Russia’s Space Forces have started ground tests of a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket, which will orbit a Glonass satellite at the end of August, spokesman Lt. Col. Vitaly Vyatkin said on Thursday. “The rocket has not been assembled yet but its systems and ground equipment are connected together by electric wires for preliminary testing,” Vyatkin said. “If the tests go well the stages of the rocket are then put together.” Read More