(RIA Novosti) - Russia has conducted a launch of an RS-20 Voyevoda (SS-18 Satan) intercontinental ballistic missile from a silo in the Urals to launch a U.S.
civilian satellite into orbit, the press service of the Strategic Missile Forces said Wednesday. "The launch has been conducted to put a U.S. Genesis satellite into orbit, and to test technical characteristics of the missile," the press service said in a statement, reports Trend.
The document said that the modified version of the Satan missile, also known as the Dnepr carrier rocket, is equipped with a third stage carrying a spacecraft instead of a warhead.
It is the six launch of a modified ballistic missile for civilian purposes under the Dnepr commercial program. Russia has launched 23 commercial satellites under the program in line with contracts concluded with a number of government agencies and private companies from Russia, Belarus, France, Japan, the U.K., Saudi Arabia, the U.S., Germany, Italy and Malaysia.