A Russian rocket has carried a European communications satellite into space.
The state-run Khrunichev plant that makes Russia's heavy-lift Proton rockets says The Astra 1M lifted off atop a Proton-M rocket from the Baikonur facility in Kazakhstan early Thursday.
It says the launch went well and the satellite separated from the top rocket stage successfully.
The Astra 1M will be part of Luxembourg-based SES-Astra's fleet of satellites providing television and other communications services.
Khrunichev says it was the eighth launch of a Proton-M rocket this year.
