MOSCOW. Jan 18 (Interfax-AVN) - NPO Lavochkin has prepared a solar research project based on two satellites but there is no rocket to carry them as of yet.
"The report considers specifics of trajectories of the flight of two Russian prospective satellites to the center of the solar system. The scientific goal of the project is to study the circumsolar space from short distances and out-of-ecliptic trajectories," says a report prepared by NPO Lavochkin employees for the Korolyov Readings.
It was initially planned to launch the satellites with Soyuz 2 rockets from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, but it became clear later that the weight of the satellites would require the use of a heavier rocket which had yet to be created.
"The flight sequence of the first satellite stipulates its launch in August 2026. It will approach the Sun to a minimal distance of 61.5 solar radiuses six years after the launch. The satellite will reach heliocentric latitude of 33.1° after the last, eighth gravitation maneuver to be performed 8.3 years after the launch," it said.
There are plans to send the second satellite to the Sun in April 2028. It will travel for six years before approaching the Sun by the same distance of 63.0 solar radiuses.
The satellites will be powered by 12 liquid-fuel low-thrust engines, some of which will help stabilize the satellites while gathering information near the Sun.