A Soyuz 2-1A rocket thundered skyward on Thursday, carrying three satellites into orbit, including the Mikhailo Lomonosov astrophysics observatory. Named after a Russian 18th-century writer and scientist (known, among other things, for his observations of the 1761 Transit of Venus), the Lomonosov has a three-year primary mission. Its motley array of instruments will monitor everything from the speedy particles known as cosmic rays to the asteroid hazard around Earth.
Russian Space Observatory Launches
