Belarus to launch a new space satellite next year

Belarus plans to launch its own satellite by a Russian rocket in late 2009 or early 2010. The satellite will weigh around 400 kg what is less than the weight of the first Belarusian satellite BelKA that failed to reach the orbit due to the failure of the Russian rocket.  The Russian news agency Interfax reports that the resolution of a new satellite will be around two meters. Other technical performance data are kept in secret by the specialists involved in the project.

But it has been confirmed that the remote control center will be located in Belarus. Possibly, a back-up ground control center could be located in Russia.