International Launch Services is on track for the Sept. 8 launch of Telesat Canada‘s Anik F1R satellite. Scheduled for a 5:53 pm EDT launch, the satellite will be lofted to its 107.3 degrees West orbital location aboard a Proton M/ Breeze M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The multipurpose communications satellite will provide, among other applications, air traffic control communications over North America. Anik F1R, built by EADS Astrium, is based on the Eurostar E3000 platform. It carries 32 Ku-band and 24 C-band transponders, as well as C- and L-band navigation payloads. In addition to air traffic control, Anik F1R will transmit broadcast and telecommunications services throughout Canada and the United States.