The Russian military space program has a new communications satellite on its way into orbit over Earth after launching from Kazakhstan atop a Proton rocket on Monday.

The workhorse Russian booster lifted off on a classified mission from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 4:08 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (2008 GMT), marking the ninth launch of this type of rocket so far this year.

About nine minutes after blastoff the satellite and its Block D upper stage reached an initial parking orbit, and then the Block D's upper stage engine was fired to boost its payload toward the final orbit 22,300 miles (36,000 kilometers) above the equator.

Confirmation that satellite has reached its final orbit isn't expected for several more hours.

According to space officials in Moscow, the secret military cargo the Proton was carrying is the Globus 1 ("Globe") satellite, which will provide communications for the Russian Ministry of Defense.