Posted: Sun, Jun 25, 2017, 9:02 AM ET (1302 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket placed a classified Russian military satellite into orbit June 23. The Soyuz-2.1v rocket lifted off at 3:04 pm EDT (1904 GMT) from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia. It placed into orbit a spacecraft designated Cosmos 2519, about which Russian officials provided no details. Outside observers believe it may be the first in a series of geodetic satellites to accurately measure the Earth's gravitational field for more accurate targeting of missiles.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  NASASpaceFlight.com article
•  TASS article