DHAKA: Russia on Sunday successfully launched a Proton-M rocket carrying a satellite into orbit in the first such launch since one of the rockets fell back to Earth soon after liftoff in May.

The Proton-M rocket lifted off on schedule from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12.23 am Moscow time (2023 GMT Saturday), carrying a Russian communications satellite.

Russia’s space agency said in a statement, reports The Straits Times.

‘At 09.26 Moscow time (0526 GMT), the satellite separated from the Briz-M upper-stage rocket and reached the set orbit,’ Roscosmos said.

Russia had suspended launches of Proton-M rockets after one carrying one of the country’s most advanced communications satellites failed less than 10 minutes after liftoff on May 16 and burnt up in the upper layers of the atmosphere.

BDST: 1643 HRS, SEP 28, 2014