Russia launches rocket with European satellite

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia launched a rocket carrying a European telecommunications satellite, Russian Space Forces command announced Tuesday.

The Proton-KM rocket lifted off from Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:06 a.m. Moscow time (2306GMT) Tuesday, carrying a single W-3A satellite that belongs to Eutelsat consortium, the Space Forces’ press service said.

The commercial telecommunications satellite which will cover Europe, the Middle East and northwestern and southern Africa settled into orbit at 11:10 Moscow time (0810GMT). The satellite’s payload is 4,250 kilogram (9,369 pounds).

The liquid-propelled Proton carrier rocket, one of the world’s most reliable, became operational in 1976. It has a 96 percent success rate.

In a related development, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov appointed Monday Lt. Gen. Vladimir Popovkin as the new commander of the Space Forces. Popovkin who previously served as the Space Forces chief of staff, replaced Col. Gen. Anatoly Perminov.

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