A Russian Proton-M space rocket, carrying a European Astra-2G communications satellite, was successfully launched on Sunday from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan, the press service of Russia’s space agency Roscosmos says.

      "The launch was carried out as planned — at 00.38 Moscow time [21:38 GMT Saturday]," the official representative told the press.

      The Proton-M, built by the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, is the largest carrier rocket in Russia’s fleet of space launch vehicles. Since its first launch in 2001, the rocket has put dozens of Russian and foreign satellites into orbit.

      The Astra 2G is a broadcast, VSAT and broadband services satellite that will provide the ability to connect Africa and Europe at a higher bandwidth.