* Astronomy

The classified Kosmos 2420, which was probably a Yantar, or Kobalt-class spy satellite, was launched aboard a Soyuz-U rocket that lifted off from the Plesetsk unmanned mission launch site in northern Russia, according to Space Forces spokesman Alexei Kuznetsov.

Kuznetsov said the launch was successful and there were no apparent problems, but that the position where the satellite was to enter orbit was outside the zone where it could be monitored by Russian tracking facilities.
The spacecraft successfully separated from the rocket's third stage less than ten minutes after lift-off, and was placed into an orbit with a high point of about 210 miles, a low point of 105 miles, and with an inclination of about 67 degrees.

Russia has 94 satellites in orbit, including more than 50 military satellites, but only about 10 of those are still operational.
Kosmos 2420 was the first military craft to be launched by Russia this year, and the first space launch from Plesetsk since December.

The liquid-fuel three-stage Soyuz carrier rocket has lifted-off on schedule from pad 16 at the Plesetsk cosmodrome.

"Запуск произведен в 21.38 мск в интересах министерства обороны РФ боевыми расчетами Космических войск со второй пусковой установки космодрома Плесецк" - сказал собеседник агентства.