Here is a schedule of major rocket launches expected around the world during the next couple of months.
Recent launch date changes or additions are noted in red . June 23 - Proton
Baikonur Cosmodrome A Russian Proton rocket will carry the Express A3 satellite into Earth orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan. We do not have a launch time yet, although it's possible that in the Eastern Daylight Time zone it will put the launch on June 22. June 29 - Atlas 2A
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station A Lockheed Martin Atlas 2A rocket will carry a Tracking and Data Relay System satellite (TDRS-H) into Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral's launch pad 36A. The launch window opens at 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT). June 29 - Proton
Baikonur Cosmodrome An International Launch Services Proton rocket will carry the Sirius 1 communications satellite into Earth orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan. We do not have a launch time yet. July 1 - Minotaur
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California An Orbital Sciences Minotaur rocket, made up of Air Force Minuteman 2 ICBM and a Pegasus components, will carry the Air Force's MightySat 2 complement of science experiments. The launch window opens at 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT). July 12 - Proton
Baikonur Cosmodrome A Russian Proton rocket will carry the Zvezda service module to the International Space Station in Earth orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan. We do not have a launch time yet. July 13 - Atlas 2A
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station A Lockheed Martin Atlas 2A rocket will carry the ECHOSTAR-6 communications satellite into Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral's launch pad 36B. The launch window opens at 10 p.m. EDT (0200 GMT July 14). July 17 - Delta 2
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station An Air Force Delta 2 rocket will carry a NAVSTAR Global Positioning System satellite into Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral's launch pad 17A. The launch window opens at 5:13 a.m EDT (0913 GMT). July 25 - Ariane 5
Guiana Space Center An Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket will carry two communications satellites (Astra 2B and GE-7) into Earth orbit from Kourou, French Guiana. No launch time has been announced yet. July 31 - Titan 4
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California An Air Force Titan 4 rocket will launch a classified payload. No launch time has been announced yet. August 16 - Atlas 2A
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station A Lockheed Martin Atlas 2A rocket will carry the ICO-A2 communications satellite into Earth orbit from Cape Canaveral's launch pad 36A. The launch window opens at 5 p.m. EDT (2100 GMT). August 19 - Delta 3
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Boeing will attempt to launch its third Delta 3 rocket, but this time no paying customer will be on board. Instead the rocket will fly ballast. Officials hope this flight will demonstrate the rocket is working fine. The launch window extends from 7 to 11 a.m. EDT (1100 to 1500 GMT). August 29 - Titan 2
Vandenberg Air Force Base, California An Air Force Titan 2 rocket refurbished from a missile silo will launch a National Oceanics and Atmospheric Administration weather forecasting satellite. The launch window opens at 6:22 a.m. EDT (1022 GMT). Please e-mail additions or corrections to Jim Banke, Senior Producer in the Cape Canaveral Bureau. Official news releases may be sent to our office in Port Canaveral at 99 George J. King Blvd., Suite 7, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920. Our fax number is 321-868-6289. Share your comments, suggestions or criticisms on this or any SPACE.com experience. e-mail this story to a friend Back to top SPACE.com home
Rockot Trägerrakete
 Am 26. August um 20:34 Uhr MESZ startete der 750 Kilogramm schwere russische Erdbeobachtungssatellit „Monitor E1“ zu einer Forschungsmission in den Weltraum. Er ist der erste einer geplanten Reihe von „Monitor“-Erdbeobachtungssatelliten, die von dem Unternehmen „Khrunichev Space Center“ in der Nähe von Moskau gebaut werden. Der Satellit wurde mit einer Rockot-Trägerrakete in eine 550 Kilometer hohe polare sonnensynchrone Umlaufbahn vom Kosmodrom Plessezk in Russland gestartet. Die Lebensdauer des Satelliten soll fünf Jahre betragen. Nachdem der Satellit ausgesetzt wurde, verlor das Kontrollzentrum zuerst den Kontakt, später konnte er aber wieder unter Kontrolle gebracht werden.

Der Satellit verwendet eine von Khrunichev entwickelte „Jachta“-Satellitenplattform, die aus zwei Modulen - einem universellen Funktionsmodul und einem Nutzlastmodul - besteht. Es ist der erste Einsatz der „Jachta“, die in der Zukunft für verschiedenartige Satelliten verwendet werden könnte. Die Nutzlast des „Monitor E1“ Satelliten besteht aus einer panchromatischen und einer multispektralen optoelektronischen Kamera mit Auflösungen von acht Metern und 20 Metern.

Eigens zur Kontrolle des Satelliten sowie der Auswertung und Archivierung der erhaltenen Daten wurden von „Khrunichev Space Center“ entsprechende Einrichtungen gebaut.