Preparations Underway For Multiple Satellite Launch

The press service of the Russian Space Forces told RIA Novosti on Wednesday that military and industrial representatives had begun work to set up a Tsiklon-3 rocket with its cargo of six satellites at the Plesetsk military space centre. Specialists of the forces explained that three of the satellites were of the Kosmos series for the Ministry of Defence, while the others were of the Gonets class constructed for Rosaviakosmos. The launch has been set for December 28th. According to the Space Forces' mission control, launch preparations are proceeding according to schedule. The press service stressed that the Tsiklon-3 rocket is used for launching automatic scientific, research, commercial and military space apparatuses from Plesetsk into circular and elliptic orbits with a range of 150 to 10,000 km from the Earth. It can carry up to six satellites at any one time.