Successful Proton Launch of Cosmos 2397

A Proton launch vehicle lifted off
this morning at 10:37 a.m. (12:23 a.m. EDT) and successfully placed the
Cosmos – 2397 satellite into geostationary orbit. Separation occurred
approximately six and a half hours later.

This was the first Proton launch of 2003. The next launch is scheduled on
April 29 (April 28 in the United States) when the Proton will carry the
AMC-9 satellite to orbit for Alcatel Space and SES AMERICOM under the
auspices of International Launch Services.

Built by Khrunichev State Research and Production Center in Moscow, Proton
is one of the premier launch systems in the world.