Molnia Space Apparatus Put on a Calculated Orbit - 2 April, 2003

The communication satellite Molnia, which was launched on Wednesday at 05:53, Moscow time, from the Plesetsk cosmodrome (the north) by the rocket carrier of a middle class Molnia -M, reached the calculated orbit at 07:38.

According to the press service of the Russian Space Force, the satellite was put on a high elliptical orbit in the interests of the Defence Ministry: it will be another one in the military satellite group.

"The space apparatus will be controlled by the Space Troops which have established a stable telemetric communication with it," said the press service.

Commander of the Russian Space Forces Colonel General Anatoly Perminov, who directly commanded the launching, congratulated the launching team on the successful accomplishment of the task.