Meridian new-generation military telecom satellite launched from Plesetsk

A Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with the Meridian dual-purpose telecommunications satellite was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 3:45 p.m. Moscow time on Wednesday.

"The launch of the Soyuz-Frigate upper stage tandem went smoothly," Russian Aerospace Defense Forces spokesman Alexei Zolotukhin told Interfax-AVN.

The launch was watched by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.

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