A Proton rocket carrying a Russian telecommunications satellite took off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazhakstan overnight, the Itar-Tass agency reported Saturday.
"The launch proceeded as normal," at 1941 GMT, a source at the Russian Roskosmos space agency was quoted as saying.
The Proton-K rocket was scheduled to place the satellite into orbit six and a half hours after launch.
The Express-AM3 satellite, belonging to the Russian telecoms group Kosmicheskaya Sviaz will relay television and radio programmes as well as providing new telephone and internet links.
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Putin Attacks US Curbs On Russian Space Exports
Saint Petersburg, Russia (AFP) Jun 25, 2005
Russian President Vladimir Putin attacked Saturday US policy aimed at stopping Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, which, he said, was damaging his country's space industry.
