The Dnepr Program provides for the establishment and operation of the Dnepr Space Launch System based on the SS-18 heavy ICBMs which are being eliminated under the Russian-US START treaties, including by the orbital launch of spacecraft. The Dnepr program is one of the major conversion programs. The International Space Company Kosmotras was established in 1997 by a decision of the Russian and Ukrainian governments to implement the Dnepr program and incorporates a number of Russian and Ukrainian aerospace companies which developed the SS-18 system.

The basis of the Dnepr program is formed from all of the SS-18 assets available in Russia and the silo launch facilities at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The SS-18 system has more than 20 years of successful launch history with the last Dnepr launch being the 159^th. The Dnepr launch vehicle is 34.3 metres in length, 3 metres in diameter and its launch weight is 211 metric tons. It is equipped with liquid propellant engines.

Dnepr-1 is capable of delivering spacecraft weighing up to 500 kg into 800 km orbits and spacecraft weighing up to 3.5 tons into 300 km orbits, with various orbit inclinations (including the sun-synchronous orbit).

The use of Dnepr-1 equipped with apogee solid motors (one or two) allows for delivery of the following spacecraft:

• up to 1150 kg into high elliptical orbits;
• up to 500 kg into geostationary orbit using lunar-assist manoeuvre;
• from 300 to 450 kg into near-equatorial 600-1500 km orbit inclined at 9 degrees;
• up to 950 kg into escape trajectory to the Moon.

Dnepr enables an important opportunity for small satellite builders to obtain launches on a vehicle with one of the best reliability records in the business at very economical prices. For example, piggy-back and cluster launches can be arranged at around $12,000 US dollars per kilogram. The first commercial launch of a Dnepr-1 was arranged by Commercial Space Technologies Ltd on 21^st April 1999. The 350 kg satellite, UoSat-12, was manufactured by Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and the launch campaign and launch itself was completely successful, as subsequent launches have also been.

Public open lecture - no tickets, no booking, no charge

This lecture has been organised by the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Space Group and will be held in the Society’s Lecture Theatre commencing at 18:00 hrs.

Contact: Conference Department, RAeS, 4 Hamilton Place, London W1J 7BQ

Tel: 020 7670 4300  Fax: 020 7670 4349  Web: www.aerosociety.com  Email: space@aerosociety.com