Launch of a new optical reconnaissance satellite, known as Persona, has been postponed to the first quarter of 2008. According to Gen.-Col. Vladimir Popovkin, the commander of the Space Forces, the delay is needed to complete work on the satellite. The launch was originally scheduled for the third quarter of 2007. Popovkin reported that the launcher that will be used in the launch, Soyuz-2.1b, is ready for the flight.