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From the Plesetsk cosmodrome has launched Russian satellite dual purpose.. / November 2, 2010 /

Launched from Plesetsk launch vehicle Soyuz-2.1a with the spacecraft Meridian , RIA Novosti reported.

The launch was carried out at 3:59 Moscow time on Tuesday, November 2. According to the spokesman of the Press Service and Information Ministry of Defense on the Space Forces Colonel Alexei Zolotukhin, was launched in normal mode.

«Estimated time of separation of the spacecraft — at 06:13 in the zone of radio visibility of ground» — he added.

«Meridian» — a series of spacecraft dual purpose: they are intended to ensure communication of marine vessels and aircraft ice reconnaissance in the area of the Northern Sea Route with ground stations, as well as to expand the network of satellite communication stations northern areas of Siberia and the Far East.

In the Defense Ministry plan that the group communications spacecraft «Meridian» in the future to replace the currently used satellite Molniya-1, Molniya-3 «and» Sail ".

Previous launch of «Meridian» was held May 22, 2009. He was found partially successful: because of the failure of the upper stage «Fregat» satellite was not released into the target orbit, reminds ITAR-TASS.

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