In March Russia to make three space launches from Baikonur

In March Russia plans to make three space launches from the Baikonur space center in the south of Kazakhstan, which Moscow is making use of on a long-term lease (until 2049), a spokesman for the Russian Space Troops has said.

On March 15, 2004 a Russian heavy Proton-M carrier rocket with the European W-3 communication satellite will blast off. Two days later, a Russian Zenit-2 carrier rocket will put into orbit the electronic reconnaissance satellite Kosmos-2406.

For March 27 the Russian defense ministry plans a launch of a Proton-K carrier rocket with the Kosmos-2407 satellite.

Overall in 2004, Russia plans to make 20 launches of different carrier rockets.