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Russia’s Soyuz-2.1b rocket installed at Baikonur before launch of OneWeb satellites

The launch is planned for Decemer 27

MOSCOW, December 24. /TASS/. A Soyuz 2.1b carrier rocket with the Fregat booster and British OneWeb communications satellites has been installed on the launch pad of site No. 31 (Vostok) at the Baikonur spaceport, Russia’s State Space Corporation Roscosmos reported on Friday.

"The Soyuz-2.1b rocket with the Fregat booster and OneWeb satellites aboard has been installed on the launch pad of site No. 31," the statement says.

As Roscosmos specified, specialists will now integrate service platforms and start work under the schedule of the first launch day.

The launch of the Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket with the Fregat booster is scheduled for December 27 to deliver 36 British OneWeb satellites into orbit. The launch will increase the OneWeb orbital cluster to 394 satellites.

The launch program is being implemented under a contract between Glavkosmos (a subsidiary of Roscosmos), Arianespace (the European launch operator for OneWeb satellites) and Starsem.

British OneWeb low-orbit satellites are designed to create a space-based communications system to provide high-speed Internet access in any locality worldwide.

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A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces declined to comment on the reports of the strike

Iran intends to bolster military cooperation with Russia — envoy to Moscow

Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

NATO discussing transfer of ‘deep precision strike capabilities’ to Ukraine — Stoltenberg

Stoltenberg said NATO believes Ukraine has the right to strike "legitimate military targets" inside Russia

MiG-31I fighters receive air refueling system

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No plans for pauses in fighting if talks on Ukraine begin, Lavrov says

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Hezbollah warns Israel it will fight back if attacks on Lebanon continue

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Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

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