A Soyuz-2.1b rocket, equipped with a Fregat upper stage, ascended after launching from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's far-eastern Amur region on November 5, 2024, carrying multiple satellites into orbit. — Reuters
Russia successfully launched 55 satellites into space on Tuesday, which included two privately constructed Iranian satellites, as Moscow and Tehran strengthen their ties. According to Russia's Roscosmos space agency, a Soyuz rocket took off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the country's Far East at 02:18 Moscow time (2318 GMT on Monday) with the satellites on board. Roscosmos reported that 51 Russian satellites, one Russian-Chinese device, and a Russian-Zimbabwean satellite were among those placed into orbit, alongside the two Iranian satellites. This launch marked a 'record number of Russian satellites simultaneously put into orbit,' according to the agency. The two Iranian imaging and communications satellites, named Koswar and Hodhod, were developed and built by Iran's Omid Faza Company. These satellites are intended to support environmental monitoring and enhance communications in remote areas. Tehran highlighted that this was the first instance of Russia launching privately built Iranian satellites. The deepening political, economic, and military ties between the two nations, particularly in light of Russia's actions in Ukraine and the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, have raised concerns in the West.
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