MOSCOW: The Soviet Union launched an artificial satellite, “Cosmos-290” today [July 22]. On board the artificial satellite is scientific equipment designed to continue the programme of space exploration, announced earlier. The artificial satellite was put into an orbit with the initial period of revolution of 89.8 minutes. The maximum distance from the surface of the Earth is 352 kilometres, the minimum is 200 kilometres, and the orbit’s angle is 65.4 degrees.

On board the artificial satellite are a radio transmitter using the frequency of 19.995 megacycles, a radio system for precise measurement of the elements of the orbit, a radio telemetric system to transmit back to Earth the data of the operation of the instruments and scientific equipment. The equipment on board “Cosmos-290” is operating normally. The coordinating and computing centre is processing the upcoming information. — Agency

[Meanwhile, as reported by an agency in Havana,] Major Raul Castro, the Cuban Deputy Premier and Armed Forces Prime Minister, inspected today [July 22] the Soviet warships which put in at Havana for a week-long friendship visit on Sunday. A 21-gun salute was fired from the port at the close of a reception aboard the Grozniz, the rocket-launching cruiser. The seven Soviet warships are currently on visit to Cuba.

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2019