According to Russian news reports Cosmos 2421 has apparently failed in orbit. One of two solar panels on the military reconnaissance satellite failed to deploy properly, and there was insufficient power to activate the surveillance payload.
However, the spacecraft's developers, the Arsenal Design Bureau, believe the problem can be resolved. It seems that Russian military officials are less optimistic, in part because the spacecraft was built 15 years ago and placed in storage until its June 25 launch.
"Stable telemeter communication was established and is maintained with the spacecraft. Solar panels unfolded, while onboard systems of the satellite were put into a working condition and are functioning normally" - Alexei Kuznetsov, Russian Space Troops spokesman.
The Kosmos 2421 satellite has been launched aboard a Tsyklon-2 launch vehicle.
Launch time was at 04:00 UTC.
“The satellite has separated from the launch vehicle’s second stage. In about 90 minutes, after the satellite circles the earth, control over it will be taken over by the Space Troops’ ground services” - Alexei Kuznetsov, Russian Space Troops spokesman.
The military Kosmos satellite is now in the correct target orbit.
The Tsyklon-2 light-class liquid fuel launch vehicle, developed by Yuzhnoye, has two stages. It is 28.3 meters long and its lift-off mass is 176 tons. Design Bureau and manufactured by Izhmash Research and Production Corporation, both located in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. It is an adaptation of the R-36 ballistic missile, first launched in 1968 and supplied to the armed forced in 1975. The launch vehicle’s reliability is rated 97%. It is based in Baikonur.