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Russian Proton rocket delivers U.S. telecoms satellite into orbit

RIA Novosti

29/12/200914:44

MOSCOW, December 29 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian Proton-M carrier rocket has delivered into orbit the U.S. telecommunications satellite DirecTV-12, the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos said.

This was Russia's last launch this year from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan.

"The launch was carried out without incidents," a Roscosmos spokesman said.

The DirecTV satellite operator had a contract with Russian-U.S. joint venture International Launch Services (ILS) to launch the DirecTV-12 on board a Proton-M carrier rocket to expand its existing satellite grouping.

The Boeing-made DirecTV-12 satellite, weighing around 6 metric tons, will become part of DirecTV satellite grouping and provide high-definition TV, Internet and communications services to subscribers in the United States, in particular for Alaska and Hawaii.

All Proton rockets are made by Russia's Khrunichev Space and Research Center.