Successful Deployment of New Spacecraft for Ionospheric Research
Roscosmos, Russia`s state space corporation, has released video footage demonstrating the successful separation of the “Ionosphere-M No. 3” and “No. 4” satellites from the Fregat upper stage. These spacecraft were launched into orbit today from the Vostochny Cosmodrome aboard a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket.
The video, captured by an onboard camera installed on one of the satellites, clearly depicts the Fregat upper stage drifting away after completing its task.
The Soyuz-2.1b rocket, carrying the Fregat upper stage and the satellites, lifted off at 8:54 AM Moscow time. The upper stage, with its payloads, separated from the rocket`s third stage 9 minutes and 24 seconds after launch. Subsequently, Fregat performed two main engine burns to precisely deliver the “Ionosphere-M” spacecraft to their target orbit.
The Fregat upper stage continued its mission beyond the primary payload deployment, carrying and deploying an additional 18 small spacecraft. Notably, half of these small satellites were developed by Geoscan, and among them is the Iranian telecommunications satellite NAHID-2.
The “Ionosphere-M No. 3” and “No. 4” satellites will augment the existing constellation, joining the two previously launched spacecraft as part of the “Ionozond” research system. This system`s primary purpose is to monitor changes in the ionosphere`s structure and phenomena occurring within it, as well as to provide timely information on the heliogeophysical environment, commonly referred to as “space weather.”
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth