A Russia-Ukraine Zenith-3SL rocket launched a telecommunications satellite into space Saturday for the United Arab Emirates, the Russian space company RKK Energuia said. It was launched from a sea platform in the Pacific.
The US-built Thuraya satellite was put into orbit at 0751 GMT, said Itar-Tass news agency citing the space control center near Moscow. The launch had been delayed twice due to technical problems.
The company which carried out the launch — Sea Launch — was set up in 1995. Stakeholders are the US Boeing company with 40 percent, Energuia with 25 percent, the Norwegian company Kvaerner — 20 percent — and the Ukraine companies Iojnoe and Iojmachzavod — 15 percent. — (AFP, Moscow)
© Agence France Presse 2000
