SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS002
ARLS002 RS-15 launch a first
 
ZCZC AS81  
QST de W1AW  
Space Bulletin 002  ARLS002
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT  January 13, 1995
To all radio amateurs
 
SB SPACE ARL ARLS002
ARLS002 RS-15 launch a first
 
The recently launched RS-15 Russian satellite was sent aloft on the
first successful test flight of a new launch vehicle.
 
RS-15 was the only passenger on the new ''ROKOT'' rocket, a joint
commercial venture between Germany and Russia.  ROKOT is described
as a low cost launcher for small satellites into low-earth and
sun-synchronous orbits and will be available for commercial launches
by the end of 1996, according to Peter Guelzow, of AMSAT-DL.
 
ROKOT may also offer economical launch opportunities for Amateur
Radio satellites and experiments, Guelzow said, and the ''user's
manual'' for ROKOT will be made available to AMSAT-DL, he said.
 
RS-15 is now operational; Keplerian data is available on W1AW.
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/EX