MOSCOW: Russia successfully launched an upgraded version of its Soviet-design Soyuz rocket yesterday, the Defence Ministry said, giving a boost to the country’s troubled space programme.
The launch of the Soyuz 2.1v rocket, which features a new engine and digital guidance system, had originally been planned for the beginning of 2012 but was postponed due to an accident during testing which caused engine damage, Interfax reported. It was then scheduled to be launched earlier this week but was delayed again, Interfax reported.
The lightweight launch vehicle blasted off yesterday afternoon from Russia’s Plesetsk launch pad in the northwest Arkhangelsk region.
REUTERS
