BEIJING, May 23-- A Russian Proton-M rocket carrying the US DIRECTV 8 telecommunications satellite has been launched from the Russia's Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan. Reports said the launch was postponed for one day for technical reasons.

The US telecommunications satellite was manufactured by the US company SS Loral on the basis of its proven 1300 satellite platform. Its loaded weight is 3,710 kilos, and its designated service life is 15 years.

DIRECTV is a major satellite television operator in the United States, which is owned by News Corporation.

The Proton-M rocket and Briz-M booster unit are manufactured bythe Khrunichev space research and production center.

The Proton is the key heavy-class rocket for the Russian federal space program and is actively used by the Defense Ministry and for commercial satellite launches.

(Source: CRIENGLISH.com)