Dec. 25, 2013
Rockot launch
Rockot launch vehicle lifted off from Site 133/3 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russia at 0:31 UTC on Wednesday, December 25 carrying three Rodnik military communication satellites to Low Earth Orbit as part of the maintenance and modernization of the Strela constellation of low-orbiting communication satellites used by the Russian Ministry of Defense. Launch confirmation was reported by Ria Novosti.
Rodnik military communication satellite
Confirmation of mission success came later on Wednesday after the successful release of the three satellites into their planned high-inclination orbit at an altitude of ~1,500 Kilometers.
Images, Text, Credits: ROSCOSMOS / Zvezda TV / Catherine Laplace-Builhe.
Greetings & Merry Christmas, Orbiter.ch
