21 May 1999 Proton/Block DM Launches NIMIQ MOSCOW, May 21 1999 – A Proton rocket lifted off this morning from Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Republic of Kazakhstan at 4:30 a.m (6:30 p.m. USA and Canada EDT, May 20), carrying Telesat Canada’s NIMIQ satellite to geosynchronous transfer orbit. READ MORE