Posted: Fri, May 28, 2004, 9:41 AM ET (1341 GMT)
A Tsiklon-2 booster launched a Russian military satellite on Friday, according to Russian media reports. The Tsiklon-2 (Cyclone-2) booster lifted off from Baikonur at 2 am EDT (0600 GMT) and placed its payload into orbit. No details about the spacecraft were announced other than that it would be used for military purposes; the name of the satellite was not even announced, although it will likely be known as Kosmos 2407. Western analysts have suggested that the spacecraft may carry a signals intelligence payload.

Related Links:

•  Interfax article
•  Xinhua article