MOSCOW, June 28 (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, a spokesman for the Strategic Missile Forces said Thursday.
"The launch with the RS-20B was successful," Col. Alexander Vovk said. "Genesis-2 has been placed into orbit at an altitude of 566 kilometers (352 miles). This is a civilian satellite."
The launch of the satellite was conducted with the help of a modified version of the NATO-codenamed Satan missile, also known as the Dnepr carrier rocket, which is equipped with a third stage carrying a spacecraft instead of a warhead.
Russia has launched over 30 commercial satellites under the Dnepr commercial 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.
