A Kanopouss observation satellite and 72 smaller satellites have been successfully orbited from the Baikonur cosmodrome (Kazakhstan), Russian space agency Roskosmos and the Glavkosmos research center have announced.

“On July 14th at 9:36 am (0636 GMT), a Soïouz-2.1A rocket successfully flew from the Baikonur cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) with a Kanopouss-V-IK Earth observation satellite and 72 satellites” Announced in a statement Roscosmos.

Cited by Russian news agencies, a spokesman for the Russian research center Glavkosmos, in charge of putting these satellites in orbit, then said “that the last of the mission’s satellites separated from the upper stage at 17:41 (14:41 GMT), welcoming the success of this mission.

The satellites were dropped on three different orbits by re-igniting the last stage of the Soyuz rocket after each drop. “The top floor Fregate of the Soyuz rocket has a unique propulsion system” allowing the success of the mission, “Roskosmos said in his statement.

“For the first time in the world, such a complex and important mission has been developed and implemented,” said Glavkosmos.

The Kanopouss satellite is a Russian Earth observation satellite used for the detection of forest fires or the updating of topographic maps. Of the 72 other satellites, there were Japanese, German or Canadian satellites, but also 62 CubeSat nanosatellites, developed in the United States.