MOSCOW, December 26. /ITAR-TASS/. The Proton-M space rocket with the acceleration unit Briz-M and the Express-AM5 spacecraft was launched from Baikonur spaceport on Thursday, an official in the press service of Roscosmos (Federal Space Agency) told Itar-Tass.

"The launch was successfully carried out at 14:50 Moscow time (10:50 GMT), from Baikonur's Launch Pad 81," the press service official said.

The Express-AM5 satellite is designed to beam digital television and radio broadcasts onto the territory of Russia, to accomplish mobile presidential and government communication tasks, and provide a package of multiple-system services, as well as establish communications networks based on VSAT technology.

The spacecraft was developed at the OAO (public joint-stock company) "Information Satellite Systems" named after M.F. Reshetnikov. The Express-AM5 carries transponders of C-, Ku-, Ka-, and L- wavebands. The warranty term for an active operation of the satellite will be 15 years.

The carrier rocket Proton-M is an upgrade version of the Proton-K rocket. It is notable for improved mass-energy, operating and environmental characteristics. The first launch of a Proton-M with Briz-M acceleration unit was made on April 7, 2001.