MOSCOW, February 6 (RIA Novosti) – A Russian Soyuz-2.1a rocket with six Globalstar-2 low-orbit communication satellites lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Wednesday, Russia's Federal Space Agency, known as Roscosmos, said after the launch.
The first two satellites are to separate from the Fregat, or Frigate, booster at 9:43 p.m. Moscow time (5:43 p.m. GMT) and the other four at 9:44 p.m. The Fregat separated from the Soyuz at 8:13 p.m. Moscow time.
The satellites' intended orbit is a bit above 900 km.
This launch, the first of the year from Baikonur, was to have taken place Tuesday but was put off due to high winds at an altitude of eight to 10 km.
Globalstar satellites are used to provide mobile communication services. Each second-generation satellite has a service life of 15 years.
The launch brings the number of second-generation Globalstar satellites in orbit to 24. They will operate alongside the eight first-generation satellites orbited in 2007.
The grouping is expected to function until at least 2025.
