Russia to launch US satellite

Moscow, March 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A Russian rocket will carry a US telecommunication satellite into space Sunday.

A Proton-M rocket carrying Intelsat-22 will lift off at 4.12 p.m. from Baikonur space centre in Kazakhstan, a spokesman for Russia's Roscosmos space agency said.

The launch is conducted under a contract concluded by International Launch Services Inc. (ILS), owned by the Khrunichev Centre, RSC Energia and US firm Space Transport Inc.

Intelsat-22 is built by Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems for Intelsat Ltd., which operates the world's most extensive satellite network, comprising over 50 satellites.

The satellite is equipped with 48 C-band and 24 Ku-band transponders and will provide telecommunications services to customers in Africa, southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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