BAIKONUR. Nov 13 (Interfax-AVN) - The Soyuz-2 launch vehicle was delivered to the Baikonur Space Center by rail on Monday.
"The Soyuz-2 launch vehicle arrived at the Tyura-Tam railway station from Samara at 5 a.m. Moscow time (0200 GMT) today. The train carrying the launch vehicle was later on moved to launch pad No. 31, where the launch vehicle will undergo launch preparations," a source at the Baikonur Space Center told Interfax-AVN.
He noted that the Soyuz-2 was to orbit France's KOROT satellite.
"The launch vehicle delivered is the next follow-on, fitted with a new third stage, powered by a new engine with a greater thrust," he said.
The launch of the Soyuz-2/1b with the Fregat booster and the KOROT satellite is slated for December 2006.
The Soyuz-U modernization, pursued by Russia, will significantly increase the launch vehicle's payload and characteristics, and enable it to carry a wider range of cargoes.
The Soyuz-2/1a launch vehicle, launched from Baikonur, successfully orbited the European MetOp satellite in October.