Tracking data indicates Kosmos 2415 is in an initial orbit with an apogee of about 284 km, a perigee of approximately 196 km, and an inclination of around 64.9 degrees.
Kosmos 2415 is a reconnaissance craft that will take high resolution pictures to be returned to Earth aboard a re-entry capsule.
The rocket with the Kosmos-2415 satellite lifted-off at 9:50 GMT (1:50 p.m. Moscow time) on Friday. Nine minutes later the military satellite successfully went into the global orbit as planned. Russia's Federal Space Agency and the Space Forces jointly conducted the launch, with the Space Forces monitoring and controlling the whole flight process of the satellite,
A Soyuz-U space carrier has successfully launched the Kosmos-series satellite into orbit. The Russian Defence Ministry satellite was launched from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan, according to a spokesman for the Russia's Federal Space Agency. Russia currently has a military space group of more than 50 spacecraft in orbit. They mostly are reconnaissance, communication or navigation satellites.
A spacecraft carrying a Russian Defence Ministry satellite is scheduled to be launched on 2nd September at 09:50 GMT (1:50 p.m. Moscow time) from the Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan.
"The Soyuz-U carrier rocket with a Kosmos series satellite, made at the order of the defence ministry, is currently undergoing final preparations for the launch" - Vyacheslav Davidenko, spokesperson for the Russian Federal Space Agency.
The spacecraft was moved to the Baikonur launch pad this morning.
