Russia prepares for launch of Proton-M carrier rocket with Dutch satellite

Russia prepares to launch on Monday a Proton-M carrier rocket with a Dutch telecommunications satellite, SES-4, a spokesman for the Khrunichev State Research and Production Center said.

He said the launch is scheduled for 22:41 Moscow time (18:41 GMT) from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.

“This will be the 70th commercial launch of a Proton carrier rocket since 1995,” the spokesman said adding that it will be also the 10th launch of this type of carrier rockets this year.

The SES-4 will be the largest and most powerful in the group of SES satellites, built by U.S. company Space Systems/Loral for the Dutch operator Ses World Skies.

It was designed to provide various satellite services to customers in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America. Equipped with 52 C-band and 72 Ku-band transponders, the satellite has a life span of 15 years.


Source: Moscow, 26 December  2011 - RIA Novosti News (www.en.rian.ru)

Photo: Russia prepares for launch of Proton-M carrier rocket with Dutch satellite  (Photo by © RIA Novosti. Oleg Urusov)

(26.12.2011)