Improved Soyuz 2-1a Launcher's Payload Fairing Ready for July 17 MetOp-A Launch

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan, July 5, 2006/Satnews Daily/ ― The Soyuz launcher's enlarged payload fairing is ready for its upcoming flight, which is planned July 17 with the MetOp-A meteorological satellite from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Arianespace has announced.

This new fairing is part of the Soyuz 2-1a upgrade program for Russia's workhorse vehicle, which will join the Arianespace launcher family at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana in 2008.

The Soyuz 2-1a's upcoming mission with MetOp-A will be performed under the responsibility of Arianespace's Starsem affiliate.

The fairing has a length of 11.4 meters and an external diameter of 4.1 meters. During the July 17 launch, it will protect MetOp-A during the first five minutes of the mission.

Arianespace said other upgrades for the improved Soyuz 2-1a include a digital flight control system, which enables the launcher to be flown with the larger fairing and provides additional mission flexibility for the vehicle.

MetOp-A has a height of 6.3 meters and a width of 2.5 meters, easily allowing the satellite to be accommodated inside the new Soyuz payload fairing. With a liftoff mass of 4,085 kg., MetOp-A will improve Europe's meteorological observation capabilities and increase its capacity for weather forecasting and climate monitoring.

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