Russia sends record 72 satellites into orbit

Russia has sent 72 satellites into orbit around the Earth in a national record on Friday, state media reported.

The satellites included several for U.S., German, Japanese, Norwegian and Canadian operators, Russian space agency Roscosmos said in a statement.

The satellites were carried into space by a Russian-designed Soyuz-2.1a rocket that launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, which Russia leases, in the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan.

The all-time record number of satellites sent into orbit during a single rocket launch was achieved by India in February, with 104. (dpa/NAN)