Moscow, June 20: Russia today launched a Molnia-M rocket carrying a military communications satellite from its Plesetsk Space Centre in the north of the country, Russian space officials said.
The satellite was successfully placed into orbit about one hour after the launch at 2:30 am IST, the Itar-Tass news agency quoted the officials as saying. It is the third launch of a military satellite this year. The defence ministry said last month it plans to launch 10 military satellites by the end of 2003. The satellites, which will have a lifespan of seven to 10 years, will be launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the former Soviet Republic of Kazakhstan in Central Asia, and from the Plesetsk space base.
The Russian military intends over the next few years to move activities from Baikonur to Plesetsk.
Currently almost three quarters of Russia's military satellites are launched from baikonur, which is leased by Kazakhstan to Russia for $ 115 million a year.

Bureau Report