A Soyuz-2.1b medium carrier rocket with a military satellite has been successfully launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk Region in north Russia, the Defense Ministry’s press office said.

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A previous launch of "Soyuz-2" rocket carrier from Plesetsk cosmodrome in 2020 (Picture source: Russian MoD )

The rocket was launched from launching installation No. 4 of launch pad No. 43 of the Plesetsk spaceport, the press office added.

“All prelaunch operations and the launch of the carrier rocket went smoothly. Ground control facilities of the Russian Space Forces monitored the rocket’s launch and flight,” the press office said.

The Soyuz-2.1b rocket took the spacecraft to target orbit in scheduled time. The spacecraft was placed under control of the ground services of the G. Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Center.

Steady telemetry communication has been established with the spacecraft and its on-board systems function well.

After being placed under control, the satellite was designated as Kosmos 2549.

More than 50 combat crews and over 40 ground-based spacecraft control systems, telemetry data collection, processing and display systems of the G. Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Center were involved in the launch mission.

This is the first launch of the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket held in 2021 from the Plesetsk spaceport. The previous launch was performed from this cosmodrome on December 3, 2020.

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