One of the largest communications satellites ever built has successfully moved into orbit after taking off from a platform near Christmas Island in Kiribati.
The spacecraft blasted off from a converted oil platform early this morning.
The rocket fell away and its six ton payload, the Inmarsat-4 communications satellite, has now moved into orbit.
A ground station in Canada has acquired the spacecraft's signal.
The satellite will provide broadband telecoms services for the Americas.
