PLESETSK, Arkhangelsk region. May 22 (Interfax-AVN) - The head module consisting of the Meridian military spacecraft and the Fregat upper stage have been delivered into low orbit by the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket, which lifted off about ten minutes ago, an Interfax-AVN correspondent reported from the scene.
"After it separates from the carrier rocket, the upper stage will deliver the satellite into the planned orbit with several firings of its engine," Alexei Zolotukhin, aide to the Space Troops Commander, told Interfax-AVN.
The Soyuz-2 launch vehicle lifted off from the Plesetsk cosmodrome early on Friday. It has delivered the head module consisting of the Meridian satellite and the Fregat upper stage into low orbit. The upper stage will deliver the spacecraft to the planned orbit, following which it will perform an avoidance maneuver to prevent a collision with Meridian.
Meridian dual-purpose satellites are designed to provide communications between maritime vessels, ice reconnaissance aircraft in the North Sea and coastal and ground stations, as well as to widen the network of satellite communication in northern parts of Siberia and Far East for the development of Russia's economy.