Russia to Make Year’s First Space Launch Feb. 5

MOSCOW, January 21 (RIA Novosti) - In the first space launch from the Baikonur space port this year, a Russian carrier rocket Soyuz-2.1a is to orbit six Globalstar-2 communication satellites on February 5, the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos said on Monday.

“Work is underway to prepare the equipment for the upcoming launch,” the agency said.

Globalstar low-orbit communication satellites are used for providing mobile satellite communication services.

The first six second-generation satellites were orbited in October 2010. Another 12 were put into orbit in 2011 and 2012.