Russia has successfully put a Cosmos-series military satellite into orbit after a launch from a space centre in Kazakhstan, Russia's space agency said Friday. A Zenit-3SL rocket with a military satellite was launched from the Baikonur space centre that Russia rents in Kazakhstan at 2 p.m. Moscow time (noon GMT).
"The separation of the spacecraft occurred successfully and on schedule. A Cosmos-series satellite will expand the orbital group of Russia's military satellites" - spokesman for the Federal Space Agency.
Russia will launch Friday a Zenith-M carrier rocket with a Cosmos-series military satellite on board from a space centre in Kazakhstan.
"The launch will be conducted at 14.00 Moscow time (10:00 a.m. GMT) to expand the orbital group of Russia's military satellites" - Source at the Federal Space Agency.
Russia is reportedly operating a network of about 60-70 military reconnaissance satellites. Source Novosti
Tselina-2 launch scheduled for launch tomorrow. A Kosmos-2428 (Tselina-2 n23) satellite is scheduled to be launched aboard a Zenit-2M rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, at 10:00 UTC, 29 June 2007 This is the first launch of the new upgraded Zenit launch vehicles to lift off from Baikonur. The 3,250kg electronic intelligence gathering satellite will be launched into a high orbit (870 km, 71 degree inclination) and have a Lifespan of about 12 months.
Un lancement discret, une Zenit 2M sera lancée le 29 juin depuis Baikonur pour mettre en orbite un satellite militaire russe d'écoute électronique Tselina 2. Ce sera le retour en vol de la Zenit depuis l'échec de Sea Launch