Russia's first 16 broadband internet access satellites placed into orbit - company

MOSCOW. March 24 (Interfax) - The first 16 satellites for broadband internet access, launched on Monday evening, have been placed into orbit, the Bureau 1440 Russian company said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The first package launch of 16 Bureau 1440 satellites took place at 8:24 p.m. on March 23," the statement said.

After reaching their support orbit, the satellites successfully separated from the launch vehicle and the Bureau 1440 Mission Control Center took control over them, the statement said.

"The next step is a check of the onboard systems and movement towards their target orbit," it said.