MOSCOW. Nov 12 (Interfax-AVN) - In 10 years 84 launch vehicles have taken off from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in northern Russia placing 132 satellites in orbit.
"In addition 31 intercontinental ballistic missiles were launched," says a Thursday press release of the Russian Space Forces.
Since March 17, 1996 when the Kosmos-112 satellite was launched from Plesetsk there have been 1,539 launches of Vostok, Voskhod, Molniya, Soyuz, Kosmos-3M, Tsiklon-3 and Rockot launch vehicles that took 1,961 satellites to orbit.
There were two accidents in 1973 and in 1980 during tests of aerospace equipment in which 57 persons died.
Plesetsk is the main launch site for most of the spacecraft and a testing facility for missiles.
"It is the site where development and testing of the new-generation space missile system called Angara is planned to take place. The system is based on up-to-date domestic components and is aimed at ensuring maintenance of the orbital group in the next decade," the press release reads.
The new Russian Soyuz-2 rocket was test-launched from Plesetsk for the first time on November 8.
According to the press service, the rocket is unique for having only domestic elements in its design. Technological upgrade of outdated carriers and increase of their cargo capacity will make it possible to transfer some of the space launches from Baikonur in Kazakhstan to the Russian territory.