Russia Proton-M Carrier Rocket to Deliver Mexican Satellite to Orbit

According to Russian Space Agency, launch of Mexico’s MexSat-1 communications satellite on a Russian Proton-M carrier rocket from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan is scheduled for May 16.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The launch of Mexico’s MexSat-1 communications satellite on a Russian Proton-M carrier rocket from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan is scheduled for May 16, a Russian Space Agency source told RIA Novosti on Friday.

“The launch of the Proton-M is scheduled for May 16 at 8:48 a.m. Moscow time [05:48 GMT],” the Roscosmos source said.

The 5.4-ton MexSat-1 satellite provides communication services for Mexico and parts of South America.

The launch of the Proton-M carrier rocket was initially scheduled for April 29, before being postponed at the request of the manufacturer, as the Boeing corporation needed more time to check on-board equipment.

The launch of the MexSat-2 satellite is set to be carried out by the US Atlas V rocket from the NASA space center at Cape Canaveral.

The MexSat communications system will comprise three satellites and two ground control centers to provide both secure government communications and civilian services.

Last month, Mexican ambassador to Russia Ruben Beltran said that Mexico looked to develop its relations with Moscow in joint space programs, including cooperation on Russia's GLONASS satellite navigation system.