U.S. telecom satellite brought to Baikonur for October launch

MOSCOW. Sept 15 (Interfax-AVN) - The U.S. telecom satellite ViaSat-1 has been brought to the Baikonur spaceport for launching in mid-October, says a report posted on the Khrunichev Aerospace Center's website on Thursday.

"A transport jet carrying the satellite and ground-based technological equipment landed at the Yubileiny airport of the spaceport at 10:40 a.m. Moscow time today," he said.

Space Systems/Loral manufactured the satellite to the order of the ViaSat satellite communications operator.

The six-ton satellite will be put to orbit with a Proton-M rocket and a Briz-M booster. Unofficial reports say the launch is due on October 18.

The satellite will provide broadband, high-speed transmission of data in the Ka range to clients in North America.