Russia to Launch Nine Rockets Into Space in April-June - Source

Russia plans to launch nine rockets into space between April and June, two of which are for military purposes, a source in the space industry told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Seven of the launches will take place from the Baikonur space launch facility in Kazakhstan with various payloads and the remaining two, which are for Russian military purposes, will be launched from the Plesetsk facility in northwestern Russia.

On May 15, Russia will launch a Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket for the Russian military and a Soyuz-2.1b with space equipment for Russia’s military will be launched on June 5.

"All of these dates may change depending on the terms of preparing the space equipment and carrier rockets for the launch," the source said.

On Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said a Rokot carrier rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk space center to deliver a trio of Gonets-M communications satellites and an unspecified military satellite into orbit.

On Friday, a Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket put a military satellite into orbit, the first launch from the Plesetsk space center this year. A Total of 20 Soyuz-2.1a, 1b and 1c carrier rockets have been launched from Plesetsk beginning November 8, 2004.

The Soyuz-2 replaced the Soyuz-U carrier rocket, which was in commission at the Plesetsk space center from 1973 to 2012. During that period, nearly 430 multi-purpose space vehicles had been sent into orbit.