Posted: Tue, Jul 7, 2009, 6:27 AM ET (1027 GMT)
A Rockot launcher placed three small military satellites into orbit on Monday. The Rockot lifted off from the Plsetsk Cosmodrome in nothern Russia at 9:26 pm EDT Sunday (0126 GMT Monday) and placed the Kosmos 2451, 2452, and 2453 satellites into orbit. The satellites were described as only military satellites, but are thought to be store-and-forward communications satellites.

Related Links:

•  RIA Novosti article
•  Itar-Tass article