Russia launched the fifth satellite in its EKS (Tundra) series of missile early warning satellites at 0109 GMT, 25 November. The mission utilised a Soyuz 2-1B rocket equipped with a Fregat upper-stage from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The satellite was deployed into a “Molniya” orbit of circa 1,600 x 38,500 km, inclined at 64 degrees. As part of the Russian military space programme the satellite received a “Kosmos” (Cosmos) designation post-launch – becoming Cosmos 2552.
The Soyuz rocket lifts-off carrying the early warning satellite to orbit. Courtesy of Roscosmos via Twitter
