Re-Entry: Dnepr Gas Dynamic Shield

Patrick Blau 2259 Views
Dnepr Third Stage - Credit: Kosmotras
Dnepr Third Stage – Credit: Kosmotras

The Gas Dynamic Shield of a Dnepr rocket launched in 2014 re-entered the atmosphere on December 29, 2017. The Gas Dynamic Shield is an element of the payload stack, protecting the satellite after separation of the payload fairing, especially during the operation of the third stage that fires its engines backward, pulling the stack into orbit. Shortly before spacecraft separation, the Gas Dynamic Sheld is jettisoned, placing it in a similar orbit as the spacecraft.

NORAD ID: 40304
Origin: CIS (Russia)
Object: SL-24 PLAT
Type: Dnepr Gas Dynamic Shield
Inclination: 97.4°
Launched: November 6, 2014 – 7:35 UTC
Launch Vehicle: Dnepr
Launch Site: Dombarovsky Russia

Launched a Satellite Cluster with ASNARO-1 Main Payload

Re-Entry Prediction: December 29, 2017 – 00:07 UTC +/-5 Min.
Re-Entry Zone: Pacific Ocean

Re-Entry Zone
Image: Spaceflight101/Orbitron
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