Soci,t, Europ,enne des Satellite (SES) of Luxembourg has selected a Russian Proton booster to launch its Hughes-built Astra 1G communications satellite in 1997. It will be the second launch of an Astra by the booster, which is marketed by ILS International Launch Services. The Hughes HS-601 Astra 1F was lofted into space from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on 8 April on the first Russian commercial geostationary-orbiting flight.
Source: Flight International