Satellites launched by Soyuz 2.1a LV from Vostochny Cosmodrome enter designated orbit
VOSTOCHNY COSMODROME. Feb 1 (Interfax) - Russia's two Earth remote sensing satellites Kanopus-V and a group of small-sized satellites have reached their designated orbit following their launch from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, in Russia's Amur region, a spokesman for the Russian state corporation Roscosmos told Interfax.
"The satellites have successfully been placed into their designated orbit. Their antennas and solar batteries unfolded as planned," the spokesman said.
Russia's Soyuz 2.1a launch vehicle (LV) equipped with a Fregat upper stage and carrying two Russian Kanopus-V satellites, no.3 and no.4, and also a group of small-sized satellites as hitchhiker payloads blasted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome at 5:07 a.m. Moscow time, marking the third space launch from this cosmodrome. The rocket has delivered the satellites into orbit.
The Kanopus-V satellites, weighing 465 kilograms, will operate in a 510-kilometer-high sun-synchronous orbit.
Apart from the satellites launched under the federal program, nine satellites have been placed into orbit as part of a contract with JSC Glavkosmos. They include four U.S. 3U CubeSat-type LEMUR satellites, four German S-NET satellites and one D-Star One satellite.