• Forum
• SITREP
• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security

• Space

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Public Eye

Proton-M rocket with Canadian commsat launched from Baikonur

RIA Novosti

10/12/2008 18:16 MOSCOW, December 10 (RIA Novosti) - A Proton-M carrier rocket with a Ciel 2 Canadian telecommunications satellite on board was launched on Wednesday from the Baikonur space center Russia leases from Kazakhstan.

"The estimated time for the Ciel 2 going into orbit is 01:55 Moscow time Thursday," a spokesman for the Khrunichev space center, which develops and produces Proton and Angara carrier rockets, said.

The Ciel 2 has been produced by Thales Alenia Space (France) on an order from Ciel Satellite Group - a new Canadian satellite communications operator.

International Launch Services Inc. signed a contract to launch the Ciel 2 using a Proton-M carrier rocket. ILS's controlling stake is owned by the Khrunichev center.