Proton launches communications satellite
Posted: Sun, Nov 18, 2007, 9:54 AM ET (1454 GMT)
A Proton rocket successfully launched a European communications satellite early Sunday in the Proton's first commercial flight since a September launch failure. The Proton M lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 5:39 pm EST Saturday (2239 GMT Saturday, 4:39 am Sunday local time) and released its payload, Sirius 4, into a geosynchronous transfer orbit a little over nine hours later. The spacecraft, a Lockheed Martin A2100AX model, weighed 4,385 kilograms and carries 52 Ku-band and 2 Ka-band transponders. The satellite, to be located at 5 degrees east in GEO, will be used by SES Sirius, a Swedish satellite operator majority-owned by SES Astra, will provide broadcast and broadband services across Europe. The launch was the first commercial Proton launch since the September launch of JCSAT 11, which ended in failure when the Proton's second stage failed to separate from the first stage. The Proton carried out a Russian government launch last month.
A Proton rocket successfully launched a European communications satellite early Sunday in the Proton's first commercial flight since a September launch failure. The Proton M lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 5:39 pm EST Saturday (2239 GMT Saturday, 4:39 am Sunday local time) and released its payload, Sirius 4, into a geosynchronous transfer orbit a little over nine hours later. The spacecraft, a Lockheed Martin A2100AX model, weighed 4,385 kilograms and carries 52 Ku-band and 2 Ka-band transponders. The satellite, to be located at 5 degrees east in GEO, will be used by SES Sirius, a Swedish satellite operator majority-owned by SES Astra, will provide broadcast and broadband services across Europe. The launch was the first commercial Proton launch since the September launch of JCSAT 11, which ended in failure when the Proton's second stage failed to separate from the first stage. The Proton carried out a Russian government launch last month.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Blue Origin announces new upper stage and engine for New Glenn
Posted: Sat, Nov 7 12:07 PM ET (1707 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, November 9
NASA Updates Moon Base Plan Spanning Rover to Rides
Aviation Week — 4:49 am ET (0949 GMT) Korea to spur private launchers and LEO network in SpaceX-style push
Chosun Ilbo — 4:44 am ET (0944 GMT) As SpaceX gets cheaper, are India’s rockets taking different flight paths?
livemint — 4:44 am ET (0944 GMT) SpaceX Falcon 9 launch planned for Monday evening out of Vandenberg SFB
KSBY-TV San Luis Obispo, CA — 4:43 am ET (0943 GMT) Will China’s slow and steady moon landing plan be a safer bet than the US’?
South China Morning Post — 4:43 am ET (0943 GMT) |
