MOSCOW. July 30 (Interfax) - Russia's Soyuz-2.1a launch vehicle (LV) carrying the Meridian satellite lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome on Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry's press service told reporters.
"A unit of the Space Forces of the Aerospace Forces successfully carried out the launch of the Soyuz-2.1a medium-class launch vehicle with the Meridian satellite from Launch Pad No. 4 of Platform No. 43 at the Plesetsk State Test Cosmodrome (Arkhangelsk region) at 8:56 a.m. Moscow time," it said.
The pre-launch operations and the Soyuz-2.1a launch itself went according to plan, it said. An automated ground-based center for spacecraft control monitored the rocket's takeoff and flight.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in May that two upgraded Meridian-M communications satellites would be launched for the Russian Defense Ministry in 2019. Also, the formation of an orbital group of four Blagovest military communication satellites is due to be completed, Shoigu said.
"This will give the possibility to expand zones of access to satellite communication over Russia and beyond, including in the Arctic zone," he said.
It is the third launch of a Soyuz-2 LV from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome this year.