Roscosmos has announced that the third and fourth `Ionosfera-M` satellites are scheduled for launch into orbit this Friday from the Vostochny Cosmodrome.
According to materials distributed by the state corporation, the launch of the `Soyuz-2.1b` rocket, equipped with a `Fregat` upper stage and these spacecraft, is set for 8:54 AM Moscow time on July 25. In addition to the primary payload, 18 small satellites will also be deployed into orbit as secondary payloads.
The upper stage with the satellites will separate from the rocket`s third stage 9 minutes and 24 seconds after liftoff. Following this, the `Fregat` booster will activate its main engine twice to propel the spacecraft to their designated orbits. The separation of the `Ionosfera` satellites is anticipated to occur 1 hour, 2 minutes, and 35 seconds after the rocket`s launch.
Half of the 18 small spacecraft have been developed by `Geoscan`. These satellites are designed for Earth imaging, tracking the positions of air and sea vessels, and studying various cosmic processes. Furthermore, several educational satellites will be used for researching space-to-Earth radio links and conducting experiments on controlling small spacecraft in low Earth orbit.
Roscosmos clarified that the Russian satellites will be launched inside containers provided by `Aerospace Capital`. These containers will remain closed during launch but will open after reaching orbit, allowing the CubeSats to deploy into their respective orbits.
Among the small payloads is the Iranian telecommunications satellite NAHID-2, developed by the Iranian Space Research Center (ISRC). Its launch is part of a commercial contract benefiting the Iranian Space Agency (ISA).
The first two `Ionosfera-M` satellites were launched on the same type of rocket, also from Vostochny, on November 5, 2024. Roscosmos reported the completion of their state tests on May 13, 2025. These satellites, weighing over 400 kilograms each, operate in an 820-kilometer high orbit. The second pair of satellites will be launched into the same orbital altitude.
The four satellites will form the `Ionozond` system, dedicated to observing changes and phenomena within the ionosphere, as well as providing real-time information on the heliogeophysical environment, commonly referred to as `space weather`.
The `Ionosfera-M` No. 3 and No. 4 are notable as the first spacecraft to be delivered by aircraft to Vostochny, following the recent commissioning of its airport complex. This Friday`s launch marks the first launch from Vostochny this year, the 19th flight of a `Soyuz` rocket from this site, and the 20th launch in the cosmodrome`s history. Overall, it will be the ninth launch in Russia`s space program for the current year.
