* Astronomy

The Meridian, a strategic communications spacecraft, was today put into operational service ahead of schedule.

 "Robust communication is being maintained with the spacecraft. Tests of its onboard systems were successful and they are operating in a normal mode. In its flight the Meridian is controlled by the main test and control centre at the Russian Space Troops" - Source with the press and public relations service of the Space Troops.

The Meridian was launched into a near earth orbit aboard a modernised Soyuz-2 rocket from the Plesetsk cosmodrome on 24 December 2006

The satellite will replace three existing systems, Molniya-1, Molniya-3 and Parus. In the future, the Meridian, with its multichannel rebroadcasting equipment, will augment the grouping of the existing communication system FGUP (federal state unitary enterprise) Space Communications based on Gorizont and Ekspress-A satellites.
The Russian orbital group now consists of 98 spacecraft, including 62 military and dual-use satellites.

Source  BBC