Russian rocket sends German spy satellite into orbit

Russian rocket sent a German reconnaissance satellite into orbit,a military spokesman said Tuesday-the latest good news for Russian efforts to garner a larger share of the lucrative international market for space launches.The German SAR-Lupe-2 satellite went into orbit late Monday night around 30 minutes after the Kosmos-3M rocket blasted off from the Plesetsk launch pad in northern Russia,Space Forces spokesman Alexei Zolotukhin said.A total of five satellites will ultimately comprise the SAR-Lupe system,which will be Germany's first satellite-based reconnaissance system,allowing high-resolution radar images night and day,according to German officials.Russia has been aggressively trying to expand its presence in the international market for commercial and government satellite and space-industry launches,though its efforts have seen several high-profile failures.
Last week,a Russian military satellite and a private U.S.-built spacecraft were successfully sent into orbit aboard Russian rockets.In addition to launch facilities in Plesetsk and Baikonur, Kazakhstan,Russia is working with the European Space Agency to expand a launch pad in French Guiana and increase the payloads Russian rockets will be able to carry.
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As in the days of Noah...