Posted: Thu, Jun 10, 2004, 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT)
A Zenit 2 successfully launched a Russian military satellite early Thursday, according to Russian media reports. The Zenit 2 lifted off from Baikonur at 9:28 pm EDT Wednesday (0128 GMT, 5:28 am Moscow time Thursday) and placed the spacecraft into an unspecified orbit. Media reports disclosed few details about the spacecraft, other than it was named Kosmos 2406. That name had been used for a spacecraft launched earlier this year, but two spacecraft have since been renamed, allowing the designation to be reused. The launch had been delayed several times, including launch attempts in late April that were scrubbed because of a "launch systems failure".

Related Links:

•  AP article
•  Interfax article
•  RIA Novosti article