Posted: Sat, Oct 30, 2004, 9:30 AM ET (1330 GMT)
A Proton rocket launched a Russian communications satellite early Saturday. The Proton-K booster lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 6:11 pm EDT Friday (2211 GMT Friday, 2:11 am Moscow time Saturday). Its payload, the Express-AM1 spacecraft, separated from the Proton's upper stage about six hours later. The spacecraft carries 9 C-band, 18 Ku-band, and 1 L-band transponders, and will serve customers in eastern Russia, Europe, and portions of north Africa and the Middle East from its position at 40 degrees east longitude. The spacecraft is the third in a series of new communications satellites for the Russian Satellite Communications Company, after Express-AM22, launched in December 2003, and Express-AM11, launched in April 2004.

Related Links:

•  RIA Novosti article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  AFP article