The successful launch of Proton-M rocket carrier with Briz-M upper-stage rocket and NSS-14 communications spacecraft has been performed by specialists of rocket and space industry from the Baikonur cosmodrome’s launch site 200 on February 14th 23.36.37 Moscow time, press-service of Federal Space Agency reports. AEX.ru

The upper stage, including Briz-M upper stage rocket and NSS-14 spacecraft, has separated from the third stage of the rocket carrier at the calculated time. The upper stage rocket has continued placing the satellite into orbit after the separation. All five impulses of the upper stage rocket’s power plant have been performed in regular mode.

In accordance with cyclogram of placing the spacecraft into final orbit, the NSS-14 spacecraft have separated from the upper-stage rocket at 08.48.37 Moscow time on February 15th. The spacecraft has been placed under customer’s control.

The contract on launch of NSS-14 spacecraft using Proton-M rocket carrier has been signed by the global satellite operator SES and International Launch Services Inc. (ILS).

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, which developed Proton rocket carrier and Briz-M upper stage rocket, is the owner of control stake of ILS.

The launch of Proton-M rocket carrier with Briz-M upper-stage rocket and NSS-14 communications spacecraft has become the second launch, performed by Roscosmos in 2012. The launch of Soyuz-U rocket carrier with Progress M-14M cargo spacecraft has been performed on January 26th 2012. It has successfully docked with ISS on January 28th.