Russia Successfully Launches Soyuz-2.1b Rocket Carrying Communication Satellite: Defense Ministry

A Russian Soyuz-2.1b rocket lifted off with a communication satellite Thursday from the Plesetsk space center located in the country's north, according to Russia's Defense Ministry. A spokesman for Russia's Aerospace Defense Forces told Ria Novosti that the Soyuz-2.1b -- a medium-class space rocket -- was launched at 6:01 a.m. Moscow time (10:01 p.m. EST, Wednesday), and that it successfully launched the satellite into orbit.