On April 14 the Proton rocket was rolled out and erected on its Baikonur Cosmodrome launch pad. Photos: EUTELSAT

A Russian Proton rocket has blasted off today to place a single satellite into space that will connect communications between Europe, Africa and Asia.

Called SESAT, the Siberia Europe Satellite will orbit 22,300 miles above the Earth's equator under the control of the European Telecommunications Satellite Organization.

Better known as EUTELSAT, the Paris-based consortium is expanding its satellite services with seven new spacecraft slated for launches in the next two years.

The first of which is SESAT, an 18-transponder Ku-band craft that will be positioned at the 36 degrees East orbital slot.

Built by NPO-PM of Krasnoyarsk and outfitted with a communications payload supplied by Alcatel Space, SESAT will be launched directly into geostationary orbit from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard a Khrunichev-built Proton rocket and Energia Block DM upper stage.

Liftoff occurred as planned at 2106 GMT (5:06 p.m. EDT). Deployment of the satellite from the rocket's upper stage to complete launch is expected about 6 1/2 hours into the flight.

Once on station in space, controllers will test the new satellite before declaring it operational in the next six weeks.

SESAT will be used for video broadcasting and data relaying, high-speed Internet connection, distance-learning, telemedicine and software transfer. EUTELSAT will also offer SESAT on a "bandwidth-on-demand basis" so users can instantly access satellite capacity as needed and be charged for the exact amount used.

This launch has been delayed since last fall. First, the flight was grounded after a Proton rocket failed in October; then Russian space officials postponed the launch last month because a problem was found with one of the booster's engines.

The Proton rocket fleet has chalked up two successes this year -- one in February and one in March -- since returning to flight after two mishaps in 1999.