Belarus announces satellite success

Authorities in Belarus say the county's first satellite, launched on a Russian rocket with four other satellites, has successfully achieved orbit. The satellite, launched by a Russian rocket from the space launch facility in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, together with four other space vehicles belonging to Canada, Germany and Russia, transmitted data to the satellite flight control center based in Minsk, China's Xinhua news agency reported. The remote-sensing satellite, which weighs about 880 pounds and boasts range resolution of about two yards, will be able to provide complete imagery of Belarus' territory, the flight control center said. Xinhua said Belarus tried to launch its own satellite into orbit in 2006 but the attempt failed because of technical problems.