Foreign wire services report that a group of foreign specialists at the Baikonur Cosmodrome will determine the launch date for the Astra 1K satellite. The specialists consist of representatives of the satellite manufacturers and customers of its liftoff from a launch pad of the Southern Cosmodrome.

Spacecraft in the Astra series are used for direct broadcast satellite television and radio broadcasts to various regions around the globe. The Astra 1K bird will be launched with a Proton K-type launch vehicle.