Russia launches Proton rocket with telecommunications satellite

MOSCOW (AFP) Apr 27, 2004
A Russian Proton-K rocket early Tuesday placed a telecommunications satellite it was carrying into orbit, after blasting off from the Baikonur space base in Kazakhstan, the Russian news agencies quoted a spokesman for Russia's space forces as saying.

The Express-AM11 satellite was placed into orbit at 07:10 am Moscow time (0310 GMT), the spokesman added. The Proton-K rocket had taken off from Baikonur earlier Tuesday at 00:37 am Moscow time (2037 GMT Monday).

The Express-AM11 telecommunications satellite, which was built by Russian company Reshetnev and French company Alacatel Space, has a planned life expectancy of 12 years.

Express-AM11 will carry links for digital television, telephone and broadband Internet access, and will cover Russia and the former Soviet Union, as well as territories ranging from East Africa to Southeast Asia and Australia.

SPACE.WIRE