MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Rokot carrier rocket with military satellites has been successfully launched from the Plesetsk space center in northwestern Russia, a spokesperson of the Russian Defense Ministry told RIA Novosti early on Thursday.
The launch took place on Thursday, September 24, at 01:00 Moscow time (22:00 GMT on Wednesday), the spokesperson said.
The Rokot launch vehicle, developed by the Russian state-run Khrunichev Center, is a modification of the RS-18 (SS-19 Stiletto) two-stage ballistic missile that is being decommissioned from Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces.
The Rokot carrier rocket has been successfully launched from the Plesetsk facility 23 times since its first launch on May 16, 2000.