Launch of U.S. telecommunication craft JE 12 from Baikonur set for May 20

Launch of the American JE 12 telecommunication spacecraft from the Russian-rented Baikonur cosmodrome is set for 02:15, Moscow time, on May 20, the RIA Novosti correspondent cites the Russian Space Troops news service as saying on Thursday.

The launch will be done by the Russian carrier rocket Proton-K /blast-off first fixed for April 29/ from Baikonur's launching site No. 39 jointly by crews from Rosaviakosmos /the Russian Airspace Agency/ and the Space Troops. The putting of the American craft into the set orbit will be done by the Russian acceleration unit Briz-M.

The Briz-M unit has already been fuelled on Baikonur.

In 2003 Baikonur will send into space another at least 8 heavy Proton carrier rockets with different-purpose craft, said the Russian Space Troops news service.