Russia launches three communication satellites

MOSCOW - Russia successfully put three satellites into orbit, the federal space agency Roscosmos said Thursday.

"The launch was carried out at 3:22 Moscow time (2322 GMT Wednesday) from the Plesetsk Defense Ministry's space center (in Northern Russia)," the Roscosmos said in a statement.

A carrier rocket Rokot equipped with the Briz-M booster placed three Gonets-D1M communication satellites into a designated orbit, Roscosmos said.

The Gonets satellites joined a low-orbit group of telecommunication satellites designed to provide communications services for remote areas of Russia.

This was Rokot's first launch after a nine-month suspension used to fix malfunctions in the Briz-M booster.

In January, the Rokot equipped with the same type booster failed to place three military satellites into orbit due to a glitch in the Briz-M systems.

Rokot is the RS-18 (SS-18 by NATO classification) intercontinental ballistic missile converted for commercial space launches. The carrier rockets were put into service since 2000.