Article Posted on : - Apr 01, 2015

MOSCOW (BNS): A Rokot carrier rocket has successfully launched a Russian military satellite and Gonets-M communication satellites from the Plesetsk space centre, according to a news report.

A Sputnik report quoting the Ministry of Defence said, the Rokot rocket lifted off on Tuesday carrying three Gonets-M communications satellites and an unspecified military satellite into orbit.

The satellites are expected to reach designated orbits at 06.45 pm Moscow time (15:45 GMT), the report said.

The Gonets-M satellites are upgraded versions of the Gonets satellites. They will be part of Russia's low-orbit grouping of telecom satellites designed to provide communication services for remote areas of Russia.

The Rokot launch vehicle, developed by the state-run Khrunichev Centre, is a modification of the RS-18 two-stage ballistic missile that is being decommissioned from Russia's Strategic Missile Forces, it added.