Posted: Fri, Sep 9, 2005, 8:37 AM ET (1237 GMT)
A Proton rocket launched a Canadian communications satellite early Friday. The Proton M lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 5:53 pm EDT Thursday (2253 GMT Thursday, 3:53 am local time Friday) carrying the Anik F1R satellite. The satellite separated from the rocket's upper stage nine hours later after entering a geosynchronous transfer orbit. Anik F1R is a Eurostar E3000 model built by EADS Astrium, weighing about 4,500 kilograms. To be located at 107.3 degrees east, the satellite will provide various communications services over North America for its owner, Telesat Canada, using 32 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders. The launch is the third commercial Proton flight of 2005.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  RIA Novosti article
•  AFP article
•  ILS press release