Russian Soyuz 2-1B successfully launches Lotos-S

Russia’s Soyuz-2-1b rocket conducted its penultimate flight of the year on Thursday morning, successfully carrying the second Lotos-S reconnaissance satellite into orbit in a morning launch from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. Liftoff was on schedule at 06:01 local time (03:01 UTC). Lotos-S No.802, which will likely be known as Kosmos 2503 now it has reached orbit, is part of Russia’s Liana programme, which is intended to modernise the country’s electronic signals intelligence (ELINT) capabilities. Once operational Liana will consist of two series of satellites; Lotos will be used to intercept radio communications while Pion-NKS satellites will perform naval reconnaissance duties. More

(Source: NASASpaceFlight.com - Dec 25)