It was launched 26 August 2005 at 18 : 34 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome .
It was placed in a Sun - synchronous orbit of 524 by 544 km ( 326 by 338 mi ) .
It was launched 26 August 2005 at 18 : 34 UTC from Plesetsk Cosmodrome , and placed in a Sun - synchronous orbit of 524 by 544 km ( 326 by 338 mi ) .