Russia launches navigation satellites

MOSCOW, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Russia launched a Proton-M rocket carrying three Glonass navigation satellites from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan Friday, officials said.

The launch was delayed Thursday due to technical problems, a space agency source told RIA Novosti. A problem with the switching network was detected during a check of the ground-based equipment at the launch pad.

It was the first launch of a Proton-M rocket with Glonass satellites from Baikonur since a failed launch last December that destroyed three satellites

Glonass is a Russian global positioning system designed for both military and civilian use.