Russia launches Mexican satellite from Kazakhstan

Russia launched a rocket carrying a Mexican telecommunications satellite from Kazakhstan's Baikonur space center on Tuesday, according to Russia's RIA Novosti, which cited the Russian Federal Space Agency Roscosmos.

China Radio International said the take-off took place around 11 p.m., Moscow time and the Satmex-8 communications satellite is due to separate from Russia's Proton-M rocket and enter orbit early Wednesday. 

Russia tried to launch the Mexican satellite in December, but failed due to problems with the booster, said RIA Novosti. 

But now, they're "back in action with Proton-M launch of Satmex 8," NASA's Spaceflight observed on Tuesday. Russia is leasing the Kazakh Cosmodrome. 

The new Mexican satellite is supposed to replace older satellite technology relaying broadband, voice and data transmission, as well as video broadcasting to North and South America, said CRI.