The rocket, which is a prototype of the new light carrier rocket Dnepr, should launch five small foreign satellites into orbit, the press service said.

Two of these satellites belong to Italy. The Megsat satellite, with a mass of 56 kilograms will be used for environmental monitoring and is also fitted with receiving-transmission equipment to broadcast information commercially. The second satellite - Unisat, with a mass of 10 kilograms - belongs to Rome University and will perform educational and scientific tasks.

Two 10-kilogram satellites - Saudisat 1A and 1B - are being launched for the Saudi Arabian Commercial Research Institute and will perform educational and scientific tasks.

The Russian rocket is also carrying a fifth Tiungsat satellite, belonging to the Malaysian state company and will be used for remote zoning.

This satellite has a mass of 52 kilograms. This is a space debut for Saudi Arabia and Malaysia as these countries are launching their first satellites.

The press service noted that the planned launch of the RS-20 rocket under the Dnepr program would be the third such launch in the past three years.

The launch is being carried out not only for commercial reasons, to launch foreign satellites, but also as a test launch for the inter- continental rocket, to extend its life span by a year. This task is the main one for the military crews at the space stations, the press release said.

The Russian government signed a resolution to set up the Dnepr space rocket complex based on the RS-20 military rocket in October 1998. In addition to the rockets, this will include silo launch complex, with so- called mortar launches. The launch complex, along with the rocket, was adapted somewhat for the satellite launch.

According to the press service, the RS-20 rocket will be called Dnepr after testing and certification is completed.