Posted: Sun, Jun 15, 2014, 11:12 AM ET (1512 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket placed a Russian GLONASS navigation satellite into orbit late Saturday. The Soyuz-2.1b rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia at 1:17 pm EDT (1517 GMT, 9:17 pm Moscow time) Saturday carrying the GLONASS No. 55 satellite. The rocket's Fregat upper stage released the satellite into orbit about three and a half hours later. The satellite is in good health after launch, according to a statement from its manufacturer, ISS-Reshetnev. The satellite, which will augment the existing GLONASS constellation of satellites providing navigation services, also carries an experimental payload to test transmissions of navigation signals in a new frequency band.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  Voice of Russia article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  ISS-Reshetnev press release