U.S. Satellite Gets Russia Boost
An American communications satellite was given a boost into space by a Russian rocket on Friday. The satellite will relay broadcast signals to the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii.
The EchoStar IV satellite blasted off aboard the Proton-K booster from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the former Soviet republic of Kazakstan.
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A few hours later, the satellite successfully entered its designated orbit.
EchoStar Communications CEO Charlie Ergen said the launch marked a "major milestone" for the company. If all goes as planned, the satellite will give the Colorado-based corporation the ability to deliver broadcast signals in central and western United States by August.
The satellite was built by Lockheed Martin Corp. and launched by International Launch Services, a partnership between Lockheed and the Russian Khrunichev company.