MOSCOW, June 27The upper stage «Fregat» put into orbit the hydrometeorological satellite «Meteor-M» No. 2-3 after launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome, Roskosmos reported in its telegram channel. -3, launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome by a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket, reached the desired orbit and separated from Fregat. The upper stage continues to launch 42 Russian and foreign associated satellites into target orbits.
The Soyuz-2.1b rocket with Fregat, on which Meteor-M and 42 small spacecraft, including three foreign ones, were installed, was launched from Vostochny at 14.34 Moscow time. After 9 minutes 24 seconds, the Frigate separated from the third stage of the rocket. Before delivering the meteorological satellite into orbit, the upper stage turned on its propulsion system twice.
It is expected that after two more engine starts, approximately at 17.08 Moscow time, the separation of small spacecraft will begin. It will last about 40 minutes.
«Meteor-M» No. 2-3 is designed to monitor the climate and the environment, natural resources, heliogeophysical conditions in near-Earth space. The device will also collect and relay data from emergency beacons of the international search and rescue system COSPAS-SARSAT. The satellite weighing 3250 kilograms will operate in an orbit with a height of 832 kilometers.
Meteor-M No. 1 and Meteor-M No. 2-2 devices are currently operating in orbit. Meteor-M No. 2-1 was lost due to an emergency launch from the cosmodrome Vostochny in 2017. It is also possible to launch the fourth spacecraft in 2023, and the fifth and sixth in 2024 and 2025. Next, launches of the new generation Meteor-MP spacecraft should begin.
General Director of the VNIIEM corporation (where these satellites are being built) Ildar Khalilyulin said that Meteor-M No. 2-3 will enter the same orbital plane where the similar Meteor-M No. 2 (launched on July 8, 2014) is currently operating, and will replace it.