MOSCOW. Oct 10 (Interfax-AVN) - A medium-sized Soyuz-U rocket will boost a Foton-M satellite from Plesetsk in the Arkhangelsk region at 10:20 p.m. (1820 GMT) on October 15, the Russian Space Troops press service reported on Thursday.
Batteries and tools are being installed on the satellite and the booster's systems are being checked.
Foton-M is essentially a space laboratory designed by the Foton design bureau that is incorporated in the Samara-based Central Specialized Design Board, the press service reports.
Foton will carry out research to obtain new materials in space as well as general biological research and experiments, some of which are on a commercial basis.
A total of 12 Fotons have been launched from Plesetsk since 1985.