Proton sends broadcasting satellite to space for Intelsat

A Proton rocket blasted off in frigid subzero weather late Thursday and successfully delivered a direct broadcasting satellite into orbit for Latin America more than nine hours later. Enduring temperatures of -18 degrees Fahrenheit, the 184-foot-tall Proton rocket lifted off at 0039 GMT Friday (7:39 p.m. EST Thursday) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. After surpassing the speed of sound, the Proton released its spent first stage two minutes into flight as the launcher reached the upper atmosphere. The Proton's second and third stages put the vehicle's Breeze M upper stage and the Intelsat 16 satellite into a ballistic trajectory less than 10 minutes after liftoff. More

(Source: Space Flight Now - Feb 12)