MOSCOW (Sputnik) — A new carrier rocket is being assembled at Russia’s Vostochny spaceport ahead of its maiden launch in spring, the state agency responsible for land-based space infrastructure said.
The first launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket was initially scheduled for late 2015 before being postponed until next spring.
"Tests are underway at the Vostochny Cosmodrome aimed at confirming the readiness of all systems for the first launch of the carrier rocket," the Center for Operation of Space Ground-based Infrastructure (TsENKI) said Tuesday.
The launch vehicle will put a microsatellite and two research spacecraft – Lomonosov and Aist – into orbit.
Soyuz-2 rockets have been developed over the past decade. The 1a version includes a digital control system that replaces its analog predecessor, as well as improved booster and fuel injection systems. It was first tested in 2011 at the Guiana Space Center, a French-European spaceport.
