Posted: Mon, May 23, 2005, 8:03 AM ET (1203 GMT)
A Russian Proton booster successfully launched a new broadcasting satellite for DirecTV late Sunday. The Proton M lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:59 pm EDT (1759 GMT, 11:59 pm local time) Sunday. The rocket's payload, the DirecTV 8 satellite, separated from the Briz M upper stage nine hours and 15 minutes later, after entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit. DurecTV 8 will be used by satellite TV broadcaster DirecTV to augment its existing system of direct-to-home broadcasting satellites from a location at 101 degrees west longitude. The launch was delayed 24 hours because of an unspecified technical issue with the Proton.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now launch status center
•  RIA Novosti article
•  AFP article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  ILS press release