Two Russian Ionosfera-M satellites put into orbit - Roscosmos

MOSCOW. Nov 5 (Interfax) - Two Ionosfera-M satellites, designed to monitor Earth's ionosphere, were placed into orbit following the launch of Russia's Soyuz-2.1b rocket from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, the Roscosmos state space corporation said.

"Two Ionosfera-M satellites were put into orbit. The Ionosfera-M1 and M2 heliogeophysical satellites launched from Vostochny were delivered to their designated orbit and separated from the Fregat upper stage," Roscosmos said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

The Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle lifted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome at 2:18 a.m. Moscow time on Tuesday.

The Ionosfera-M1 and M2 satellites will become part of the Ionozond space system, which is being developed by the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and the Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) to monitor the space weather around Earth.

The Ionozond system will include four Ionosfera-M satellites. The next two satellites are expected to be launched in 2025, Roscosmos said.

The equipment has been built by the Russian Space Research Institute together with developers from RAS centers and the sector's enterprises, it said.

As reported, 28 of the small satellites launched on Tuesday were produced by Russian private company Sputnix. They include 24 Sitro-AIS satellites, designed to track ships in the World Ocean, and four experimental satellites created under the Space-Pi program.