Russian-Ukrainian rocket sends U.S. satellite into orbit

MOSCOW, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A Russian-Ukrainian carrier rocket on Wednesday sent a U.S. telecommunication satellite into orbit from a floating launch pad in the Pacific Ocean, the control center said.

The Zenit-3SLB rocket boosted off at 1:43 p.m. Moscow time (0943 GMT) under an international Sea Launch program.

The satellite has separated from the booster and entered orbit, Interfax news agency reported, citing sources of the control center near Moscow.

This was the third successful launch under the Sea Launch program in 2008.

The first and second stages of the rocket are designed and produced by Ukraine and the upper stage by a Russian company, the Energia space rocket corporation.