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Two Russian telecom satellites put on pre-calculated orbit

MOSCOW, March 16, 13:04 /ITAR-TASS/. A telecommunications satellite Express-AT2 created on the order from Russian space communications operator was put at 12.28pm Moscow time on pre-calculated orbit successfully on Sunday.

Proton-M carrier rocket with satellites Express-AT1 and Express-AT2 was launched at 3.08am Moscow time from the launching pad number 200 of Baikonur spaceport. Upper stage rocket Briz-M has separated from the booster at 3.17am Moscow time nine minutes after the start and continue to bring the satellites on the orbit.

Satellite Express-AT1 was the first to separate from the booster at 12.10pm Moscow time, telecommunications satellite Express-AT2 has reached its orbit at 12.28pm Moscow time.

Reshetnev Information Satellite Systems jointly with French company Thales Alenia Space has produced geostationary medium-sized telecommunications satellites Express-AT1 and Express-AT2 on the order from enterprise Space Communications within Russia’s federal space programme for 2006-2015. The satellites provide for telecasting in western and eastern Russia in ku-range and replenished the grouping of Express satellites.

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