The Soyuz-2.1b rocket launched the Fregat upper stage with the Khayyam Earth remote sensing satellite and 16 small satellites built by Russian experts at the behest of Iran. Launch released on YouTube channel “Roscosmos”.
Soyuz was launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome at 8:52 Moscow time. After the frigate enters orbit, it will have to move the devices to target orbits.
Small devices are designed for scientific and technological research, including testing technologies for inter-satellite communication, measuring the level of electromagnetic radiation, remote sensing of the Earth and monitoring the environmental condition.
Former Russian Ministry of Defense reportedThe Soyuz-2.1v light launch vehicle was launched from the Plesetsk cosmodrome on the evening of August 1. The launch vehicle will orbit a spacecraft designed for the RF Ministry of Defense. It was stated that all pre-launch operations, as well as the launch of the rocket, took place in normal mode.