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Chronology - Quarter 4 2006
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2006 October 9 - - Cassini, Titan Flyby Spacecraft: Cassini.
2006 October 13 - 20:56 GMT - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: ELA3. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5 EC-A. -
 DirecTV 9S Nation: USA. Program: DirecTV. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Manufacturer: SS/Loral. Agency: DirecTV. Perigee: 35,774 km (22,228 mi). Apogee: 35,798 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2006-043A. USAF Sat Cat: 29494. Addition to DirecTV's direct broadcast television constellation. Carried 52 high-power Ku-band transponders and 2 Ka-band transponders. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 101.13W drifting at 0.009W degrees per day.
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 Optus D1 Nation: Australia. Payload: Star-2. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Star bus. Manufacturer: Orbital. Agency: Optus. Perigee: 35,775 km (22,229 mi). Apogee: 35,797 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 0.0400 deg. Period: 1,436.09 min. COSPAR: 2006-043B. USAF Sat Cat: 29495. Direct television broadcast to the Australian market. As of 2007 Mar 7 located at 159.99E drifting at 0.005W degrees per day.
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 LDREX 2 Nation: Japan. Class: Technology. Agency: JAXA. COSPAR: 2006-043C. USAF Sat Cat: 29496. LDREX-2 was attached to the upper stage. It deployed a 6.5-meter antenna design planned for the later ETS-8 satellite
2006 October 19 - 16:28 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC31. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz ST. LV Configuration: Soyuz-2-1A. -
 Metop-A Nation: Europe. Mass: 4,093 kg (9,023 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: Metop. Perigee: 817 km (507 mi). Apogee: 817 km (507 mi). Inclination: 98.70 deg. Period: 101.00 min. COSPAR: 2006-044A. USAF Sat Cat: 29499. European polar weather satellite equipped with high-resolution visible and infrared cameras, a microwave sounder, ozone monitors, a GPS atmospheric sounding device, a wind scatterometer, and a search and rescue package. First launch of the Soyuz 2 version of the venerable Soyuz launch vehicle. The main change in this first version of the new booster was a digital control system. Problems with this system delayed the launch repeatedly.
2006 October 23 - 13:40 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC1. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz 11A511U. -
 Progress M-58 Nation: Russia. Program: ISS. Payload: Progress M s/n 358. Mass: 7,250 kg (15,980 lb). Class: Manned. Type: Logistics. Spacecraft: Progress M. Manufacturer: RKK Energia. Agency: Roskosmos. Perigee: 321 km (199 mi). Apogee: 351 km (218 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.30 min. COSPAR: 2006-045A. USAF Sat Cat: 29503. Duration: 155.38 days. Flight: ISS EO-13. The Progress docked with the Zvezda module of the ISS at 14:29 GMT on October 26. There were indications that the Kurs rendezvous antenna on the forward docking ring had not retracted correctly, but this proved not to be the case. Hard dock was commanded at 18:06 GMT. Progress M-58 undocked from the Zvezda module on 27 March 2007 at 18:11 GMT and was deorbited at 22:44 GMT.
2006 October 23 - 23:34 GMT - Launch Site: Taiyuan. Launch Vehicle: CZ-4B. -
 SJ-6-2A SJ-6C Nation: China. Class: SIGINT. Spacecraft: SJ-6. COSPAR: 2006-046A. USAF Sat Cat: 29505. Replaced the SJ-6 Group 1 satellites A and B. Official purpose was to measure the space environment, but foreign analysts suspected a SIGINT role.
- SJ-6-2B SJ-6D Nation: China. Class: SIGINT. Spacecraft: SJ-6. COSPAR: 2006-046B. USAF Sat Cat: 29506.
2006 October 24 - - Messenger, first Venus Flyby Spacecraft: Messenger.
2006 October 25 - - Cassini, Titan Flyby Spacecraft: Cassini.
2006 October 25 - 13:05 GMT - Launch Site: White Sea. Launch Pad: TK-208. Launch Vehicle: Bulava. FAILURE: Destroyed by self-destruct mechanism after it veered off course shortly after the launch. - Bulava SLBM test Nation: Russia. Agency: VMF. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). References: 2.
2006 October 26 - 00:52 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: SLC17B. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7000. LV Configuration: Delta 7925-10L. - Stereo Ahead Nation: USA. Class: Solar. COSPAR: 2006-047A. USAF Sat Cat: 29510. The booster was used to put the twin spacecraft in a 182 km x 403,810 km x 28.5 deg lunar transfer orbit. They would use a series of lunar flybys to eventually place themselves in two different solar orbits: Stereo Ahead in a 0.95 AU x 0.97 AU x 0.12
Deg / 344 day orbit around the Sun leading the Earth, and Stereo Behind in a 0.99 AU x 1.09 AU x 0.03 deg / 389 day orbit trailing the Earth. The satellites were equipped with optical, ultraviolet, radio, and particle sensors that would allow them to form a three-dimensional image of the sun's corona using identical sensors from two vantage points at the same moment.
- Stereo Behind Nation: USA. Class: Solar. COSPAR: 2006-047B. USAF Sat Cat: 29511.
2006 October 28 - 16:20 GMT - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3B. - Xinnuo 2 Nation: China. Payload: Sinosat-2. Class: Communications. Spacecraft: DFH-4. Perigee: 35,675 km (22,167 mi). Apogee: 35,911 km (22,314 mi). Inclination: 0.0600 deg. Period: 1,436.44 min. COSPAR: 2006-048A. USAF Sat Cat: 29516. First DH-4 heavy Chinese communication satellite with communications equipment provided by Alcatel Alenia. Mission failed when solar panels and antennae failed to deploy in geosynchronous orbit. This was a blow to China's prestige, since the satellite was an important part of the 2008 Beijing Olympics coverage plans. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 91.80E drifting at 0.093W degrees per day.
2006 October 28 - 17:58 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX s/n NASA 36.233US. - LASP/CU-11 (SEE/EVE) Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC Colorado/Woods. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Solar EUV References: 2.
2006 October 30 - 23:49 GMT - Launch Site: Kiritimati. Launch Complex: Odyssey. Launch Vehicle: Zenit-3SL. - XM-Blues Nation: USA. Mass: 6,100 kg (13,400 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 702. Manufacturer: Boeing Satellite Systems. Agency: XM Radio. Perigee: 35,785 km (22,235 mi). Apogee: 35,787 km (22,236 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.09 min. COSPAR: 2006-049A. USAF Sat Cat: 29520. Adds to XM Satellite Radio's constellation of direct-broadcast radio to North America (XM Rock, Roll, and Rhythm launched earlier). As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 115.02W drifting at 0.006W degrees per day.
2006 November 2 - Launch Site: Qom. Launch Vehicle: Shahab 3. -
 Iranian multiple missile firings Nation: Iran. Agency: Revolutionary Guards. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). The Iranians fired at least one Shahab-3 and "dozens of" Shahab-2, Zolfaghar-73, Scud B, Fath-110 and Zelzal missiles in a mass firing demonstration to kick off their Great Prophet 2 military exercise. It marked the first firing of the Shahab 3 by troops on exercise as opposed to a test flight. The Shahab 2 was reported to have demonstrated a 1,400-bomblet cluster bomb warhead.
2006 November 3 - - Mars Global Surveyor shuts down. The last signal from the Mars Global Surveyor orbiter is received after ten years of service. The spacecraft had shown a few glitches in the day before, and was believed to have encountered some kind of solar panel control or software problem that took it off-line after a pass behind Mars relative to the earth.
2006 November 4 - 13:53 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: SLC6. Launch Vehicle: Delta IV Medium. LV Configuration: Delta 4M. - DMSP-5D3-F17 Nation: USA. Mass: 1,154 kg (2,544 lb). Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Spacecraft: DMSP Block 5D-3. Agency: U.S. Air Force. Perigee: 841 km (522 mi). Apogee: 855 km (531 mi). Inclination: 98.80 deg. Period: 101.90 min. COSPAR: 2006-050A. USAF Sat Cat: 29522. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellite with the Operational Linescan System camera, a microwave imager-sounder, ultraviolet spectrometers, particle detectors, a magnetometer, and a laser threat warning sensor. Reportedly went for a time into safe mode due to software problems after launch. The booster upper stage was conducted a maneuver to deorbit itself after placing the satellite in orbit. After the burn an explosion evidently occurred aboard the stage - dozens of objects were tracked in various orbits with perigees down to 670 km and apogees up to 851 km.
2006 November 7 - 19:30 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX s/n NASA 36.236US. - USC-7 (SOHO SEM) Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC USC/Judge. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). Solar EUV References: 2.
2006 November 8 - 20:01 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC200. Launch Pad: LC200/39. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82M. LV Configuration: Proton-M/Briz-M. -
 Badr 4 ARABSAT 4B Nation: Arab States. Mass: 3,280 kg (7,230 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Eurostar 2000. Manufacturer: EADS Astrium. Agency: Arabsat. Perigee: 35,764 km (22,222 mi). Apogee: 35,807 km (22,249 mi). Inclination: 0.10 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min. COSPAR: 2006-051A. USAF Sat Cat: 29526. Dry mass 1487 kg. The satellite provided Ku-band communications services for Arab League countries. As of 2007 Mar 10 located at 26.06E drifting at 0.011E degrees per day.
2006 November 9 - 08:51 GMT - Launch Site: Biscarosse. Launch Vehicle: MSBS. Model: M51. LV Configuration: MSBS M51 s/n 1. -
 M51 test launch Nation: France. Agency: DMA. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). Test
2006 November 9 - 11:35 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Complex: LC175. Launch Vehicle: UR-100NU. Model: UR-100NU. -
 Operational missile test Nation: Kazakhstan. Agency: RVSN RF. Apogee: 1,000 km (600 mi). OT References: 2.
2006 November 13 - Launch Site: Blue Origin. - First test launch of New Shepard subscale prototype Nation: USA. Class: Manned. Type: Rocketplane. Spacecraft: New Shepard. Agency: Blue Origin. The test vehicle, dubbed Goddard, lifted off and landed vertically, and reached 90 m altitude. The launch, delayed twice for winds, came at the end of a three-day FAA-approved window. Video and pictures issued indicated that the test vehicle was a subscale (about 84%) version of the final manned vehicle; and that it used a hydrogen peroxide monopropellant rocket engines in place of the hydrogen peroxide/kerosene engines planned for the production vehicle.
2006 November 16 - Launch Site: Tilla. Launch Vehicle: Ghauri. LV Configuration: Ghauri s/n Haft-5. -
 Ghauri test launch Nation: Pakistan. Agency: Pakistan. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Test
2006 November 17 - 19:12 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC17. Launch Pad: SLC17A. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7000. LV Configuration: Delta 7925-9.5. - USA 192 Nation: USA. Program: Navstar. Payload: GPS 2R-16M / Navstar 59. Mass: 2,032 kg (4,479 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: GPS Block 2R. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin Space Systems. Agency: U.S. Air Force. Perigee: 20,206 km (12,555 mi). Apogee: 20,367 km (12,655 mi). Inclination: 54.90 deg. Period: 722.20 min. COSPAR: 2006-052A. USAF Sat Cat: 29601.
2006 November 21 - 04:00 GMT - Launch Site: White Sands. Launch Vehicle: Black Brant. Model: Black Brant IX. LV Configuration: Black Brant IX s/n NASA 36.224UH. - Cygnus diffuse spec Nation: USA. Agency: NASA GSFC Colorado/Cash. Apogee: 300 km (180 mi). XR Astron References: 2.
2006 November 26 - Launch Site: Balasore. Launch Complex: IC3?. Launch Vehicle: Prithvi. -
 Test Nation: India. Agency: IDRDL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Test References: 2.
2006 November 27 - 04:45 GMT - Launch Site: Balasore. Launch Complex: IC3. Launch Vehicle: Prithvi. LV Configuration: Modified Prithvi II. - Target (P2) Nation: India. Agency: IDRDL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). A modified Prithvi II SRBM was fired from the Chandipore test range, Balasore, about 250 kilometers north of Bhubaneswar. References: 2.
2006 November 27 - 04:46 GMT - Launch Site: Balasore. Launch Complex: IC4. Launch Vehicle: Prithvi. LV Configuration: Modified Prithvi II. - Intercept (P2) Nation: India. Agency: IDRDL. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). ABM interceptor test. The interceptor, a modified Prithvi II, was fired from Wheeler's Island in the Bay of Bengal. References: 2.
2006 November 29 - Launch Site: Sonmiani. Launch Vehicle: Shaheen 1. LV Configuration: Shaheen 1 s/n Haft-4. - Nation: Pakistan. Agency: Pakistan. Apogee: 100 km (60 mi). Test References: 2.
2006 December 7 - Launch Site: Barking Sands. Launch Vehicle: Castor 4B. LV Configuration: Castor 4B ? s/n Aegis Target. - Nation: USA. Agency: USN. Apogee: 150 km (90 mi). Target References: 2.
2006 December 8 - 00:53 GMT - Launch Site: Xichang. Launch Vehicle: CZ-3A. - FY 2D Nation: China. Payload: Fengyun 2D. Class: Earth. Type: Weather. Perigee: 35,781 km (22,233 mi). Apogee: 35,789 km (22,238 mi). Inclination: 2.60 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min. COSPAR: 2006-053B. USAF Sat Cat: 29641. Fourth Wind and Cloud 2 geostationary weather satellite with an infrared radiometer as its primary instrument. The booster placed the spacecraft in a 226 x 36221 km x 24.9 deg geosynchronous transfer orbit. The FG-36 solid apogee motor aboard the satellite burned at 18:07 GMT and placed the FY-2D into an initial 35786 x 36478 km x 2.6 deg geosynchronous drift orbit.
2006 December 8 - 22:08 GMT - Launch Site: Kourou. Launch Complex: ELA3. Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5 EC-A. LV Configuration: Ariane 5 V174 s/n L534. - WildBlue 1 Nation: USA. Mass: 4,735 kg (10,438 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: FS-1300. Manufacturer: SS/Loral. Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Apogee: 35,792 km (22,240 mi). Inclination: 0.0200 deg. Period: 1,436.08 min. COSPAR: 2006-054A. USAF Sat Cat: 29643. Broadband internet satellite, using the Ka-band satellite. Dry mass 2000 kg. At separation of the Ariane core the stack was in a -1282 km x 233 km x 6.9 deg suborbital trajectory. The ESC-A upper stage fired to put the satellites in a geostationary transfer orbit of 265 km x 35700 km x 2.0 deg. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 111.14W drifting at 0.004W degrees per day.
- AMC 18 Nation: USA. Mass: 2,081 kg (4,587 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: AS 2100. Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin. Perigee: 35,783 km (22,234 mi). Apogee: 35,789 km (22,238 mi). Inclination: 0.0100 deg. Period: 1,436.09 min. COSPAR: 2006-054B. USAF Sat Cat: 29644. C-band cable television distribution satellite with a dry mass of 918 kg. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 104.94W drifting at 0.006W degrees per day.
2006 December 10 - 01:47 GMT - Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: LC39. Launch Pad: LC39B. Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. Model: Space Shuttle. LV Configuration: STS-116 / ISS-12A.1. - STS-116 Nation: USA. Program: ISS. Payload: Discovery F32 / P5. Class: Manned. Type: Spaceplane. Spacecraft: Discovery. Manufacturer: Boeing. Agency: NASA. Perigee: 326 km (202 mi). Apogee: 358 km (222 mi). Inclination: 51.60 deg. Period: 91.40 min. COSPAR: 2006-055A. USAF Sat Cat: 29647. Duration: 12.86 days. Decay Date: 2006-12-10. Crew: Polansky, Oefelein, Curbeam, Patrick, Fuglesang, Higginbotham, Williams. Flight: STS-116, ISS EO-14, ISS Astrolab. The mission used solid rocket booster pair RSRM-95 and external tank ET-123. At SSME burnout Discovery was in a 58 km x 220 km x 51.6 deg preliminary burn. The OMS-2 burn at 02:25 GMT placed the shuttle in a stable 225 x 250 km orbit from which rendezvous maneuvers began. Discovery docked
with the ISS at 22:12 GMT on December 11. In the most demanding ISS assembly mission ever, the crew would require an additional spacewalk to complete installation of the P5 truss, retraction of the recalcitrant port P6 solar array wing, and activation of the truss electrical and cooling system. Sunita Williams rode the shuttle to the station, and remained behind with the EO-14 crew; ESA astronaut Thomas Reiter, already aboard the station, was returned to earth. Due to weather problems a landing at White Sands was considered; but in the end Discovery landed safely at Kennedy Space Center, after which it was to enter a year-long overhaul cycle.
2006 December 11 - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82M. -
 Measat 3 Nation: Malaysia. Program: Measat. Mass: 4,900 kg (10,800 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: HS 601. Agency: Binarian. Perigee: 35,782 km (22,233 mi). Apogee: 35,792 km (22,240 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. COSPAR: 2006-056A. USAF Sat Cat: 29648. Malaysian communications satellite, to be stationed at 91.5° East together with Measat 1, covering South Asia, Malaysia and Indonesia, and supplementing Measats 1 and 2 launched ten years earlier. The Proton booster released the satellite in a 416 x 35807 x 49.1 deg geosynchronous transfer orbit. The Boeing 601HP 3 axis stabilized spacecraft, had a design lifetime of 15 years. C-band 24 active transponders using 65-watt TWTAs; Ku-band 24 active transponders using 120-watt TWTAs . End of life power of 9.8 kW provided by two solar wings, each with 4 panels of triple-junction gallium arsenide solar cells. A 445N liquid apogee motor circularised the spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit, and 12 x 10 N bipropellant thrusters provided stabilization and stationkeeping. Length in orbit with solar panels deployed 26.2 m; width, with antennas deployed, 7.7 m; stowed diameter 3.8 m. Mass in geostationary orbit after apogee motor maneuver at beginning of life 3220 kg. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 91.49E drifting at 0.012W degrees per day.
2006 December 14 - 21:00 GMT - Launch Site: Vandenberg. Launch Complex: LC2. Launch Pad: SLC-2W. Launch Vehicle: Delta 7000. Model: Delta 7920. - USA 193 Nation: USA. Class: Technology. Perigee: 354 km (219 mi). Apogee: 376 km (233 mi). Inclination: 58.50 deg. Period: 91.83 min. COSPAR: 2006-057A. USAF Sat Cat: 29651. Classifed NRO mission of uncertain objectives, possibly military observation with a mixed payload. The ground track nearly repeated every 2 days (30.92 revs), enabling frequent revisit of targets of interest. The first four Lacrosses behaved similarly (28.9 revs in 2 days). and Lacrosse 5 made 43.05 revs in 3 days. Keyholes nearly repeated every 4 days; NOSS every 4 days.
2006 December 16 - 06:32 GMT - Launch Site: Tanegashima. Launch Vehicle: H-2A. Model: H-2A/204. - Kiku 8 Nation: Japan. Payload: ETS-8. Mass: 5,817 kg (12,824 lb). Class: Technology. Spacecraft: ETS. Manufacturer: Melco. Agency: JAXA. Perigee: 35,775 km (22,229 mi). Apogee: 35,798 km (22,243 mi). Inclination: 0.0500 deg. Period: 1,436.11 min. COSPAR: 2006-059A. USAF Sat Cat: 29656. Engineering Test Satellite-8 was a Japanese prototype/operational demonstration for a number of new technologies: a large satellite bus, large-scale deployable 40-m-span antennae, mobile satellite communications system, mobile satellite digital multimedia broadcasting, and basic positioning using high-accuracy time standard devices. It will be positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 146 degrees East. JAXA developed two portable terrestrial systems to communicate directly with the satellite - a tiny telephone and a portable laptop computer. The satellite was to have a lifetime of ten years. As of 2007 Mar 11 located at 145.97E drifting at 0.010W degrees per day.
2006 December 16 - 12:00 GMT - Launch Site: Wallops Island. Launch Vehicle: Minotaur. Model: Minotaur-1. - Tacsat-2 Nation: USA. Mass: 370 kg (810 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Military. Spacecraft: Tacsat-2. Manufacturer: MicroSat Systems. Agency: AFRL. Perigee: 410 km (250 mi). Apogee: 426 km (264 mi). Inclination: 40.01 deg. Period: 92.93 min. COSPAR: 2006-058A. USAF Sat Cat: 29653. Tacsat-2 was a prototype rapid development/rapid deployment tactical military satellite that provided American Joint Task Force commanders direct control of a satellite providing both SIGINT and imagery with a resolution of better than 1-m. The known communications payload used an 8 GHz (X-band) downlink. This was the first orbital launch from Wallops Island since 1985. TacSat-2 was to have been launched by a Falcon-1 from Vandenberg into a sun-synchronous orbit. However, the failure of Falcon-1 on its long-delayed maiden in March 2006 caused AFRL to award a new launch contract for TacSat-2 and TacSat-3 to OSC in May 2006. The launch was achieved using OSC's Minotaur launch vehicle only seven months after contract award.
- GeneSat-1 Nation: USA. Mass: 7.00 kg (15.40 lb). Class: Biosat. Spacecraft: GeneSat. Manufacturer: NASA Ames. Agency: NASA. Perigee: 410 km (250 mi). Apogee: 426 km (264 mi). Inclination: 40.01 deg. Period: 92.93 min. COSPAR: 2006-058B. USAF Sat Cat: 29654. Nanosatellite launched as a secondary payload. A collaboration of NASA, industry, and local universities resulted in this fully-automated, miniaturized spaceflight system that provided life support, nutrient delivery, and performed assays to monitor genetic changes of E. coli bacteria in space conditions.
2006 December 19 - 14:03 GMT - Launch Site: Plesetsk. Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 11K65M. -
 SAR-Lupe 1 Nation: Germany. Mass: 770 kg (1,690 lb). Class: Surveillance. Type: Radarsat. Spacecraft: SAR-Lupe. Manufacturer: OHB-System. Agency: BWB. Perigee: 467 km (290 mi). Apogee: 506 km (314 mi). Inclination: 98.20 deg. Period: 94.30 min. COSPAR: 2006-060A. USAF Sat Cat: 29658. First of five planned German military surveillance satellites using synthetic aperture radar for target coverage at night and in all weathers.
2006 December 24 - 08:34 GMT - Launch Site: Military. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz ST / Fregat ST. LV Configuration: Soyuz 2.1a/Fregat. - Meridian 1 Nation: Russia. Mass: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Class: Communications. Spacecraft: Meridian. Manufacturer: NPO-PM. Agency: VKS. COSPAR: 2006-061A. USAF Sat Cat: 29668. Launch rescheduled twice due to Soyuz 2 software problems. The Meridian satellite was designed to provide communication between vessels and airplanes involved in ice surveillance in the North Sea area, and coastal stations on the ground, as well as to expand a network of satellite communications in the northern regions of Siberia and the Russian Far East.
2006 December 24 - 20:18 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Proton 8K82K / 11S861. Model: Proton-K/DM-2. - Cosmos 2424 Nation: Russia. Payload: Glonass-M s/n 715. Mass: 2,480 kg (5,460 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Glonass. Manufacturer: NPO-PM. Agency: KNITs. COSPAR: 2006-062A. USAF Sat Cat: 29670. Launch in support of restoring the Glonass navigation satellite constellation to full military and commercial functionality. At the time of launch the constellation consisted of 11 operational spacecraft, and five more on-orbit spares. A fully operational constellation would consist of 24 satellites - eight in each of three orbital planes. Only two planes were populated by 2006 - the full complement of 24 satellites was not to be reached until 2009. This was the first launch to repopulate plane 2; planes 1 and 3 had satellites operational.
- Cosmos 2425 Nation: Russia. Payload: Glonass-M s/n 716. Mass: 2,480 kg (5,460 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Glonass. Manufacturer: NPO-PM. Agency: KNITs. COSPAR: 2006-062B. USAF Sat Cat: 29671.
- Cosmos 2426 Nation: Russia. Payload: Glonass-M s/n 717. Mass: 2,480 kg (5,460 lb). Class: Navigation. Spacecraft: Glonass. Manufacturer: NPO-PM. Agency: KNITs. COSPAR: 2006-062C. USAF Sat Cat: 29672.
2006 December 27 - 14:23 GMT - Launch Site: Baikonur. Launch Vehicle: Soyuz ST. LV Configuration: Soyuz 2.1b. - Corot Nation: France. Mass: 640 kg (1,410 lb). Class: Astronomy. Spacecraft: Corot. Manufacturer: Alcatel Alenia Space. Agency: CNES. Perigee: 900 km (550 mi). Apogee: 902 km (560 mi). Inclination: 90.00 deg. COSPAR: 2006-063A. USAF Sat Cat: 29678. European COnvection ROtation and planetary Transits satellite, designed to detect transits of planets down to earth size as they pass in front of their stars, and convection currents on stellar surfaces. The satellite was to use its 27-cm-diameter telescope to scan 120,000 stars during its 30-month mission. This was the first flight of the Soyuz-2 booster with the improved RD-0124 third stage engine.
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