Proton Carrier Rocket With U.S. Satcom Wind Up Pre-launch Preparations

Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome is completing pre-launch preparations of a Russian heavy rocket Proton, which will carry the American communications satellite Panamsat. On Thursday the Russian Aerospace Agency /the Rosaviakosmos/ has reported that the rocket, tipped with the American satcom, will be brought to the cosmodrome's launch pad on Saturday. This commercial blast-off is planned for May 15. In May another two start-offs will be made from Russian launch sites, said Rosaviakosmos. On May 20 a Progress cargo spaceship will start off from Baikonur to the International Space Station for further fitting it out with equipment. On May 29 the Russian Defense Ministry will launch a military satellite Kosmos from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in Northern Russia.