MOSCOW, Nov 5, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Russia launched 55 satellites into orbit on 
Tuesday, including two privately built Iranian devices, amid deepening ties 
between Moscow and Tehran.

A Soyuz rocket blasted off from the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East 
at 02:18 Moscow time (2318 GMT on Monday) carrying the satellites, Russia's 
Roscosmos space agency said.

In total, Roscosmos said 51 Russian satellites, one Russian-Chinese device 
and a Russian-Zimbabwean satellite were put into orbit, as well as the two 
Iranian satellites.

It said it was a "record number of Russian satellites simultaneously put into 
orbit."

The two Iranian imaging and communications satellites -- Koswar and Hodhod -- 
were designed and built by Iran's Omid Faza Company, and are aimed to support 
environmental monitoring and communications in remote areas.

Tehran said it was the first time Russia had launched privately built Iranian 
satellites.

The two countries have deepened political, economic and military ties amid 
Russia's offensive in Ukraine and the war in the Middle East, raising 
concerns in the West.