A Soyuz 2-1B Fregat launched Cosmos 2564 (Kosmos 2564) which is believed to be Glonass-M 61 – the last Glonass-M (Uragan-M) navigation satellite as part of the Russian military constellation with the Glonass K series now taking over. The launch took place from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia at 1517 GMT on 28 November The satellite was placed into a19,508 x 19,149 km Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) inclined at 64.75 degrees relative to the equator. After the launch it was noted by observers that there was little information as to its success or not though the satellite has since been tracked by Western radars in orbit.
Soyuz 2-1B lifts off from Plesetsk carrying Cosmos 2564 into the Glonass navsat constellation Courtesy: Russian Ministry of Defence/Roscosmos
