Russian defence satellite reaches targeted orbit

Russia's newest defence satellite carried by a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket reached its targeted orbit, Russia's Defence Ministry said.

The satellite on Tuesday was put into a highly elliptical geo-synchronous orbit, called a Tundra orbit. It is a high-inclination orbit, usually near 63.4 degrees, and has an orbital period of about four minutes less than a solar day, Xinhua reported.

A stable telemetric connection has been established and is being well maintained. The on-board systems of the spacecraft are functioning normally, according to an online official statement.

Equipped with a new-generation space apparatus, a medium class Soyuz-2.1b rocket lifted off at 9.34 a.m. (local time) on Tuesday from Plesetsk cosmodrome in Russia's northern Arkhangelsk region.