Telesat Canada‘s Anik F1R satellite was placed into orbit Sept. 9 by a Russian Proton/Breeze M launch vehicle. The Proton lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 3:53 a.m. local time (5:53 p.m. Thursday EDT) and placed the spacecraft into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.

Anik F1R, based on an EADS Astrium E3000 platform, will be maneuvered into its slot at 107.3° West over the next several weeks. From there, the satellite will provide communications and air navigation services in Canada and the United States.

The launch was provided by McLean, Va.-based International Launch Services, a joint venture of Proton builder Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center and Lockheed Martin Corp.