[SatNews] BADR-5, the first of Arabsat's 5th generation satellites, was successfully launched this morning (Friday, June 4th) by an ILS Proton/Breeze-M launch vehicle.

The Proton rocket lifted off at 4:00 a.m. ,Baykanour local time (1:00 am - Friday, June 4th Macca local time), carrying the BADR-5 satellite that was built on EADS Astrium’s E3000 platform, with a Thales Alenia Space supplied communications payload. BADR-5 will be collocated with the BADR-4 and BADR-6 DTH satellites at Arabsat's 26 degrees East orbital slot. On the 23rd of this month, Arabsat 5-A will be launched to its exclusive orbital position at 30.5 degrees East, which covers the entire continent of Africa and large portions of Asia as well as the MENA region.