How many spacecraft can you fit in a Dnepr?

Fit check in progress showing 2 RapidEye spaceraft.

This may sound like a familiar joke - but for the 5 RapidEye spacecraft built by SSTL a fit-check is an important preparation before the ultimate launch. The SSTL and MDA (the prime) launch teams visited the KB Yuznoye works at Dnepropetrovsk, April 14th – 18th, to conduct a spacecraft fit-check with the Dnepr launch vehicle.

Fit-check is an important event in the launch schedule as its purpose is to technically clear the way for successful integration of the flight spacecraft at the Cosmodrome.

The fit-check established that all the physical interfaces between the spacecraft and the launch vehicle were correct. During meetings, the launch teams were able to qualify the actual route of integration – an especially important activity when, as in this case, five spacecraft are being launched on a single launch vehicle.

So the answer, dear Space Blog reader is 5 - or at least 5 RapidEye spacecraft.

This entry was posted by Robin Wolstenholme on Thursday, May 22. 2008 at 15:44. and is filed under Launch updates. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own blog. All new comments are subject to moderation before being displayed.

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Pinback says:

#1 2009-02-18 01:17 (Reply)

Depends if you have the sidecar bolted on properly

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