Rokot light booster with a block of military satellites was launched from Plesetsk spaceport on Friday, – representative of Russian Ministry of Defenсe press-office management on Aerospace Defenсe troops Alexey Zolotukhin reported.
The first launch of Rokot booster took place from Plesetsk in May 2000. Up to the present time 21 Rokot boosters have been launched from Plesetsk.
At 09.27, Moscow time Aerospace Defence operational crews successfully launched Rokot light booster with a block of military satellites.
The launch was accomplished under the supervision of Aerospace Defence Troops commander Lieutenant General Alexander Golovko. All prelaunch operations took place as planned.
At 09.30 the rocket was captured by ground tracking facilities of Titov Main Test and Space Systems Control Centre. The satellites were orbited at the time planned (11.12, Moscow time).
Rokot booster was designed on the basis of RS-18 intercontinental ballistic missile being discarded from service in the framework of conversion program.