BAIKONUR SPACE CENTER /Kazakhstan/, December 25. /TASS/. The Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket will blast off from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, marking the 2,000th launch for the R-7 family of rockets.

The first launch of an R-7 rocket took place on May 15, 1957.

According to Roscosmos, the launch is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. Moscow time (7:45 a.m. GMT). The Resurs-P satellite is expected to separate from its carrier approximately nine and a half minutes after the launch.

Resurs-P satellites are designed for remote sensing of the Earth, as well as regional and local monitoring of its surface. They are distinguished by ultra-high spatial resolution - less than a meter per pixel. The satellites are also equipped with an RPC-polynomial device (a tool to improve accuracy and speed up data processing) and have the capability of stereoscopic imaging to create three-dimensional models.

The data obtained by Resurs-P satellites are used to explore natural resources, control pollution and environmental degradation, and monitor water protection and protected areas. The information obtained can be used to develop Russia's international cooperation in the field of environmental control and protection and to solve other urgent remote sensing tasks.

R-7 family of rockets

R-7 is a family of Soviet and Russian launch vehicles. These rockets were involved in all manned and a significant part of unmanned launches in the history of Russian cosmonautics. At the moment, the Soyuz-2.1a, Soyuz-2.1b, and Soyuz-2.1c modifications are in use.

In 1957, the R-7 carrier rocket with the Sputnik, the first-ever satellite, lifted off from Baikonur. The rocket also served as a basis for the three-stage Vostok Rocket that inaugurated the era of manned flights on April 12, 1961, when Yuri Gagarin started off into orbit on the Vostok 1 spacecraft.

At present, three carrier rockets of the R-7 family are in service: medium Soyuz-2.1a and Soyuz-2.1b rockets, as well as light-class Soyuz-2.1v. The Soyuz-2.1a and Soyuz-2.1b versions, modified for launches from the Kourou launch facility in French Guiana are named Soyuz-ST-A and Soyuz-ST-B.