Posted: Sat, Mar 6, 2021, 10:10 AM ET (1510 GMT)
Russia launched a satellite to monitor the Arctic region. The Soyuz-2.1b rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 1:55 am EST (0655 GMT) Feb. 28 carrying the Arktika-M No.1 satellite. The spacecraft is the first in a series to study weather and other environmental conditions in the Arctic, operating from a highly elliptical Molniya orbit. Russian officials haven't yet confirmed a successful deployment or initial operations of the satellite.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  Reuters article
•  TASS article
•  NASASpaceFlight.com article