 upgrades) divided into an airlock (54 m²), upper composite integration area (146 m²), and spacecraft processing zone (180 m²).[9] Electrical ground support equipment (EGSE) rooms handle telemetry and interfaces, while customer offices support mission oversight; power supplies include 208/120 V 60 Hz AC and 380/220 V 50 Hz AC with uninterruptible backups.[9] Thermal conditioning systems ensure fairing and payload environments with active air temperatures of 10–25°C, airflow exceeding 4,000 m³/h, and relative humidity of 30–60%, monitored via sensors accurate to ±0.7°C and ±3% RH.[9] Ground support equipment encompasses overhead cranes rated at 30 t and 10 t capacities for handling components, mobile integration tables, assembly stands, boom lifts, forklifts, and rail cars for intra-site transport.[9] Facilities are interconnected by rail and road networks, facilitating logistics from Mirny (40 km away), where the Mission Control Centre manages telemetry, communications, and real-time operations.[9][24] Eurockot's investments have modernized these assets, including clean rooms and measurement infrastructure, to accommodate commercial and government missions.[10]Performance and Reliability
Overall Success Rate and Statistics
The Rokot launch vehicle performed 34 missions between its maiden suborbital test flight on November 20, 1990, and its retirement after the final orbital launch on December 27, 2019. Of these, 32 were deemed successful in achieving their primary orbital insertion objectives, yielding an overall success rate of 94.1%.[1]| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Launches | 34 |
| Successful Launches | 32 |
| Full Failures | 2 |
| Partial Failures | Included in successes (e.g., orbit achieved but with anomalies like failed deorbit burns) |
| Success Rate | 94.1% |
Notable Achievements and Missions
The Rokot launch vehicle executed 34 missions between 1990 and 2019, achieving 31 full successes for an overall reliability of approximately 91 percent.[1] Its adaptability for both military reconnaissance and commercial payloads highlighted its versatility, with the Briz-KM upper stage enabling precise insertions into low Earth and sun-synchronous orbits.[1] Eurockot Launch Services, the German-Russian joint venture, managed 14 commercial operations from 2000 to 2018, 13 of which succeeded without anomaly, deploying over 20 international spacecraft.[25][1] Key achievements include facilitating Earth observation and scientific research through high-profile European Space Agency (ESA) missions. On March 17, 2009, Rokot launched the GOCE satellite to map Earth's gravity field from a low-altitude sun-synchronous orbit.[1] This was followed by the November 2, 2009, dual deployment of SMOS for soil moisture and ocean salinity measurements alongside Proba-2 for technology demonstration.[1][26] Further ESA contributions encompassed the November 22, 2013, launch of the three-satellite Swarm constellation to study Earth's magnetic field. Rokot also supported Sentinel missions under the Copernicus program, including Sentinel-3A on February 16, 2016, for ocean and land monitoring; Sentinel-5 Precursor on October 13, 2017, for atmospheric composition; and Sentinel-3B on April 25, 2018, completing the tandem for enhanced environmental data collection.[1][17] In commercial sectors, Rokot deployed the GRACE gravity recovery satellites on June 20, 2002 (though primarily Dnepr, confirmed dual context), and South Korea's KOMPSAT-2 Earth observation satellite on July 28, 2006, to a 685-kilometer orbit.[1][27] Military missions featured reliable insertions of Rodnik communication satellites, such as the November 29, 2018, launch of three units, and Gonets-M store-and-forward relays in the final December 27, 2019, flight alongside a classified payload.[7][28]| Date | Primary Payload(s) | Orbit Type | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2003 | MIMOSA, MOST, multiple microsatellites | Sun-synchronous | Demonstrated multi-payload capability with eight satellites including international university projects.[1] |
| July 28, 2006 | KOMPSAT-2 | 685 km circular | Advanced Korean remote sensing mission.[1][27] |
| February 16, 2016 | Sentinel-3A | Sun-synchronous | Initiated Copernicus oceanographic tandem pair.[1] |
| April 25, 2018 | Sentinel-3B | Sun-synchronous | Concluded Eurockot's commercial operations with precise dual-satellite heritage deployment.[17][1] |