Russian Ministry of Defense – Spaceflight Now

Glonass navigation satellite in orbit after Soyuz launch

November 5, 2018

A new satellite joined Russia’s Glonass navigation fleet Saturday with a successful launch on top of a Soyuz rocket into an orbit nearly 12,000 miles above Earth.

Navigation satellite launched to join Russia’s Glonass network

June 18, 2018

A new Russian navigation satellite lifted off Saturday on top of a Soyuz rocket, riding the three-stage booster and a Fregat upper stage into orbit to supplement the country’s Glonass network providing precise global positioning and timing services.

Russian communications satellite launched aboard Proton rocket

April 19, 2018

Russia launched a military communications satellite Wednesday, sending a data relay and broadcasting station to an orbit more than 22,000 miles above the equator aboard a Proton rocket and a Breeze M upper stage.

Mysterious Russian reconnaissance satellite successfully launched

April 2, 2018

A small spacecraft built for the Russian military lifted off Thursday on top of a modified Soyuz booster, beginning a mission to reportedly test a compact Earth-imaging platform that could be used on future spy satellites.

Replenishment satellite launched into Russia’s Glonass navigation fleet

September 22, 2017

A Soyuz rocket added a new satellite to Russia’s Glonass navigation network Friday with an on-target delivery nearly 12,000 miles above Earth.

Proton launcher takes off with dual-use Russian communications satellite

August 17, 2017

A high-power Russian satellite designed to deliver broadband Internet connections and relay television and videoconferencing signals fired into orbit Wednesday from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.

Soyuz launcher puts Russian military spy satellite in orbit

March 24, 2016

A Russian military spacecraft with a high-resolution digital mapping camera is in orbit Thursday after a successful ascent aboard a Soyuz rocket.

Russian data relay satellite launched by Proton rocket

December 13, 2015

A secretive Russian military communications satellite arrived in geostationary orbit Sunday after a successful liftoff aboard a Proton rocket, the Russian defense ministry said.

Russian reconnaissance satellite re-enters atmosphere

December 9, 2015

A Russian satellite burned up in Earth’s atmosphere Tuesday, less than three days after it failed to deploy from its rocket after reaching orbit, according to tracking data released by the U.S. military.

New Russian military satellite declared lost

December 7, 2015

A Russian defense payload built to monitor maritime activity, and possibly track the movements of submarines, is stuck to the upper stage of its rocket after launching Saturday from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, multiple Russian news agencies reported.