Russia successfully launched a record-setting 53 satellites into space on November 4, 2024, achieving a major milestone in satellite deployment. The launch, managed by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, involved a combination of domestic and international satellites. The mission used a Soyuz-2.1B rocket with a Fregat upper stage, which blasted off in the Russian Far East at 6:18 pm EST on November 4 (2318 GMT, or 2:18 am IST on November 5). It took off from Vostochny Spaceport. , According to Roscosmos, all 53 satellites successfully reached their designated orbits.
International cooperation in satellite deployment
According to the latest report from the Russian news agency, several international partnerships were involved in this satellite deployment. The payload included 49 Russian satellites, one joint Russian-Chinese and one Russian-Zimbabwean satellite. Notably, two of Iran’s satellites were also onboard: the Kausar imaging satellite, designed for high-resolution imagery, and the Hodhod satellite, focused on communications. The launch of 51 domestic satellites broke a national record, underscoring Russia’s growing role in global satellite launches, according to TASS. While significant, this launch does not surpass the record set by SpaceX in January 2021, when 143 satellites were delivered to orbit in a single launch.
Ionospheric monitoring and strategic objectives
The mission included two Ionosphera-M satellites to enhance monitoring of Earth’s ionosphere, providing valuable data on atmospheric conditions. Each satellite in the system weighs approximately 948 pounds (430 kg), highlighting Russia’s commitment to expanding its space-based observation systems. The launch marks Russia’s thirteenth year of satellite launches, reflecting the country’s continued but moderate pace in satellite launches compared to global peers.
Russia’s position in the global space race
Although Russia has historically held a leading position in space activities, its launch rate has slowed in recent years. The United States, mainly due to the frequency of SpaceX Falcon 9 launches, and China have accelerated their launch programs, leaving Russia in third place. Despite this, Russia continues to play an active role in international space cooperation, including its involvement with the International Space Station (ISS).
