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BAYKONUR, Kazakhstan (AFP & News Agencies) - A Russian military rocket adjusted for civilian purposes was successfully launched Tuesday from Baykonur space base in Kazakhstan placing five satellites, including two for Saudi Arabia and one for Malaysia, into orbit. The heavy rocket SS-18 named Satan was launched at 10:50 GMT. The short-range ballistic rocket was part of the Soviet Union's air arsenal and currently being transferred to civil purposes according to a Russian/Ukrainian joint project. The Saudi satellites, to be affiliated to the Saudi Space Studies Institute, were put into orbit at 650kms. The mission was previously scheduled to take place last August but was postponed due to technical problem in the rocket's engine. |
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