The Soyuz-2.1B carrier rocket, launched from the Vostochny Cosmodrome, successfully placed the Fregat upper stage, along with a substantial payload of 52 spacecraft, into orbit. The launch, which was broadcast by Roscosmos, included the two critical Aist-2T satellites designed for stereoscopic Earth imaging.
Mission Timeline
The rocket lifted off at 16:18 Moscow time. The Fregat booster was scheduled to initiate its first engine burn almost immediately after separating from the third stage of the Soyuz rocket. A second, critical burn was anticipated approximately 50 minutes later. The main Aist-2T satellites were successfully injected into their target orbits 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 18 seconds after liftoff.
Payload and Scientific Objectives
The primary satellites, Aist-2T Nos. 1 and 2, are intended for stereoscopic surveying of the Earth`s surface, a process crucial for creating detailed, three-dimensional models of the planet.
The mission carried a diverse manifest of spacecraft, including experimental satellites developed by several prestigious institutions: Bauman Moscow State Technical University, the Moscow Aviation Institute (MAI), the Far Eastern Federal University (DVFU), and Amur State University (AmSU). Additionally, the launch deployed the first experimental satellite for the `Marathon IoT` project, designed to test and refine Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity technology from space.
