spacetoday.net: Proton launches Sirius satellite

Posted: Sat, Oct 26, 2013, 7:33 AM ET (1133 GMT)
Proton M launch of Sirius FM-6 (ILS)

A Proton rocket successfully launched early Saturday a new radio broadcasting satellite for a US company. The Proton M rocket carrying the Sirius FM-6 satellite lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 2:09 pm EDT Friday (1809 GMT Friday, 12:09 am local time Saturday). The rocket's Breeze M upper stage released the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit nine hours and 11 minutes later. The launch had been delayed from Sunday because of problems with the satellite's ground control network not related to the satellite or launch vehicle themselves. Sirius FM-6, a Space Systems Loral 1300-series spacecraft, weighed 6,000 kilograms at launch. It will be used by Sirius XM Radio to supplement its existing fleet of geosynchronous orbit satellites that broadcast radio programming for North American customers.