Russia launched American satellites into orbit

Russia yesterday launched a rocket from the space center in Kazakhstan, bringing the US telecommunications satellite into orbit.

Alexander Borbrenyov, press secretary of the Khrunichev National Space Research and Production Center, said the rocket of Russian proton-M carrying Sirius FM5 satellite had left Earth around 23h10 on June 30 (now Moscow) from Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan.

Earlier, an official of Roscosmos (Russian federal space agency) said the satellite would be separated from the rocket about 9 hours later.

The first launch was scheduled on Monday, but had to be postponed for a day due to some problems when refueling last Wednesday.

Sirius FM5 satellites are designed by Space Systems / Loral Company and designed by Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. owned. Satellite will operate in orbit for 15 years. This massive 5.840kg satellite has twice the energy of any satellite existing in orbit. It will help broadcast to regions including the US, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

The launch of Sirius FM5 satellite is the fifth launch of Proton-M rocket this year. Satellite produced by Khrunichev center, consisting of three floors, uses liquid propellants, and has a takeoff weight of about 700 tons.