Support The Moscow Times!

Proton-M Rocket Launch Leaves Behind Mysterious Trail in Russian Skies

The last time such a cloud was witnessed in the region was about Nov. 12 last year.

A zigzag-shaped cloud has appeared in the skies above Russia's southern Altai region, following the launch of a rocket in nearby Kazakhstan.

The Proton-M rocket, carrying a Yamal-401 telecommunications satellite, blasted off in the early hours of Monday morning from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. The satellite has since been successfully launched into orbit, Russia's Federal Space Agency said in an online statement.

Shortly after the launch, residents in Gorno-Altaisk noticed an unusual scribble-shaped cloud had formed in the skies above their town, which experts tied to the disengagement of the rocket's second stage above the region, local news site Novosti Gornogo Altaya reported.

Altai, which lies on the path for all launches into space from Baikonur, functions as a "special zone" for falling space debris, the report added.

The last time such a cloud was witnessed in the region was about Nov. 12 last year, the report said, citing one reader as saying that low temperatures are needed to facilitate the emergence of such clouds.

The Yamal-401 satellite, which is capable of beaming telecoms signals across Europe and Asia, has a shelf life of 15 years.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more