Moscow, December 28, 2023 – In a significant triumph for Russia’s space endeavors, the Russian Aerospace Forces (RAF) announced the successful launch and deployment of a new military satellite into Earth’s orbit. The satellite, launched via the RAF Soyuz-2.1b rocket, marks a notable comeback for Russia after the lunar setback encountered a few months ago.
The official statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed that the launch occurred on December 27 at 10:03 am from the state testing cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region (Plesetsk). The RAF space forces’ combat crews executed the mission flawlessly, ensuring a seamless lift-off and the satellite’s journey to its designated orbit.
The automated ground-control complex closely monitored the entire process, with the ministry confirming the establishment of a stable telemetry link and the normal operation of onboard systems. However, officials did not disclose specific details about the satellite’s purposes or the total number of devices deployed into Earth’s orbit.
This success follows a similar launch in October, where the Soyuz-2.1b rocket transported military devices into space. According to the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the December 27 launch marked the 67th mission using Soyuz-2.1b rockets since December 27, 2006, with a total of 577 devices delivered into space.
The achievement comes after Russia faced a setback in its lunar exploration program in late August when the lunar lander Luna-25 mission failed to achieve its objectives, crashing on the moon after an unsuccessful orbital maneuver. Despite this setback, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed determination to analyze the causes of the failure and address them for future missions.
“This is not a reason to despair, nor to tear our hair out. This is another reason to analyze the causes (of the failure) and eliminate them next time,” Peskov stated in a call with reporters. The Kremlin’s response underscores its commitment to advancing in the international space competition despite occasional challenges in its space program.
