A Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with the Glonass-M satellite onboard will blast off from Plesetsk space launch facility at 21:17 Moscow time on Saturday.

“The Soyuz 2.1b carrier rocket with the Frigate booster and Glonass-M navigation space satellite will be launched by a combat crew of the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces, an official spokesperson for the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces, told Itar-Tass on Saturday.

The satellite is expected to reach the calculated orbit at 00:53 Moscow time on June 15.

GLONASS is a Russian navigation system. Its orbital grouping consists of 29 satellites of which 24 are used according to the intended purpose.

The Soyuz -2.1b rocket is a modification of the Soyuz-2 carrier rocket. It has a modernized engine and better controllability.

Quelle: TASS