Russia's Meteor-M 2.2 Satellite Delivered To Vostochny Cosmodrome - Roscosmos' Subsidiary

BLAGOVESHCHENSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd May, 2019) Russia's Meteor-M 2.2 meteorological satellite has been transported to the Vostochny cosmodrome, where it is expected to launch aboard the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket in summer, Russia's Center for Operation of Space Ground Based Infrastructure (TsENKI) said on Wednesday.

TsENKI is the Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos' subsidiary responsible for preparing and carrying out launches of spacecraft. According to the statement, specialists at the Vostochny cosmodrome prepared all the necessary equipment to receive the spacecraft.

"On May 21, the space cargo [the satellite] was transported from the airport to the Vostochny cosmodrome ... Placing Meteor-M 2.2 into orbit is the main functional task for the fifth launch from Vostochny cosmodrome," TsENKI said.

There are currently two similar satellites operating on the orbit, namely Meteor-M 1 and Meteor-M 2.

Roscosmos said in April that the first launch from the Vostochny cosmodrome in 2019 had been provisionally scheduled for July 5, though, the date of the launch could be changed.

The launch of Meteor-M 2.2 was initially scheduled for late 2018 but then was delayed after it was found that the spacecraft was not ready. Four more such satellites will be launched in 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.

Since April 2016, four launches have been carried out from the Vostochny cosmodrome. According to Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin, Russia wants to carry out at least five space launches from the spaceport in 2019.�