CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A Russian Proton rocket has carried into orbit an American-built communications satellite that will service customers in China, the Philippines, India and other parts of Asia.

Liftoff of the rocket sold by International Launch Services (ILS) took place from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan right on schedule at 6 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (2200 GMT) on Sunday, Oct. 1.

Used in the night time launch that lit up the desert skies for miles was a four-stage Proton rocket featuring a Block DM upper stage as the fourth stage.

The first three stages quickly orbited the GE-1A satellite with its Block DM upper stage still attached. During the next few hours the Block DM was fired twice to place the satellite into its final orbit.

Spacecraft separation successfully took place six hours and 40 minutes after liftoff.

Sunday's launch marked the fourth Proton mission for ILS this year and the 17th since the formation of ILS, which is a joint venture between Lockheed Martin, Khrunichev State Research and Production Center and RSC Energia.