Russian Rocket Brings Three Satellites Into Orbit

On Wednesday at 2:38 p.m. (Moscow time), the "Kosmos-3M" light carrierrocket was launched from the "Plesetsk" cosmodrome, bringing three satellites (Russian, Chinese, and Britain) into solar-synchronous orbit at a maximum distance from Earth of 700 kilometers. According to the reports of the Strategic Missile Force, similar launches have previously been held only from the "Baikonur" cosmodrome. The "Nadezhda" ("Hope") Russian satellite assigned for work in the SARSAT international space system (for the search and rescue of emergency ships and planes) was one of the three brought into the orbit. The other two space vehicles are the Chinese satellite "Zingua-1" and the British SNAP-1 that will be used for scientific research and for teaching students. According to experts from the Strategic Missile Force, the satellite will separate at 6 p.m. (Moscow time), after three trips around the Earth while joined.