Proton-M takes Amazonas to intermediate orbit

The Russian Proton-M rocket brought the European communication satellite Amazonas to the base intermediate orbit at 2:41 a.m. Moscow time, reports the Federal Space Agency.

The satellite is being taken to the target orbit by the Briz-M booster and is to reach it by 11:43 a.m. Moscow time. Proton-M was launched from the Baikonur spaceport at 2:32 a.m. Moscow time.

The Proton-M and Briz-M were designed and produced at the Khrunichev State Space Centre.

Alexander Bobrenev, the official spokesman of the Centre, told RIA that Amazonas was created by EADS Astrium for Hispasat on the basis of Eurostar 3000 and is one of the most powerful spacecraft designed for digital television and radio broadcasting, telephone communications, and broadband Internet access.

Amazonas weighs 4,540 kg and is to service South America and a part of Western Europe, in particular Spain, Portugal and France.

The modernised Proton-M rocket, which carried the satellite into space, has improved exploitation and environmental characteristics.