Russia Successfully Sends New Military Satellite To Orbit

December 9, 2007 9:41 a.m. EST

Moscow, Russia (AHN) - Russia on Sunday successfully launched into orbit a new military satellite, officials said.

In a statement, Russian Space Forces said a Proton-M booster rocket launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan successfully sent Kosmos-2434 satellite into orbit, the AP reports.

According to Earthtimes, in an address via broadcast of Rossiya state television, space forces chief Gen. Vladimir Popovkin said the satellite will provide communications services to the country's military.

Russia has some 100 satellites in orbit, most of which are military in purpose.

The Russian space agency Roskosmos is currently renting the Baikonur space center from Kazakhstan.