Posted: Sun, Aug 14, 2005, 10:40 AM ET (1440 GMT)
A Soyuz rocket successfully launched an American communications satellite Saturday after a one-day delay. The Soyuz-Fregat lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 7:28 pm EDT (2328 GMT) Saturday and placed the Galaxy 14 satellite into geosynchronous transfer orbit 97 minutes later. The launch was scheduled for Friday but was scrubbed in the final minute of the countdown when a telemetry problem occurred. Galaxy 14, a 2,000-kilogram satellite with 24 C-band transponders built by Orbital Sciences Corporation, will be used by PanAmSat at 125 degrees west to provide video programming. The satellite was originally planned for launch on an Ariane 5, but was moved to Soyuz to better meet PanAmSat's schedule.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  AFP article
•  RIA Novosti article
•  Itar-Tass article
•  Arianespace press release