From Plesetsk launched Russian new generation satellite. / May 22, 2009 /

From the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region launched launcher «Soyuz-2» to a new generation of spacecraft «Meridian». This was on Friday announced «Interfax» referring to the Space Forces.

According to the commander of the Space Forces, Major-General Oleg Ostapenko, the launch was a success thanks to a clear act of start of calculation. «Launcher worked wonderfully. Actions crew launch can be estimated at excellent », — said Ostapenko, stressing the importance of launching a satellite« Meridian ».

Spacecraft communications «Meridian», explains «Interfax», intended for communication of marine vessels and aircraft ice reconnaissance in the area of the Northern Sea Route to the ground stations, as well as to expand the network of satellite communications northern Siberia and the Far East.

Under the plans, the Defense Ministry of Russia, a group of spacecraft communications «Meridian» in the future to replace the currently used satellites «Molniya-1», «Molniya-3» and «sail».

To date, the Russian orbital group has about 100 spacecraft. Most of them — military satellites and dual-use items like a travel agent.

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