We have had a successful mission with the Proton M Breeze M rocket, carrying the BADAR-5 satellite built by EADS Astrium and Thales Alenia Space for Arabsat.

We have had confirmation that the satellite separated from the vehicle on schedule at 3:13 a.m. EDT, or 07:13 UTC, 9 hours and 13 minutes after liftoff.

Everything occurred as planned with ignition, shutdown and separation of the Proton’s first three stages. Then the Breeze M upper stage with the satellite continued the mission, igniting five times, and then releasing the satellite into transfer orbit.