The spacecraft will be able to transmit the information about physical phenomena occurring in the Earth’s ionosphere

Photo: Roscosmos

RD-107А/RD-108А rocket engines made by UEC-Kuznetsov, a facility included in Rostec’s United Engine Corporation, ensured successful launch of the launch vehicle from the Vostochny Cosmodrome. Ionosfera-M No.3-4 and 18 piggyback payloads were placed into orbit. 

The Soyuz-2.1b launch vehicle with the Fregat booster, Ionosfera-M No.3-4 spacecraft and 18 smaller satellites was launched on 25 July at 08:54 Moscow time. The RD-107А/108А engines installed on stages I and II of the launch vehicle worked properly. 

UEC-Kuznetsov service center personnel, who monitor power unit operation during all launches, installed and tested all engine support systems. 

The Ionosfera is a group of four ionospheric and magnetospheric research satellites designed by Roskosmos for the Ionozond project. The Ionosfera-M spacecraft will be able to transmit the information about physical phenomena induced in the Earth’s ionosphere by natural or man-caused impacts. The first two Ionosfera project satellites were placed into orbit in 2024. 

This was the first successful launch of a Soyuz type launch vehicle in the current year that was ensured by engines made by United Engine Corporation.