Russia launched a carrier rocket carrying a U.S. telecommunications satellite from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan early Friday.

The Proton-M carrier rocket with the Intelsat-16 satellite atop lifted off at around 03:39 a.m. Moscow time (0039 GMT), according to the Khrunichev Aerospace Center.

The satellite is expected to separate from the Briz-M booster and take the position at 58 degrees West in the geostationary orbit about nine hours after the launch.

The Intelsat-16 satellite was developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation for the Intelsat Ltd., a leading provider of satellite services worldwide. Equipped with 24 transponders, the satellite will provide telecommunications services for customers in Brazil and Mexico.

Intelsat operates the world's most extensive satellite network, comprising more than 50 satellites.