Russia launched a Soyuz rocket carrying a military satellite and a propaganda symbol

The Russian Space Forces launched a Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

This was reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The launch took place at 9:28 a.m. Moscow time.

The rocket placed a military spacecraft into orbit, though its type and specifications have not been disclosed. The rocket was painted with the symbol of Russian imperialism and propaganda—the letter Z.

The mission will be a significant milestone in the Artemis program, which is preparing humans to return to the lunar surface. 

A previous launch attempt in February was postponed due to technical issues with the valves in the SLS rocket’s fuel system. Now, following the successful completion of critical tests, the agency is confident: the rocket is ready for flight, and the crew is ready for a historic mission.