A Molniya M rocket was launched from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Russia Monday night carrying a classified satellite payload into orbit for the military.

Russian news reports called the launch successful, deploying the Kosmos craft into space following the 2207 GMT (5:07 p.m. EST) liftoff.

The mission had been scheduled for late March, but was delayed a few days for unspecified reasons.

It marked the 17th space launch of 2002. At this point in 2001, only 12 launches had occurred.