Posted: Thu, Nov 1, 2007, 7:20 AM ET (1120 GMT)
A Russian Kosmos rocket launched the third in a series of German radar reconnaissance satellites early Thursday. The Kosmos-3M rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia at 8:51 pm EDT Wednesday (0051 GMT Thursday) and placed the SAR-Lupe 3 satellite into orbit. The spacecraft, built by German company OHB-System, is the third of a planned constellation of five satellites that will provide radar imagery for the German military. The first SAR-Lupe satellite was launched last year and the second in July; the final two are scheduled for launch next year.

Related Links:

•  RIA Novosti article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  AP article
•  OHB-System press release