The new satellite is equipped with multi-spectral imaging payloads in order to gather meteorological data in the polar regions of our planet. It will aid weather forecasting over high-latitude regions and improve studies on climate change.

Russian space agency Roscosmos launched a Soyuz 2.1b carrier rocket with its first Arktika-M satellite from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. According to a live broadcast by Roscosmos, the Fregat booster with the satellite separated from the third stage of the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket at 07:04 GMT.

The launch of the next Arktika-M is scheduled for 2023. A total of five satellites are planned to be sent into orbit by 2024-2025.

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