Posted: Sun, Dec 24, 2006, 11:30 AM ET (1630 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket launched the first of a new generation of communications satellites on Sunday. The Soyuz 2-1a rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia at 3:34 am EST (0834 GMT) Sunday and placed the spacecraft into a highly elliptical orbit several hours later. The launch had been delayed two days because of an unspecified software problem with the launch vehicle. The spacecraft is the first in a new series of communications satellites called Meridian and is designed to provide services to ships, aircraft, and coastal stations in Russia's far northern regions, replacing the older Molniya and Parus series of satellites.

Related Links:

•  RIA Novosti article
•  Itar-Tass article