Russia prepares for launch of Proton-M carrier rocket with Dutch satellite
11:36, 26 December 2011
MOSCOW. December 26. KAZINFORM Russia prepares to launch on Monday a Proton-M carrier rocket with a Dutch telecommunications satellite, SES-4, a spokesman for the Khrunichev State Research and Production Center said; Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
He said the launch is scheduled for 22:41 Moscow time (18:41 GMT) from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan.
"This will be the 70th commercial launch of a Proton carrier rocket since 1995," the spokesman said adding that it will be also the 10th launch of this type of carrier rockets this year.
The SES-4 will be the largest and most powerful in the group of SES satellites, built by U.S. company Space Systems/Loral for the Dutch operator Ses World Skies.
It was designed to provide various satellite services to customers in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Latin America. Equipped with 52 C-band and 72 Ku-band transponders, the satellite has a life span of 15 years; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.
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