It is reported about the regular launch of the Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with a spacecraft on board. It's about launching, which was carried out from the Baikonur cosmodrome. The head of "Roscosmos" conducts a kind of text broadcast on this matter. Dmitry Rogozin on Twitter and reported that, that the start went smoothly.
Rogozin said, that at the estimated time took place the separation of the head unit of the launch vehicle and the first on-off of the propulsion system of the upper stage "Fregat".
What spacecraft, put into orbit in question?
This is "Arktika-M" – satellite, which is designed for monitoring and remote sensing of the Arctic.
planned, that in total a constellation of five such spacecraft will operate in near-earth orbit. They will carry out a multi-level study of the Arctic region, including climatic.
Satellites "Arktika-M" will allow you to analyze the state of the Arctic ice, weather changes, the state of the Northern Sea Route along its entire length. Monitoring is round-the-clock and all-weather.
Spacecraft "Arktika-M" was created by specialists of the Lavochkin Scientific and Production Association.
Rogozin:
I had to worry about this launch more than usual.. Wind up 2 km was so strong, that even for our hardy and capricious “Soyuz-2” it was at the very limit of tolerance for meteorological conditions. But the rocket and its control system coped brilliantly.
Space launch footage:
