Proton-M lifts off from Baikonur with telecoms satellite onboard

The launch of the Proton-M rocket fitted with a Breeze-M booster and carrying a ProtoStar-2 telecommunication satellite went ahead at the scheduled time," the agency spokesperson said. This is the fourth Proton launch, which was carried out by International Launch Services Inc, this year. ILS's controlling stake is owned by Russia's Khrunichev center, which develops and produces Proton and Angara carrier rockets. Two satellites have been acquired, and the first satellite, the ProtoStar-1, was launched aboard an Ariane 5 carrier rocket in July last year. The primary control system for ProtoStar-2 was installed in Indonesia and will be operated by Indovision, a local subscription-based direct broadcast satellite service, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.riam.ru for full version.