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
|
|
FAA restricts hours for commercial launches during shutdown
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT) China postpones Shenzhou-20 return on orbital debris concerns
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:58 AM ET (1358 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, November 24
Amazon starts letting businesses test rebranded Leo satellite service as it plays catch-up to Musk’s Starlink
CNBC — 12:15 am ET (0515 GMT) Starlink's direct-to-cell service launches in Ukraine in European first
Reuters — 12:14 am ET (0514 GMT) Amazon’s Starlink competitor is launching with ‘world’s fastest satellite internet antenna’
The Verge — 12:14 am ET (0514 GMT) China exploring how to block Musk’s Starlink in Taiwan
The Daily Telegraph — 12:13 am ET (0513 GMT) China would need 1,000 jammers to block Starlink over Taiwan
The Times of London — 12:13 am ET (0513 GMT) |
