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EUROCKOT Successfully Launches MOM
Rockot hits different Orbits

Bremen / Plesetsk, 30 June 2003. Eurockot Launch Services GmbH
successfully launched the Multiple Orbit Mission into different
orbits today at 14:15 GMT using the ROCKOT launch system from
Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia. The multiple payload
consisted of 8 micro- and nano-satellites for scientific purposes as
well as a satellite simulator. This launch is Eurockot`s first
sun-synchronous mission.

The ROCKOT launch vehicle successfully deployed the Czech republic`s
MIMOSA spacecraft into an elliptical orbit of 820 x 320 km and the
Canadian Space Agency`s MOST spacecraft, together with a host of
nano-satellites, including the Japanese Cubesat and CUTE-1, the
Canadian Can X-1, the Danish AAU Cubesat and DTUsat, the US Quakesat,
into a sun-synchronous orbit of 820 km. Next to demonstrating the
multiple orbit deployment capability of its Breeze upper stage, this
launch was also Eurockot`s first sun-synchronous mission. The ninth
payload of this mission, a mass frequency simulator of the Russian
MONITOR satellite, intentionally remained on Breeze and will burn up
during deorbiting.

Like most of its co-passengers, MIMOSA will perform a scientific
mission. The Czech Astronomical Institute will use it to measure the
density of the earth's upper atmosphere. MOST will carry Canada`s
first space telescope and will probe the age of planets and stars for
the Canadian Space Agency. The Japan spacecraft Cubesat Xl and CUTE-1
are educational nano-satellites of the University of Tokyo and the
Tokyo Institute of Technology. 

The main purposes of CanX-1, AAU Cubesat and DTUsat is star-imaging.
They will be operated for the University of Toronto, Aalborg
University and the Danish Technical University respectively.
Quake-sat`s mission will be the detection of earthquakes for the
Quake-Finder Institute. 

With the Mutiple Orbit Mission (MOM), Eurockot demonstrated the
unique capability of its Breeze upper stage: multiple reignitions
allow it to be precisely positioned into different orbits and release
several spacecraft successively.

Eurockot`s next launch will be performed in October 2003 for the
Japanese Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer (USEF) by
deploying its SERVIS-1 spacecraft into a sun-synchronous orbit of
1000 km altitude. Eurockot Launch Services GmbH is the joint venture
of EADS SPACE Transportation (51%) and Khrunichev Space Centre (49%)
and performs launch services for operators of Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
satellites using the flight-proven Rockot launch vehicle. Future
launches in 2004 comprise ESA`s CRYOSAT and the Korea Aerospace
Research Institute`s KOMPSAT-2 missions. 

For further information please contact
Dr. Mark Kinnersley
Phone: + 49 421 539 6510
Mobile: +49 (0)175 5738874
email: mark.kinnersley{at}astrium-space.com

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