Posted: Fri, Jul 4, 2014, 8:03 AM ET (1203 GMT)
A Rockot launch vehicle placed into orbit three small communications satellites for the Russian government on Thursday. The Rockot booster lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia at 8:43 am EDT (1243 GMT, 4:43 pm Moscow time) Thursday carrying three Gonets communications satellites. The rocket placed the satellites into highly-inclined orbits at an altitude of about 1,400 kilometers. The satellites join an existing network of satellites that provide store-and-forward communications for the Russian government.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  RIA Novosti article
•  TV Zvezda video
•  ISS Reshetnev press release