Russia launched a missile early warning satellite from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Northern Russia, on 2 November. The Soyuz 2-1b rocket lifted-off at 0648 GMT carrying the Tundra (EKS) 6 satellite into orbit. The spacecraft was then transported to its elliptical Molniya orbit by the rocket’s Fregat upper-stage.
The orbit occupied by these satellites is an unusual one with approximate parameters of 39,000 x 1,600 km, 63.4 degree inclination. This results in the satellites spending the majority of their orbits “hanging” over the Northern hemisphere enabling their missile launch detection mission.
Following its successful deployment it was given a Russian military “Kosmos” identity, Kosmos-2563.
The Soyuz rocket lifting-off from Plesetsk. Courtesy of Roscosmos
