Key Inmarsat rocket flight under way

A rocket has launched from Kazakhstan carrying a hugely important spacecraft for London-based Inmarsat. The new satellite is needed to complete the roll-out of the company's £1bn ($1.6bn), next-generation, global telecommunications network. The Proton rocket lifted away from the Baikonur spaceport at 17:44 local time (12:44 BST). Separation of the satellite in orbit is expected early on Saturday. The new network, known as Global Xpress, will enable Inmarsat to offer its customers substantially faster connections at a lower cost. Having the third spacecraft in orbit means those customers can have coverage right around the world. Rupert Pearce, Inmarsat's CEO, told BBC News: "We launched our first satellite over Europe, the Middle East and Africa about a year ago; our Americas satellite comes into operation in about a week; and this third satellite, which will go operational by the end of the year, completes a global seamless network." More

(Source: BBC News - Aug 29)