A Russian Soyuz-Fregat rocket successfully delivered an Israeli communications satellite into orbit Saturday to relay television, data and Internet services from the Middle East to the United States' eastern seaboard.

The Soyuz rocket ignites on the launch pad. Credit: Starsem TV

With only an instantaneous launch window available, the Soyuz blasted off at 2130 GMT (4:30 p.m. EST) from Baikonur Cosmodrome.

The Soyuz vehicle's first three stages completed their firings by T+plus 9 minutes. At that point, the upper stage motor, called Fregat, perform an engine burn to reach a low-altitude parking orbit with the attached AMOS 2 satellite payload.

Over the course over six-and-a-half hours, Fregat conducted two more firings to reach a highly-elliptical geosynchronous transfer orbit. Deployment of AMOS 2 to complete the launch occurred at T+plus 6 hours, 47 minutes.

This marked the 12th Soyuz launch under the auspices of Starsem -- the Russian-French venture formed in 1996 to commercially market the venerable rocket. It was the first Starsem mission to geosynchronous transfer orbit, and follows previous flights of Globalstar mobile telephone satellites, European Cluster 2 science satellites and the Mars Express spacecraft this past June.

AMOS 2 was built by Israel Aircraft Industries' MBT Space Division. It is bound for circular geostationary orbit 36,000 km above the equator where it will be positioned at 4 degrees West, co-locating with the AMOS 1 spacecraft deployed in 1996 by an Ariane 4 rocket.

"We would like to especially thank Starsem and Arianespace, which have spared no effort for this launch, handled with exemplary professionalism," said Joseph Weiss, general manager of Israel Aircraft Industries' Space Division. "I will not soon forget the majestic vision of Soyuz as it lifted off."

The AMOS 2 spacecraft was built by Israel Aircraft Industries' MBT Space Division. Credit: Spacecom

AMOS 2 was supposed to launch aboard a European Ariane 5 rocket from South America, but it was transferred to the Soyuz due to scheduling conflicts in the Arianespace manifest. Arianespace is one of the shareholders in Starsem.

"On behalf of Starsem and Arianespace I would like to thank IAI for its renewed confidence," Starsem Chairman and CEO Jean-Marie Luton said after the mission. "I also would like to thank our Russian partners for this first success to GTO orbit with the prestigious Soyuz launch vehicle."

AMOS 2 features enhancements and power upgrades from the earlier AMOS 1, allowing Israeli satellite operator Spacecom Ltd. to expand its services to a broader swath from the Middle East to the eastern seaboard of the United States.

"It will provide stronger power and wider footprint to Spacecom's current customers and will provide much needed additional capacity, as the current AMOS 1 is fully sold," according to Spacecom.

Uses of AMOS 2 include direct-to-home television broadcasting, Internet services and data transmissions.

The 1,370-kg craft features 11 active Ku-band transponders and three backups. It is expected to operate for 12 years.

This was the 1,684th launch for the Soyuz rocket family and 10th of 2003 (including Molniya).