Article Posted on : - Feb 15, 2012

The Russian Proton-M rocket carrying the SES-4 (NSS-14) satellite blasted off at 1936 GMT. Photo: Roscosmos.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia Tuesday successfully launched a Dutch telecommunication satellite SES-4 (NSS-14) from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan.

The Russian Proton-M rocket carrying the satellite blasted off at 1936 GMT, according to a report by Roscosmos.

After a 9-hour, 12-minute mission, the Breeze M upper stage of the Proton rocket successfully released the SES-4 satellite directly into geostationary transfer orbit.

The launch of the Dutch satellite was initially scheduled for Dec. 26 last year, but had been postponed twice due to technical reasons.

SES-4 is the 50th satellite in the global SES fleet and also the largest, most powerful SES satellite to date. It will replace the NSS-7 satellite at 338 degrees East longitude and provide replacement as well as incremental capacity at this well established SES orbital slot over the Atlantic Ocean.

The satellite will be used for mobile telephony and the distribution of television services in Europe, Africa and North and South America.

The NSS-14 is owned by SES New Skies Satellites of The Hague.