Launch of the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket with three small satellites (File photo: Xinhua)

MOSCOW, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- Russia launched Rokot light-class carrier rocket from the Plesetsk space center and successfully put three military satellites into orbit early Friday, the Russian defense ministry said.

The light-class carrier rocket lifted off from the state cosmodrome Plesetsk in Arkhangelsk Region at 5:27 a.m. Moscow time (0227 GMT), the ministry said in a statement.

The launch on Friday is the second Rokot launch from Plesetsk this year, after a previous one in April.

Rokot is a three-stage liquid propellant launch vehicle, typically offered for launches into low earth orbit.