Proton returns to flight, launches Mexican satellite
Posted: Wed, Mar 27, 2013, 7:26 AM ET (1126 GMT)
The Proton rocket returned to flight early Wednesday with the successful launch of a Mexican satellite. The Proton M lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 3:07 pm EDT Tuesday (1907 GMT Tuesday, 1:07 am local time Wednesday) carrying the Satmex 8 satellite. The rocket's Breeze M upper stage released the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit nine hours and 13 minutes after liftoff. Satmex 8, a Space Systems/Loral 1300 model spacecraft, weighed 5,474 kilograms at launch and carries a payload of 24 C-band and 40 Ku-band transponders. Mexican satellite operator Satmex will use the spacecraft at 116.8 degrees west in GEO, replacing the existing Satmex 5 satellite. The launch was the first for the Proton since a December mission that placed a communications satellite into a lower-than-planned orbit when the upper stage shut down prematurely.
The Proton rocket returned to flight early Wednesday with the successful launch of a Mexican satellite. The Proton M lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 3:07 pm EDT Tuesday (1907 GMT Tuesday, 1:07 am local time Wednesday) carrying the Satmex 8 satellite. The rocket's Breeze M upper stage released the satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit nine hours and 13 minutes after liftoff. Satmex 8, a Space Systems/Loral 1300 model spacecraft, weighed 5,474 kilograms at launch and carries a payload of 24 C-band and 40 Ku-band transponders. Mexican satellite operator Satmex will use the spacecraft at 116.8 degrees west in GEO, replacing the existing Satmex 5 satellite. The launch was the first for the Proton since a December mission that placed a communications satellite into a lower-than-planned orbit when the upper stage shut down prematurely.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Friday, February 20
Firefly Alpha to resume flights as soon as Feb. 27
Austin (TX) American-Statesman — 6:18 am ET (1118 GMT) UK-backed space weather mission sets sail for launch site
UK Space Agency — 6:17 am ET (1117 GMT) How we protected the UK and space in January 2026
UK Space Agency — 6:14 am ET (1114 GMT) Ex-ULA Boss To Tackle ‘Urgent’ Space Security Needs At Blue Origin
Aviation Week — 6:12 am ET (1112 GMT) SpaceX and Blue Origin abruptly shift priorities amid US Golden Dome push
Defense News — 6:10 am ET (1110 GMT) |
