Photos: Proton-M Lifts off with Intelsat 31

Russia’s Proton-M rocket leaps from its Baikonur Launch Pad, embarking on a long mission to deliver the Intelsat 31 communications satellite. Utilizing its new Phase IV performance enhancement Proton-M is completing an all-day ascent mission on Thursday to lift the spacecraft into a highly elliptical transfer orbit.

>>Read our Launch Recap

All Photos: Roscosmos