spacetoday.net: Soyuz rockets launch classified, communications satellites

Posted: Sun, Oct 30, 2022, 9:54 AM ET (1354 GMT)
One Soyuz rocket launched a pair of classified satellites Oct. 21. The Soyuz-2.1v rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia at 3:20 pm EDT (1920 GMT) after several days of delays. The purpose of the classified payloads is unknown, but there is speculation they could be experimental spacecraft for testing satellite inspection techniques. Another Soyuz lifted off Oct. 22 carrying four communications satellites. The Soyuz launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's far east at 3:57 pm EDT (1957 GMT). The rocket carried three Gonets satellites for a low Earth orbit communications system, as well as a fourth satellite, Skif-D, intended to serve as a prototype for Russia's proposed Sphere broadband constellation.