At 08:24:54 UTC on February 20, the Russian Aerospace Forces successfully launched Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with a Russian communications satellite Meridian onboard, website of Russia’s Roscosmos space agency reports, noting that the launch and injection into orbit went as planned. In three minutes after the launch, the Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Centre automated complex acquired the Soyuz 2.1a rocket track. At the designated time, the Meridian spacecraft was injected into the final orbit and acquired by the ground control means of the Russian Aerospace Forces. The satellite maintains stable telemetry connection, all the onboard systems function as planned.
The Meridian satellite is meant to provide communication between sea vessels, ice patrol aircraft in the Northern Sea Route area with the coastal and ground stations, as well as to develop the satellite communication station network in the Northern Siberia and the Far East.