Military satellite launched into orbit from Plesetsk
A Soyuz-2 carrier rocket was launched early Friday from the Plesetsk space center in Arkhangelsk Oblast and put an advanced “Meridian” military satellite into orbit. The satellite will also be used for civilian needs in the High north.
The “Meridian”-series communication satellites are designed to replace the older “Molniya”-series satellites and in addition to their military uses provide communication, navigation and surveillance services for civilian customers, RIA Novosti reports.
According to Severinform.ru the civilian ends the satellite can be used for, are communication for vessels and airplanes conducting ice surveillance on the Northern Sea Route.
Russia has nearly 100 satellites in orbit. Most of them have military assignments or combined military-civilian assignments.
