Rokot launcher blasts off with Russian Geo-IK-2 geodesy satellite

Russia successfully launched a Rokot booster on Saturday, June 4, carrying the country’s latest geodesy satellite. The spacecraft, named Geo-IK-2 No.12, lifted off at 10:00 a.m. EDT (14:00 GMT) from Site 133/3 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. The mission had alarmed environmentalists in Canada as the second stage of the launcher, loaded with toxic propellants, fell into the Baffin Bay where the country has jurisdiction over protecting the marine environment. The launch was carried out by the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces (RVSN RF). Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Aleksander Golovko was in charge of the launch. Ground services of RVSN RF were supervising the liftoff and the flight of the satellite. The mission was initially planned for May, but it was postponed due to technical reasons. More

(Source: SpaceFlight Insider - Jun 5)