Russia’s Proton-M carrier rocket with the U.S. Telstar-14P communication satellite on board will be launched from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan late on Friday, a spokesman for Russian space agency Roscosmoc said.
“A launch of the Proton-M heavy class carrier rocket with the U.S. Telstar-14P communication satellite is planned for 11.15 p.m. Moscow time (19:15 GMT) on May 20,” the spokesman said.
Telstar 14R is a commercial communication satellite produced by the U.S. Space Systems/Loral company for leading satellite operator Telesat. The satellite will strengthen the signal of the Estrela do Sul (Telstar 14) satellite and then replace it at its 63 degrees West orbital location.
The satellite has 46 active transponders with coverage in Latin America, the United States, the Gulf of Mexico, the northern and southern Caribbean Sea, and the northern and central Atlantic.
The 5-ton satellite is designed to operate for at least 15 years.
Friday’s mission will be the first for Proton-M this year.
MOSCOW, May 20 (RIA Novosti)