MOSCOW (AP) – A Russian scientific
satellite was launched into orbit aboard a Soyuz rocket Friday, just eight days
after another Russian-built rocket crashed destroying a Japanese satellite and
spreading toxic chemicals.
The Soyuz-U
rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 3 p.m. (1100 GMT) and arrived at a geostationary orbit eight minutes later, said
Alexander Vorobyov, spokesman for the Federal Space Agency.
During its 12-day mission,
the satellite Foton-M3 will conduct nearly
four dozen experiments set up by European, Russian and Chinese scientists
to study bone tissue cells, protein crystals and other areas. Several of the
experiments also include measurements on butterfly pupae, snails and geckos.
The satellite also includes
a student-built "space mail" delivery system and tether experiment, according
to the European Space Agency.
Earlier this week, Kazakhstan suspended all launches of Russian-built Proton rockets, following a
crash that destroyed a Japanese communications satellite and spread toxic
chemicals over the Kazakh steppe.
The crash on Sept. 6 was
the second time in the past 14 months that an unmanned Russian rocket launched
from the Russian-leased cosmodrome has strewn rocket fuel and debris.
Russia has been aggressively trying to
expand its presence in the international market for commercial and government
satellite and space-industry launches, though its efforts have seen several
high-profile failures.
Russia pays US$115 million (euro94
million) annually for the use of Baikonur under a deal effective through 2050.
SPACE.com Staff
contributed to this report.
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