MOSCOW. Jan 24 (Interfax-AVN) - A Russian Rokot rocket will orbit three Swarm European research satellites from Plesetsk in summer 2013, European Space Agency (ESA_ head Jean-Jacques Dordain told a Thursday press conference in Paris.
The press conference was broadcasted live at the ESA Moscow office.
The launch of three satellites is scheduled for summer 2013; this is the only launch in which the ESA will use a foreign rocket, Dordain said. The satellites will be launched from Plesetsk, which is why a summer launch window has been chosen. Summer is better than winter in Plesetsk, Dordain joked.
Swarm satellites are built to study the Earth's magnetic field and its evolution. EADS Astrium produced the satellites. They will be put close to a polar orbit.
The Rokot light rocket was made from the decommissioned two-stage intercontinental ballistic missiles RS-18 (NATO code name Stiletto). Its takeoff weight is 107.5 tons. The rocket can position payloads of up to 2 tons in low orbits. The Rokot has three stages, including two stages of RS-18 booster and the Briz-KM upper stage.