(T2-P47)

MONITORING OF ROCKETS LAUNCHING FROM BAYKONUR COSMODROME BY DATA OF SEISMIC AND INFRASOUND STATIONS OF KAZAKHSTAN

Sokolova I.N., Mikhailova N.N. Institute of Geophysical Research, Kazakhstan

Each year tens of rockets are launched from Baykonur cosmodrome located in Central Kazakhstan. The traces of rockets launched from “Baykonur” pass over the territory of some Kazakhstan regions. The specific of most foreign cosmodromes is that the main trace of rockets flight and fall of vehicle stages is under oceans. Analysis of waveforms of signals related to carrier rockets flights. It is known that some stages of flight and emergency launches of carrier rockets have negative ecological consequences related to emission of toxic fuel into atmosphere or ground. For The selected fragments of the records allowed to process the signals that included revealing of seismic phases, determination of seismic urgent assessment for such situations consequences it is necessary to determine the coordinates of a carrier rocket fall, and at explosion in atmosphere – height of explosion and coordinates. The database of seismo-acoustic data fragments related to carrier rockets launch from Baykonur cosmodrome was created using records of the RSE IGR network stations for waves arrival time. After that, basing on this data the event was located, the time of fall onto the Earth surface and energy characteristics of Currently, in Kazakhstan there is no special service for recording such events using seismic and infrasound monitoring methods. Thus, much time is required to find the places of rockets the period 1994-2012. The fragments duration is 45 minutes beginning from the rocket launch time, the database is in CSS3.0 format. All fragments were analyzed on presence of the event were determined. Note that recorded signals were quite weak, thus frequency filtering was used for its clear extraction on the fall, sometimes those are not found at all, in the case of explosion in air the explosion yield is not measured making impossible to assess the volume of released fuel. seismo-acoustic signals. As a result, several types of recorded phenomena corresponding to the rocket flight were revealed on active part of its trajectory. background of seismic noise. Since 1994 the monitoring network of the IGR RK that includes 8 seismic arrays, 7 three-component stations and 2 infrasound arrays (Figure 1) has been operating successfully on the The first class are launches recorded by IS31 infrasound station located ~610 km away from the cosmodrome. Figure 8 shows the record of Proton-M carrier rocket launch from The final processing results showed that the event epicenter was 571 km away from Akbulak station and 725 km away from Karatayu territory of Kazakhstan. 5 stations are included into the IMS. The main feature of Kazakhstan monitoring network is that all stations are located throughout the perimeter of the Republic; launching mount-39 on June 3, 2010 in 22-00-07.9. The launch signal and several infrasound phases are clearly seen. The beginning of the record corresponds to 1936s after station. The time of the carrier rocket fall was 19 h 47 min 10.59 sec Greenwich time. The released seismic energy corresponds to earthquake the network contains large number of high-sensitive seismic arrays of different aperture and configuration. Owing to good stations location in view of geology and characteristics of seismic launching, the first train corresponds to the moment of the rocket takeoff, v~315 m/s. Despite close location to the cosmodrome, IS31 station does not record all launches from energy with energy class 6, magnitude mpv = 2.44. This seismic event is related to small one, and the fact that the signals were recorded and noise, well-configured arrays, location of most stations in boreholes, joint operation of broadband and short-period instruments, all system stations are high sensitive to regional and Baykonur space port. The reasons are unfavorable conditions for recording during the flight, large wind velocity at the station region, and unfavorable atmosphere conditions at discriminated on the background of noise is a result of high sensitivity of seismic arrays. Note that the event magnitude is not a representative teleseismic events of different nature. In addition to permanent stations, the network of field seismic stations is often installed which data can be used for more detailed monitoring of the launch moment. In total, the station records 45% of all launches, maximum number of recorded launches are in June-August [8]. events. The task of this work is investigation of possibility of seismo-acoustic recording of phenomena related to flights of carrier rockets over the territory of Kazakhstan by the IGR one for the region and at other noise conditions it could remain unrecorded. Another widespread type of signals is the moment of the second stage separation from the rocket and PLF jettison. These phenomena are recorded by the stations located at the monitoring network. The seismic records allowed to determine the coordinates of the rocket fall place: latitude 44.53 N., longitude 62.95 E. Calculation error STS regions in amount ~50% of all launches. Figure 9 shows the record of seismo-acoustic signal at the moment of the second stage separation and PLF jettison of Proton-M carrier for latitude was 44.53 - 44.57=-0.04, that corresponds to 4.8 km. Calculation error for longitude was 62.95 - 62.97=-0.02, i.e. 1.3 km. rocket launched from launching mount-24 on May 17, 2012 in 19-12-14, the height is ~120 km by data of KURIS infrasound station, Kurchatov-Cross seismic array and KURK Brief characteristics of rockets launching from Baykonur cosmodrome. Thus, the IGR seismic stations allowed to locate the crater formed as a result of “Dnepr” carrier rocket explosion with high accuracy at station. Kurchatov-Cross seismic array records clearly show low-frequency surface signal followed by acoustic signal. Arrival time from the start time is tRg(KURBB)=914 s, distances 600 – 700 km [5]. The cosmodrome consists of 9 launching sites with 14 launching mounts [2], carrier rockets “Proton-K”, “Zenit-2”, “Soyuz-U”, “Soyuz-U2”, “Molniya-M”, “Cyclon-2”, “Rokot” are tI(KURBB)=920 s, for infrasound station tI1=911 s, tI2=923 s. Such signals are recorded from carrier rockets Proton-M, Soyuz-2, Soyuz-FG, Soyuz-U, Zenit launched with inclination IS31 infrasound station recorded launch and fall of “Dnepr” carrier rocket. The original records by low- and high frequency channels launched from here. Total area of the cosmodrome is 6717 square kilometers. About 40 percent of all space vehicles of the former USSR and Russia were placed into orbit from Baykonur angle to orbit 51.6, 64.8, and by geostationary. are shown in Figure 15, the records after filtration – in Figure 16. cosmodrome. The cosmodrome consists of the center site, left and right sides and fall area. After the carrier rockets launch, its first and second stages, and fairings of space vehicles fall During operation of the field stations network the signals of PLF jettison were recorded (Figure 10). Figure 11 shows a seismogram of this phenomena recorded by DEG1 station onto ground in different areas. First stages fall onto the territory of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, second stages fall mostly at Tomsk and Novosibirsk areas, however there are other fall located at Degelen site of the STS, and seismograms of a tectonic earthquake of July 24, 2010, 2010, 0-58-24.2, 49.784, 77.995, quarry blast conducted at Karazhal quarry on July 24, areas, for example, Yakutia [2]. 2010, 14-25-15.7, 49.869, 78.049; the record of collapse of May 23, 2010, 23-17-27.9, 49.7802, 78.0336 recorded at close distances from the station. The earthquake record shows clear As KAZNET stations network has been operating since July 21, 1994 the present work analysis the rocket launches starting from that moment until 2012. During that period 365 arrivals of P and S waves, As/Ap>1. Low-frequency surface wave is prevailing in explosion record, and clear arrivals of P and S waves are observed in the high-frequency record of rockets were launched from Baykonur (Table 3, Figure 3), i.e. about 20 launches per year. The rocket flight trace depends on inclination angle of an orbit to which the rocket is placed. Table rock fall, As/Ap<1. The record of PLF jettison differs from seismic records of other events, and consists of low-frequency surface wave and high-frequency infrasound signal. 1 (Figure 2) shows information about number of launches for the period 27.07.1994-31.12.2012 for different carrier rockets launched from the cosmodrome, and inclination angles of orbits to which space vehicles were placed [2, 3, 4]. For the investigated period, Proton and Soyuz carrier rockets were launched most frequently. Figure 3 shows a diagram of an orbit inclination angle distribution to which orbital units were placed for investigated period, the usual inclination angles are ~51.6 and ~64.8, the corresponding flight traces are shown in Figure 1. Interesting to note that both traces are near Kurchatov-Cross seismic array (KUR) and infrasound array (KURIS). The infrasound sources during the carrier rockets flights in active part of its trajectory are: turbulent fluctuations of jet flame products, “attached” shock wave at carrier rocket stages fall, explosion of the carrier rocket in crash [6]. The sources of seismic fluctuations during the carrier rockets flight could be: chock wave at carrier rocket stages fall, the carrier rocket stages fall, fall and explosion of a carrier rocket in crash. Standard cyclograms of the carrier rockets flights and trajectories of space vehicles flights and stages after launching can be used for interpreting of seismic and acoustic fluctuations (by information from Scientific and Developmental Center named after Khrunichev) (Figure 4) [4].

Table 2. Characteristics of launches from Baykonur cosmodrome according to carrier rocket type for the period 27.07.1994-31.12.2012. Figure 16. The signals of the carrier rocket fall recorded by the infrasound channel L1. Narrowband filtering 0.3 Hz. Carrier num rocket ber Inclination angle of orbit Figure 15. July 26, 2006. The signals from “Dnepr” carrier 0-2.3, 51.33-51.6, 63.4-65.1, 86.4-86.7, 74.2, 49.21, rocket recorded by IS31 Aktyubinsk infrasound station. Proton 155 geostationary Soyuz-2 7 52, 90.03, 98.73-98.8 Figure 8. The record of acoustic signal of Proton-M Figure 9. The record of seismo-acoustic signal of Several signals were revealed in records using method of progressive multi-channel correlation in automated mode (PMCC - Progressive Proton-M carrier rocket launch from launching mount- Figure 10. The record of seismo-acoustic signal of Multi-Channel Correlation; CEA-DASE-LDG, France). The signals were processed, and station to source azimuths and apparent velocity of Soyuz-U 108 51.5-52.9, 64.62-64.95, 69.95, 70.37-70.4 carrier rocket launch from launching mount-39 on June 3, 24 on May 17, 2012 in 19-12-14, KURIS infrasound Proton-M carrier rocket launch from launching mount-39 on infrasound were determined. Soyuz-FG 42 51.62-52, 52, 56.05, 98.62, geostationary 2010 in 22-00-07.9. station, Kurchatov-Cross seismic array and KURK June 2, 2010 in 22-00-07.9. The field network stations of the First signals detected in the record are related to time Т= 20 h 16 min 50 s – 20 h 17 min 15 s; signal azimuth Az= 143; apparent velocity V = Zenit-2,3 23 64.77-64.8, 70.37-71.01, 51.4-51.6, geostationary station. STS, Kurchatov-Cross seismic array and KURK station. 0.335 km/s. The time and azimuth coincide with sound wave arrival time from the place of rocket launch to the station, azimuth coincides well with Dnepr 11 64.5-64.56, 92.2-98.98 calculated azimuth to Baykonur cosmodrome, and apparent velocity with velocity of “ground” source. The distance from IS31 Aktyubinsk station Cyclon 8 64.99-65.05 Interesting to note that RSE IGR network stations record not only launches of carrier rockets, but also landing of reentry modules. For the investigated period there were 14 to Baykonur cosmodrome is 663 km. Molniya 1 98.59 landings of reentry modules in Central Kazakhstan near Arkalyk and Kostanay cities. Landing of reentry modules is also recorded by Akbulak seismic array and IS31 The second recorded were several additional signals probably reflected from atmosphere boundaries. Station to source azimuth for them is Strela 1 67.08 infrasound station. Figure 12 shows an example of the record of landing of 26.11.2010, 04-46-06 recorded by Akbulak seismic array and IS31. Akbulak station records show low- almost the same: Az= 141.5; V = 0.338 km/s (for time 20.17.50 – 20.20.30); Az= 140.5; V = 0.338 km/s (for time 20.20.30 – 20.23.00); Az= 140.7; V = 0.338 km/s (for time 20.23.00 -20.2335) [5]. Apparent velocity of wave propagation is the same, however slightly larger than for the first signal. Rokot 1 64.8 frequency surface waves and high-frequency infrasound signal of one wave train. IS31 infrasound station records also show clear signal. Figure 1. The map of the IGR stations network location, main Subsequent extracted signals were related to the carrier rocket fall. The calculated azimuth to the fall place determined by seismic methods traces of rockets launching and places of emergency fall of carrier РС-20 1 was 149. Infrasound records show clearly (even without special processing) several wave trains having almost the same azimuth. The signals are rockets. 1- seismic array, 2 – three-component station, 3 – infrasound very intensive, apparent velocity is 0.337 km/s and more. It is possible to suppose that these signals are not only from the surface explosion, but its array, 4 – field seismic stations, 5 – places of carrier rockets crashes. reflections from the atmosphere boundaries. The signals arrival time to the infrasound station approximately coincide with arrival of sound wave. The calculation results on infrasound signals conducted by the method of progressive multi-channel correlation are shown in Table 2 [5].

Table 2. Processing results of infrasound signals from “Dnepr” carrier rocket fall. N 1 1 1 11 8 1 Proton 120 # Time range Az, degree Vapp, # Time range Az, degree Vapp, m/s 23 Soyuz 100 Zenit m/s 155 1 20.24.50 – 20.25.35 148,5 0,337 5 20.36.20  2041.05 148,6 0,362 Dnepr 80 2 20.26.10 – 20.28.40 150,9 0,337 6 20.40.30 – 20.41.35 143,4 0,354 Cyclon 157 60 3 20.28.40 – 20.31.10 149,5 0,337 7 20.41.40 – 20.42.20 142,4 0,355 Molniya 4 20.31.10  20.41.05 149,3 0,342 ------Strela 40 Rokot Figure 11. The seismograms of different nature events recorded by the field 20 The distance between IS31 station and the carrier rocket fall place is 756 km, the station to crater azimuth is Az=148.89. The Table shows that РС-20 station DEG1, Z-component. Up down: the earthquake of July 24, 2010, 0-58- incl. Figure 12. Landing of reentry module northward of Arkalyk azimuths obtained by data of infrasound measurements are close to true value. Thus, IS31-Aktyubinsk infrasound station data can be used in case of a 0 24.2, 49.784, 77.995; quarry blast at Karazhal quarry of July 24, 2010, 14-25-15.7, 0 20 40 60 80 100 town, 26.11.2010, 04-46-06, Akbulak seismic array and IS31. carrier rocket explosion in air to determine the event azimuth. Figure 2. The diagram of number of 49.869, 78.049; the record of rock fall of May 23, 2010, 23-17-27.9, 49.7802, Another event that was investigated using data of the RSE IGR stations was fall of “Proton” carrier rocket on September 6, 2007. Seismic data different carrier rockets launches distribution for Figure 3. The inclination angles 78.0336; the record of seismo-acoustic signal of PLF jettison of Proton-M carrier analysis showed that it was recorded by more number of stations than fall of “Dnepr”. It was recorded by the IGR stations Akbulak, Aktyubinsk, period 27.07.1994-31.12.2012. of orbit for the period 27.07.1994- rocket launched from launching mount-39 on June 3, 2010 in 22-00-07.9. Borovoye, Karatayu, Vostochnoye. Figure 1 shows a scheme of the NNC RK seismic stations location regarding the place of “Proton” fall. The 31.12.2012. distance range of the stations was 546-765 km. The closest station to the fall place was Karatayu, the most distant – Aktyubinsk. The records from Figure 4. The flight trajectory of Proton-M carrier rocket and its stages Recording of carrier rockets crashes. these stations are shown in Figure 17. after launching, June 3, 2010, 22-00-07.97, launching mount-39, Baykonur Among large number of successful launches from Baykonur cosmodrome there were several emergency launches, the recent are crashes of carrier rockets Dnepr in The obtained processing results: cosmodrome. 2006 and Proton in 2007. Date – September 5, 2007 (UTC), On July 26, 2006 at 23 h 43 min by Moscow time “Dnepr” carrier rocket was launched from 109 launching site of Baykonur cosmodrome [1, 5]. Aboard the rocket September 6, 2007 (local time), Fall time – 22 h 48 min 55.83 sec (UTC), φ = 47.5264° N., λ = 67.4870° E., m = 2.4, K = 6.2. Observation system and applied materials. there was valuable equipment including Belorussian space instrument BelKA. According to information from Interfax Agency the emergency situation occurred during the b Energy characteristics and distances to the stations show that the event was also recorded at the breaking point of the observation network The RSE IGR monitoring network was established in 1994; the system data are used for tasks of global monitoring for nuclear explosions and earthquakes (Figure 1). The IGR network is first stage burning, 86 s after the launch, i.e. tens of seconds before planned engine cut-off. The exact place of the carrier rocket fall remained unknown during two days. On July 28, RIA news reported that the search team from the Ministry of Emergency Situations has found the place of the fall, 150 km south-west of Baykonur. The mass- capacity. operated by the CAPSSI established in 1994 the main tasks of which are acquisition and transfer of data from NNC RK network stations; processing of arrived seismic and infrasound data, creation Note that IS31 Aktyubinsk infrasound station did not record this event. This is explained by the event remoteness from the station and strong of bulletins of different immediacy level; storage and exchange of data with other National and International Centers; scientific researches in support of monitoring. The CAPSSI has been receiving media showed the crater of about 30 m in diameter and 3 m depth. Several rocket parts only were seen at the place of explosion and fire. Figure 13 shows the launch and general scheme of the carrier rocket fall area regarding Baykonur cosmodrome. wind at the station area. data in real time since 2000. To create the final catalogues of seismic events it is necessary to determine the nature of recorded events. By present moment the criteria allowing to discriminate nature The analysis of the solution accuracy obtained by seismic data and conducted after receiving the information about detected crater from and industrial events were determined, these are earthquakes, nuclear and chemical explosions, landslides, avalanches, rock falls, lightning storms; possible recording of phenomena related to carrier “Proton” carrier rocket fall showed that the difference was 10-15 km. rocket flight has not been investigated so far. According to Figure 1, investigation of seismic and infrasound data by stations Kurchatov-Cross, Kurchatov IRIS IDA, field network at the STS, IS31 and KURIS infrasound arrays is perspective. Below is brief characteristic of these stations. The infrasound station IS31 – Aktyubinsk included into the International Monitoring System (IMS) of nuclear tests was constructed in 2001 at the region of Tassay settlement, Aktyubinsk area. The station consists of 8 elements – four high-frequency H- and four low-frequency L elements [1, 7]. Each element is a microbarometer MB2000 with connected to the input wind noise reduction system of different construction for each of elements types H and L. Figure 5 shows the location of IS31 array elements, and noise-reduction system. Since 2011 infrasound data has been recording by new infrasound station constructed in Kurchatov. Construction works were in summer 2010, the station was put into operation at the end of 2010. The infrasound station KURIS is an array of four remote sites located as follows: the central site and three sites around it at 500 m distance away from it. These sites are located on apexes of Figure 17 – The records of “Proton” carrier equilateral triangle (Figure 7). Each of the sites has a microbarometer MB2005 connected to filtering system of infrasound frequency, total rocket fall on September 6, 2007 by the NNC RK number of filters is 4x24 ports. The signal from the microbarometer output is transferred to the digitizer of Guralp - CMG-DM24-S6 Company. Data at the digitizers output are tied to absolute time seismic stations. owing to GPS receivers. “Kurchatov-Cross” seismic array is represented by two intersecting linear profiles of instrumental boreholes with seismic sensors (Figure 6). Strike azimuths of the profiles: 10°(meridian profile, KUR1-KUR10) and 320° (latitude profile, KUR11-KUR20). The length of each profile is ~22.5 km. Each profile has 10 instrumental boreholes (sites) with common central site at the place of the profiles intersection. Average distance between the profiles sites is ~ 2.25 km. The boreholes are equipped with vertical seismometers CMG-3V (sites KUR1-KUR20). The center site (KUR21, KUR BB) is equipped with CMG-3TB seismometer. All seismometers were made by Guralp Company. The recording instruments are: 24-bit AD converters Europa-T (Nanometrics). Digitization Conclusion frequency: 40 samples/sec/channel. Time reference: GPS system. In December 2006 the station was certified by IMS commission as an auxiliary station of the IMS. Figure 13. The approximate place of “Dnepr” carrier rocket fall [www.RussianSpaceWeb.com] In 2005 – 2010 (there were no investigations in 2009) for the period of field season a network of field stations was installed on the territory of the STS aimed at investigating the seismicity of the Possibilities of seismo-acoustic method of the events location on active part of carrier rockets flight trajectories launched from Baykonur cosmodrome were former Test Site. Each of the sites – Balapan (2005-2006, 2010), Degelen (2006, 2007, 2010) and Sary-Uzen (2007, 2008, 2010) had temporary networks consisted of 1 to 5 high sensitive stations The records from all stations were examined for the period related to the time of the carrier rocket launch. Only two seismic stations – Akbulak and Karatayu shown using experimental material of the RSE IGR network stations. (DAS-6102-16 PMD/eentec Scientific, Inc., USA). Figure 7 shows a scheme of field stations location in 2010. recorded the event. Records of other IGR stations did not have any signals. The seismograms recorded by three-component stations are shown in Figure 14. The possibilities of remote tracking and location of fall places were shown by the example of emergency launches of “Dnepr” (2006) and “Proton” (2007) carrier rockets. The determination accuracy was assessed.

L2 The obtained data can be used to discriminate events of different nature while compiling the final catalogue of seismic events by the RSE IGR stations data.

L4 50.41 N H1 H2 References L1 H4 H3 50.405 N 1. Mikhailova N.N., Sinyova Z.I., Sokoloca I.N. Kazakhstan monitoring system of the Institute of Geophysical Researches of the National Nuclear Center and its - центр обработки capacity //Seismo-prognostic observations on the territory of Azerbaijan/RCSS ANAS.– 2012.– P.329–336. 50.4 N 2. The Internet resource: Encyclopedia “Cosmonautics” A. Zheleznyakov http://www.cosmoworld.ru/spaceencyclopedia - элемент группы L3 3. The Internet resource: Federal Space Agency ROSCOSMOC http://www.federalspace.ru 4. The Internet resource: Launch Information Processing and Display Center named after Khrunichev M.V. http://coopi.khrunichev.ru 58.02 E 58.03 E 58.04 E 5. Mikhailova N.N. Application of seismo-acoustic data for searching the place of “Dnepr” carrier rocket fall // Vestnik NNC RK. Vol.2. P. 44-49. 0m 250m 500m 750m1000m 6. Krasnov V.M., Drobzheva Ya.V., Pak G.D. et al. Infrasound radiation at launching the carrier rockets and its influence on the population health // Vestnik NNC RK. Vol. 2. 2008. P. 60-69. Figure 5b – The design of wind noise reduction 7. Demin V.N., Kunakov V.G., Smirnov A.A. New infrasound station IS31 “Aktyubinsk” of the International Monitoring system in Kazakhstan // Geophysics and Figure 5 а. The scheme of systems: low-frequency (left) and high-frequency Figure 7. The scheme of the Figure 14. The seismograms of “Dnepr” carrier rocket fall recorded by non-proliferation problems / Vestnik NNC RK. Vol.2. P.14-18. Kurchatov, 2002. IS31 infrasound array (right) elements of IS31 array. Figure 6. The scheme of Kurchatov-Cross field stations location at the STS Akbulak (three upper traces) and Karatayu (three lower traces) stations. 8. Mikhailova N.N., Smirnov A.A., Dubrovin V.I. Variety of infrasound sources producing signals registerd by IS31 Aktyubinsk infrasound array. // Book of elements location and infrasound KURIS seismic arrays region, and location of Kurchatov- Abstracts ESC 33rd General Assembly, Moscow, 19-24 August 2012. p. 315. configuration. Cross seismic array and three- component KURK station.