CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A Russian Cosmos-3M rocket has launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome carrying a trio of space science satellites.
Liftoff came just after 8 a.m. EDT (1200 GMT) from the northern Russian launch site that historically is more well known as a site for military launches, but lately has hosted an increasing number of commercial missions.
In many ways the relationship - historically and operationally - between the Plesetsk Cosmodrome and the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakstan parallels the relationship between Vandenberg Air Force Base in California and Cape Canaveral's launch pads in Florida.
If all goes well the rocket will deliver its satellite cargo into orbit some 32 minutes after liftoff.
The spacecraft include:
- A German satellite known as CHAMP, short for German Challenging Minisatellite Payload, that is to fly a five-year mission studying planet Earth's gravity, magnetic field and upper atmosphere while testing new experiment methods and hardware.
- An experimental Italian science satellite known as MITA, which is short for Microsatellite Italiano di Technologia Avanzata.
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