The launch of DirecTV Inc.'s seventh direct-broadcast satellite, rescheduled
from an aborted attempt Monday, occurred Tuesday shortly after 1 p.m. EST.
The Loral Space & Communications Ltd.-built DirecTV 5 bird was launched
from a Russian Proton rocket in Kazakhstan. The launch was Webcast live Tuesday
by International Launch Services on its Web site, www.ilslaunch.com.
DirecTV's newest satellite is destined for the 119 degrees west orbital
location. The bird will provide capacity for new local channels, as well as
serving as a replacement for DirecTV 6, which delivers Spanish-language and
high-definition television programming. DirecTV 6 will serve as an in-orbit
spare.
If all in-orbit testing proves successful, DirecTV 5 should be operational in
July.
