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Soyuz-2.1b with 53 satellites launched from Vostochny
The Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with two Ionosfera-M heliogeophysical satellites and 53 additional spacecraft (both Russian and foreign) was launched from site 1C of the Vostochny Cosmodrome, TASS reports.
Approximately 9 minutes 30 seconds after the launch, the warhead, together with the Fregat booster, separated from the third stage of the rocket. The main satellites on board are the solar geography probes Ionosfera-M-1 and 2, which are scheduled to be launched into sun-synchronous orbit in the coming hours.
According to the press service of the Russian private company Sputniki, in addition to Ionosfera, it plans to launch 28 satellites produced by it into orbit. The simultaneous launch of 51 spacecraft will set a new record for Russian cosmonauts.
The Ionozond space complex is being created to monitor the heliogeographic environment (space weather) and is designed to solve many problems, including ionospheric and solar monitoring. In particular, we plan to study the distribution of ozone in the upper layers of the atmosphere and monitor the radiation situation.
The complex includes four Ionosfera-M satellites and one Zond-M satellite. The launch of the last two devices is scheduled for April 2025.
Last October, Chinese private space company Deep Blue Aerospace sold its first two tickets for a space trip planned for 2027.