spacetoday.net: Soyuz-2 rocket returns to flight in military launch

Posted: Sat, Jun 6, 2015, 11:36 AM ET (1536 GMT)
Soyuz-2 launch of Cosmos 2505 (Russian MoD)

A Soyuz-2.1a rocket launched a military satellite Friday in the first launch of that vehicle since the loss of a Progress spacecraft in April. The Soyuz-2.1a rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia at 11:24 am EDT (1524 GMT, 6:24 pm Moscow time) carrying a satellite designated Cosmos 2505. Russian reports did not disclose the satellite's mission, beyond serving the Russian military, but outside experts believe the satellite is a reconnaissance satellite. The launch was the first for the Soyuz-2 since April 28, when it launched a Progress cargo spacecraft to the ISS. A mishap blamed on a "design peculiarity" between the Progress and the Soyuz's upper stage caused the Progress to spin out of control after its release from the upper stage; it reentered in early May after its docking with the International Space Station was called off.