spacetoday.net: Proton launches Arabsat satellite

Posted: Fri, Jun 4, 2010, 7:37 AM ET (1137 GMT)
Proton launch of BADR-5 (ILS)

A Proton rocket successfully placed into orbit a new communications satellite for Arabsat on Friday. The Proton M lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 6 pm EDT Thursday (2200 GMT Thursday, 4 am local time Friday) and placed the BADR-5 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit a little over nine hours later. The 5,420-kilogram satellite was built by EADS Astrium; its communications payload of 56 Ku-band and 4 Ka-band transponders was supplied by Thales Alenia Space. Arabsat will operate the satellite from 26 degrees east in GEO, co-located with two other satellites in that slot to provide direct-to-home television services to the Middle East and North Africa. The launch was the fourth commercial Proton mission of 2010 and 6th Proton launch overall for the year.