Zenit’s potential revival will begin with the launch of the AngoSat 1 communications satellite, targeting launch in December 2017 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a direct delivery to Geostationary Orbit. The satellite is based on RSC Energia’s USP Bus and hosts a hybrid C- and Ku-Band payload to deliver TV broadcasting and other communication services to Angola. The mission was in limbo for an extended period as the Zenit rocket fell victim to the conflict between Russia and the Ukraine over the annexation of Crimea; however, political hurdles were cleared in August 2017 when Ukrainian engineers received clearance from Kiev to travel to Kazakhstan to service the Zenit launch vehicle that had been in an extended storage configuration.

Mission Resources:

➡ Mission Updates

? Launch Vehicle Overview: Zenit-3SLBF

? Payload Overview: AngoSat 1

☂ Launch Weather

? Launch Site Schedule