The Thor 2R satellite , commissioned for the Norwegian telecommunications company Telenor, has been arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. According to the Russian Federal Space Agency, the satellite is scheduled to launch it on February 10, aboard a Proton-M Briz-M rocket.
Thor 2R will replace the Thor 2 satellite which is set to be retired in late 2008 The 2450-kg satellite, constructed at Orbital Sciences Corp. of Dulles, Va. is based on the Star 2 bus, and will provide Ku-band fixed telecommunications and direct-to-home television broadcasting services from Telenor's 1 degree West Longitude orbital location. The satellite ill have a 15 year lifetime.
