Posted: Mon, Jun 10, 2002, 9:06 AM ET (1306 GMT)
A Proton booster launched a Russian communications satellite late Sunday. The Proton lifted off from Baikonur at 9:14 pm EDT Sunday (0114 GMT Monday) and placed the Express-A1R communications satellite into orbit. The spacecraft will provide television and radio broadcasting as well as other communications services from its position at 40 degrees east longitude. It is a replacement for Express-A1, which was lost in a Proton launch failure in October 1999. The launch is the third Proton mission of the year, after two commercial launches in March and May arranged by International Launch Services.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now article
•  AFP article
•  RIA Novosti article