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Russian Space ForcesSoyuz 2.1a Fregat-M43/3 (43L), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

Meridian-M No.21L

Launched

April 3, 2026 · 06:28 UTC

Launch Successful

Summary

Meridian-M No.21L launched on a Russian Space Forces Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M from 43/3 (43L), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation on April 3, 2026 at 06:28 UTC. The launch window ran from 02:00 to 12:00 UTC. It was Russian Space Forces's 154th launch, 2nd this year and humanity's 7,249th orbital launch attempt. It was the 20th Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical). Meridian-M No. 21L, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 1,004 × 39,721 km orbit inclined 62.8°. 2 objects from this launch are catalogued, one of them a payload.

Watch
Vehicle
Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M · Russian Space Forces
Booster
No booster details on record.
Mission
Communications · Elliptical Orbit (Elliptical)
Milestone
20th Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M flight · 1st this yearRussian Space Forces's 154th launch2nd this yearhumanity's 7,249th orbital launch attempt76th orbital launch attempt this year

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

62.8°Inclination
1004 × 39721 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements
725.0 minPeriodfrom mean elements
238.8°Ascending node
196 d agoElement epoch2026-04-03 07:41 UTC · stale

Meridian-M No. 21L · NORAD 68571 · 2026-071 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 2 objects

Show the numbers for orbit elements
Object
OBJECT A
Object ID
2026-071A
Epoch
2026-04-03 07:41:47 UTC
Mean motion
1.98618778 rev/day
Eccentricity
0.7241466
Inclination
62.7917°
Ascending node
238.8364°
Arg. of perigee
284.9481°
Mean anomaly
10.7459°
Element set
999
Rev at epoch
1
B*
0.0016587

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: Elliptical. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Catalogued objects

2 catalogued: 1 payload, 1 rocket stage; 2 still in orbit

  • Meridian-M No. 21L · NORAD 68571 · in orbit

Fregat No. 111-102 · in orbit

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

Note: Payload identity uncertain. Meridian is a series of communications satellite for military and civilian use.

Pad

Map of 43/3 (43L)

43/3 (43L), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

232nd launch from 43/3 (43L), 1st this year · 1,683rd from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

Local pad time at liftoff: Apr 3, 9:28 AM GMT+3, in daylight

234 launches from this pad · 1,688 from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation

202 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian FederationOpen in maps

Updates

Launch success.

Cosmic_Penguin · Apr 3, 2026 · source

Show 3 earlier updates

  • Liftoff.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 4/3/2026 · source

  • Moved to April TBD due to lack of launch information.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 4/1/2026 · source

  • Added launch per NOTAMs; Payload identity and launch pad used uncertain.

    Cosmic_Penguin · 3/27/2026 · source

Questions

When did Meridian-M No.21L launch?

Meridian-M No.21L launched on April 3, 2026 at 06:28 UTC. The launch window ran from 02:00 to 12:00 UTC.

Where can I watch Meridian-M No.21L?

Coverage: Russian Space Forces Meridian-M No.21L. Watch the replay

What rocket launched Meridian-M No.21L?

Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M, flown by Russian Space Forces. Soyuz 2.1a Fregat-M spec sheet

Where did Meridian-M No.21L launch from?

43/3 (43L), Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Russian Federation. Liftoff was Apr 3, 9:28 AM GMT+3 local time at the pad.

What orbit did Meridian-M No.21L reach?

Meridian-M No. 21L, one of 2 catalogued objects, reached a 1,004 × 39,721 km orbit inclined 62.8°.

How many satellites did Meridian-M No.21L launch?

1 payload from this launch is catalogued, still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).