Russia launches U.S. communications satellite

MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Russia launched a Zenit carrier rocket carrying a U.S. telecommunications satellite from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan early Tuesday.

The Zenit-3SLB carrier rocket with the Intelsat-15 spacecraft atop blasted off at around 00:00 Moscow time (2100 GMT Monday), said Russia's Federal Space Agency.

Approximately six hours and 28 minutes later, the satellite will take the position at 85 degrees East in the geostationary orbit.

The 2.55-ton satellite, developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation, will replace the Intelsat-709 satellite and provide telecommunications services for customers in the Middle East and Russia.

Equipped with 22 Ku-band transponders, the satellite has a designed service life for 15 years.