Kazakhstan based, International Launch Services (ILS), has announced the successful launch of the XM-5 satellite into orbit aboard an ILS Proton Rocket.

This is the 5th ILS Proton launch for Sirius XM Radio beginning with the first launch in 2000.

The company said the ILS Proton Breeze M launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, at 12:53 a.m. today local time (2:53 p.m. EDT, 18:53 GMT) yesterday. After a 9 hour 12 minute mission, the Breeze M successfully released the XM-5 satellite, weighing over 5.9 metric tons, into geostationary transfer orbit. This was the 360th launch for Proton since its inaugural flight in 1965, and the 62nd ILS Proton launch overall.

The XM-5 satellite is the 5th satellite for Sirius XM in orbit. Its a high power satellite which is intended to serve as an in-orbit spare for the Sirius' existing fleet of satellites. XM-5 is located at 80 degrees West, but will be situated at 85.2 degrees West after 30 days of in-orbit testing.

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