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Two European satellites will be launched on Nov 2 from the Plesetsk space centre in northwest Russia. The dry run for launching the satellites kicked off during the intial days of October at the Plesetsk space centre.
"The launch is scheduled for Nov 2. A deal to launch Rockot with the SMOS (Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity) spacecraft [primary payload] and the Proba-2 mini-satellite was concluded between the ESA (European Space Agency) and Eurockot Launch Services GmbH (a joint venture of the Khrunichev center and EADS Astrium)," a Khrunichev center report said.
SMOS, which weighs about 685 kg, will be transferred into the orbit at about 756 km from earth’s orbit. These satellites will focus on providing global high resolution maps which will help in identifying the levels of variations in the moisture and saline level of soil in the oceans.
The 130-kg Proba-2 (Project for On-Board Autonomy) research satellite will test new technologies for autonomous space missions.
The launch vehicle is a modified version of the Russian RS-18 (SS-19 Stiletto) intercontinental ballistic missile.
