The Glonass-M navigation satellite, launched from Russia's Plesetsk space center atop a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket, was brought to its target orbit by the Fregat upper stage, the Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday.

This is the third liftoff of the Soyuz-2.1 type rocket from Plesetsk in 2016, following the Soyuz-2.1b's successful launch on February 7 and Soyuz-2.1a's successful launch on March 24.

"The Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket successfully brought the Russian navigation space apparatus Glonass-M to its target orbit at the set time," the ministry told RIA Novosti.

The Russian navigation Glonass-M satellite brought to the orbit by the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket established contact, according to the ministry.

"Contact was established with the space apparatus, and stable telemetric connection is being maintained. The onboard systems are functioning well."

Fregat Upper Stage Carrying Glonass-M Satellite Detaches From Carrier
"The upper composite of the middle class Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket, as part of the Fregat upper stage and the Glonass-M space apparatus has detached successfully from the rocket's third stage at an estimated time of 11:54 a.m. Moscow time [08:54 GMT]," the ministry told RIA Novosti.

This was the third launch of the Soyuz-2.1 type carrier rocket from the Plesetsk space center in 2016.

It will take several hours for the rocket to reach its target orbit.

Source: Sputnik News