File image of a Proton rocket launch. Photo: ILS

A Russian Proton rocket soared into Earth orbit today carrying a military communications satellite.

Launch of the heavy-lift, Khrunichev-built booster occurred at 2008 GMT (4:08 p.m. EDT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Deployment of the satellite from the rocket's upper stage took place after a 6 1/2-hour flight.

Lofted was the Globus-1 spacecraft for the Russian Ministry of Defence, also known as Kosmos 2372.

Details of the Globus-1 program are sketchy given its classified nature. But what is known is the craft will orbit 22,300 miles above the equator in geostationary orbit as a communications relay link for Russian military forces. Russian news agency Itar-Tass said the craft was built by the Reshetnikov company.

This was the ninth Proton flight of 2000 and the first in nearly six weeks following the successful launch of the Zvezda service module to the international space station.

The next Proton launch is scheduled for September 5 at 0943 GMT (5:43 a.m. EDT) with the second Sirius Satellite Radio broadcasting spacecraft. The commercial mission is managed by International Launch Services.