On March 24, 2016 at 09:42 UTC the “Soyuz-2.1a” rocket-carrier was launched from Plesetsk Cosmodrome, Arkhangelsk region, North Russia. The launch was performed by Russian Aerospace Defence Forces. The rocket orbited a Russia military satellite. The satellite is believed to be Russia’s second spacecraft in the “Bars-M” series of sharp-eyed optical reconnaissance platforms. the Bars-M satellite’s capabilities are classified. The Russian Defense Ministry said that the new satellite received the designation “Kosmos-2515”, keeping with the military’s naming scheme for defense-related spacecraft.

On March 23, 2016 at 03:05 UTC (on March 22 at 23:05 EDT) the "Cygnus” privately owned U.S. unmanned supply spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral launch site of US Air Force. The launch was performed by United Launch Alliance supported by the 45th Space Wing of US Air Force. The spacecraft was orbited by the “Atlas V” rocket-carrier. The "Cygnus” (CRS OA--6 “Rick Husband”) unmanned supply spacecraft, built by U.S. space firm Orbital Sciences Corp., was orbited by the “Atlas V” rocket-carrier on its cargo resupply mission to the International Space Station. CRS means Commercial Resupply Services. The "Cygnus” (CRS OA-6) is the 5^th successful flight of the Orbital ATK uncrewed resupply spacecraft Cygnus.