Live coverage: Ariane 5 rocket deploys satellites for Australia, India

A Russian military communications satellite rode a Soyuz rocket and Fregat upper stage Thursday into an orbit stretching nearly 25,000 miles (40,000 kilometers) above Earth, successfully launching after a one-month delay to replace a suspect third stage on the Soyuz booster.

A Chinese rocket carried the first communications satellite for Belarus into orbit Friday, recording a success in the first space launch this year.

A government-owned communications satellite heading for geostationary orbit 22,300 miles above Earth is set for launch Thursday to on a nine-year mission to to support the Indian military.