OREANDA-NEWS. November 02, 2009. Preparation for launching space purpose missile (SPM) "Rokot" with spacecrafts (SC) "SMOS" and "Proba-2", developed for the European Space Agency continues at the Plesetsk cosmodrome.

According to the technological schedule of works in the assembly-and-testing facility of the cosmodrome assembly of the space warhead of rocket (SWR) consisting of spacecrafts "SMOS" and "Proba-2" delivered to the cosmodrome in September, the upper stage "Breeze-KM", with means of separation and nose cone, was completed.

Specialists from the State space scientific-industrial centre named after M. V. Khrunichev, and also representatives of the European institutions and companies (“EADS CASA Espacio” (Spain), “Thales Alenia Space Industries” (France), National Space Agency of France (CNES), “Verhaert Design & Development NV” (Belgium), Eurockot) participated in design and creation of the spacecrafts took part in the works on preparation of the SPM "Rokot"’s parts with the spacecrafts in the assembly-and-testing facility together with specialists of the Space Forces.

On Tuesday, October 27, the Space Forces carried out transportation of the space head part to the launch facility (site 133) and setting of the accelerators of the SPM "Rokot", where necessary electrical testing of the spacecrafts and the launch vehicle will be held over the next few days.

After refueling with components of rocket fuel, which is scheduled for October 31, and final pre-launch activities the SPM "Rokot" will be ready for launching.

The start of the SPM "Rokot" is scheduled for November 2.