Posted: Mon, May 14, 2007, 8:59 AM ET (1259 GMT)
China launched a communications satellite it built for Nigeria early Monday. A Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 12:01 pm EDT Sunday (1601 GMT Sunday, 12:01 am Monday Beijing time) and placed the Nigcomsat-1 spacecraft into geosynchronous transfer orbit. The spacecraft, to be located at 42 degrees east in GEO, will be used by the Nigerian government to provide telecommunications services for its citizens and those in neighboring countries. The satellite was built and launched by China in a package deal with $311 million that also includes the construction of two ground stations and training for Nigerian personnel to operate the spacecraft.

Related Links:

•  Xinhua article
•  Washington Post article
•  AP article
•  BBC article
•  NASA SpaceFlight.com article