The Russian Defence Ministry have brought forward preparations for the launching of a Soyuz-V launch vehicle with a military satellite onboard.
According to cosmodrome officials, "the lift-off of the spacecraft, initially planned for mid-May, has been re-scheduled for next Wednesday", Itar-Tass reported Tuesday..
The rocket left the assembly complex on Tuesday at 09.30, with the Soyuz rocket now installed at launch pad 16," officials told Itar-Tass.
Deputy commander of the Space Troops Oleg Gromov had said earlier that "testing of space systems of a new generation" would be a priority task for Russia starting from 2006.
According to the general, it is planned to complete test and design work under the project of a remote sensing satellite so as to blast off later one satellite of this type every year.
Russia's current satellites now in orbit totals 94 satellites including more than 50 satellites designated for military purposes.
