Article Posted on : - Dec 01, 2009

Intelsat-15 satellite.

BAIKONUR (BNS): After delaying the launch by 24-hours, Russia has successfully put into orbit US telecommunications satellite Intelsat-15, the federal space agency Roscosmos said.

The Zenit-3SLB carrier rocket blasted off from the space center here in Kazakhstan at 24:00 Moscow time (0000 GMT) on Monday. The separation is to occur at 6:28 Moscow time, the space agency said.

Earlier, Roscosmos had put off the launch on Sunday midnight citing technical reasons.

Intelsat-15 has been developed by US-based Orbital Sciences Corporation. Equipped with 22 Ku-band transponders, it will provide telecommunications services in the Middle East and Russia.

The 2.48 tons has a service life of at least 15 years. It will replace the Intelsat-709 satellite after being operational.