Russian rocket carrying U.S. communications satellite launched from Baikonur

A Russian rocket with U.S. communications satellite on board has been launched from Baikonur.

"The rocket Proton-M with a Briz-M booster and the EchoStar 15 satellite was launched from the 200the launch pad at Baikonur. " Interfax quotes the press service of the Space Center Khrunichev, Alexander Bobrenev.

The EchoStar 15 will reach its target orbit with the help of five more booster stages. Satellite separation is scheduled for 07:53 (Moscow time) on July 11th,   9 hours 13 minutes after launch.

The EchoStar 15 telecommunications satellite is designed for the American television company DISH Network, which serves 14 million TV viewers in the U.S.