21 Dec 2018 09:56

Briz-M booster coupled with Russian Defense Ministry's satellite normally separates from Proton-M LV

MOSCOW. Dec 21 (Interfax-AVN) - The booster coupled with the Russian Defense Ministry's satellite has normally separated from the third stage of a Proton-M launch vehicle, the ministry's information and mass communications department said in a statement.

"The payload assembly of a Proton-M rocket comprising a Briz-M booster and the Russian Defense Ministry's satellite, which took off at 3:30 a.m. Moscow time as planned, normally separated from the third stage of the heavy launch vehicle," the statement said.

The satellite will be inserted into the final orbit within several hours.

The Proton-M blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 3:20 a.m. Moscow time on Friday, December 21.