Russia’s Soyuz rocket blasts off in French Guiana, puts Spanish satellite in space

Russia’s Soyuz-ST-B rocket has put in space Spain’s telecommunication satellite Hispasat 36W-1.
The launch from French Guiana was carried out at 04:03 Moscow time on Saturday (22:03 on Friday local time), said Stephane Israel, the head of the Arianespace company, which services launches from French Guiana.

"We are pleased to announce that the satellite’s separation took place on time," Israel said at the Guiana space center’s mission control in a live telecast.

The Russian rocket put in space the Hispasat 36W-1 satellite of the Spanish satellite communication operator Hispasat. The Fregat-MT booster block provided by the Lavochkin research and industrial association is responsible for putting the satellite into the designated orbit.

The satellite has a mass of 3.2 tonnes - a record payload to have been launched with a Soyuz rocket from the Guiana space center.

The satellite will be transmitting signals to Hispasat subscribers in Spain, Portugal, the Canaries and South America.
[tass.com]
28/1/17