OREANDA-NEWS. December 3, 2008. Russian Space Force military groups launched middle-class Molniya-M rocket with the spacecraft of the Cosmos series from launch pad 2, site 16, of the Plesetsk space port. The spacecraft will provide services for the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

Molniya-M launch was carried out under overall control of Major General Oleg Ostapenko, Russian Space Force Commander. Major General Oleg Maidanovich, space port commander, led the military group responsible for launch operations.

Molniya-M successfully lofted the spacecraft at 8:56 Moscow time. The spacecraft has got Cosmos-2446 index after successful completion of the launch phase.

From 9:45 Moscow time, Cosmos-2446 is under management of the Space Force ground controllers. They will control the spacecraft during its orbital mission.

Oleg Ostapenko appreciated excellent work of the military groups involved in the prelaunch activities and the launch operations.

This launch was aimed at enlarging orbital constellation of the Russian military spacecraft.