Posted: Tue, Apr 2, 2002, 8:52 AM ET (1352 GMT)
A Russian Molniya-M launch vehicle successfully launched a military spacecraft late Monday. The rocket lifted off from Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia at 5:07 pm EST (2207 GMT) Monday. It placed into orbit a military satellite designated only as Kosmos 2388. The web site Orbital Report suggests that the spacecraft is an early warning satellite. The launch was scheduled for last week but was delayed for undisclosed reasons. The launch was the second in three days by a Russian booster, after a Proton launched a commercial communications satellite Saturday from Plesetsk.

Related Links:

•  AFP article
•  Spaceflight Now article
•  Orbital Report web site