The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with three small satellites -- Lomonosov, Aist-2D and SamSat-218 from the newly built Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far Eastern Amur region (Photo: IANS)

Russia’s first space launch for 2020 delayed

January 25, 2020

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Meridian satellite from the Plesetsk spaceport has been postponed for three possible technical reasons … reports Asian Lite News

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with three small satellites — Lomonosov, Aist-2D and SamSat-218 from the newly built Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Far Eastern Amur region (Photo: IANS)

The launch of a military satellite by a Russian Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket, deemed to be the country’s first space launch this year, has been delayed due to technical reasons, according to a media report.

“The launch (originally scheduled for Friday) has been postponed for 24 hours,” a space industry source told TASS News Agency.

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Meridian satellite from the Plesetsk spaceport has been postponed for three possible technical reasons, according to the source.

As per another source, the blast-off may be postponed indefinitely. “The launch may be delayed not until Saturday but for an indefinite period.”

The sources added that the command to cancel the launch had been given before the rocket’s fueling scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on Friday.

Commander of Russia’s Space Forces Colonel-General Alexander Golovko earlier reported that the Defence Ministry would launch another Meridian-M satellite in January 2020.

The first launch from that launch pad took place on December 11, 2019.

The Meridians are second-generation communications satellites that replaced Molniya and Raduga space vehicles.

The active service life of operational satellites is seven years.

Previous Story

Brexit: EU leaders sign UK withdrawal deal

Next Story

Coronavirus pneumonia toll rises in China

Latest from -Top News

BRICS must break the digital chains

BRICS nations need to build consensus, balance innovation and social justice by reinforcing the digital sovereignty of Global South, including evenly distribution

G42 AI tool boosts procurement by 40%

Abu Dhabi’s tech giant leads the charge in AI-driven operational transformation with (In)Business Procurement platform. Abu Dhabi-based global technology powerhouse G42 has

UN urges investments in Syria

Rebuilding Syria requires not only emergency relief but sustained investment in basic services, economic recovery, and stability, says UN Office in Syria.