On Thursday, a Russian-Ukrainian Zenit-2SB carrier rocket with the U.S. Intelsat 18 telecommunications satellite blasted off from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan.

      The rocket and space system Zenith-3SLB consisting of a launch vehicle (LV) Zenit-2SB with the upper stage Block DM-SLB has put the 3.2-ton telecommunications spacecraft Intelsat 18 into its target geotransfer orbit.

      "The launch took place as scheduled. The separation of the spacecraft is scheduled for 7:34 Moscow time," a spokesman for Russia's space agency Roskosmos said. (cited from RIA Novosti).

      The successful launch provided more good news for the country's space industry which is resuming normal service after several recent high-profile failures.

      Earlier the rocket's launch was sheduled on the 5th of October but then was postponed at the instance of Intelsat Ltd. company.

      The Intelsat-18 satellite is equipped with 32 transponders and will provide telecommunications services to customers in East Asia, U.S. West Coast and the Pacific Region. It has an expected life-span of 15 years. Now the spacecraft GEO slot is located at 180 deg. West.

      The Zenit-2is a medium-lift two-stage rocket, which was produced by the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau in Dnepropetrovsk. Intelsat Ltd. is the leading provider of satellite services worldwide. It operates the world's most extensive satellite network, comprising over 50 satellites. 

Sources: Lenta.ru RIA Novosti Spacefellowship Image: Russianspaceweb

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