A Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle, lifting off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, successfully placed the Fregat upper stage into orbit. The Fregat carries two primary satellites, the Aist-2T Earth stereo imaging spacecraft (No. 1 and No. 2), alongside 50 auxiliary payloads. The launch operation was broadcast by Roscosmos.
The rocket initiated its flight at 16:18 Moscow time. Shortly after separating from the Soyuz-2.1b, the Fregat stage was set to activate its propulsion system. It was scheduled for a second burn approximately 50 minutes later. The Aist-2T satellites were expected to be deployed into their target orbit 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 18 seconds after the initial launch.
The Aist-2T satellites are specifically designed for stereoscopic imaging of the planet`s surface, a crucial task aimed at creating a comprehensive, three-dimensional model of the Earth.
The secondary payloads launched on this mission include educational satellites developed by several Russian institutions: Bauman Moscow State Technical University (MSTU), Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), and Amur State University (AmSU). Also included in the mission manifest is the first experimental “Marathon IoT” satellite, which is intended to test and validate Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in space.
Clement Ashworth