Posted: Thu, Apr 30, 2009, 8:15 AM ET (1215 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket placed what is believed to be a reconnaissance satellite into orbit late Wednesday. The Soyuz-U rocket lifted off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia at 12:58 pm EDT (1658 GMT) and placed the Kosmos 2450 satellite into a low, inclined orbit. Russian officials only said that the satellite was a military one, but outside analysts believe the satellite is a Kobalt-class reconnaissance satellite.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  Interfax article