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By The Associated Press The world's largest commercial satellite is in space, where it will provide phone service to cellular "dead zones" in North America.

The satellite, owned by TerreStar Corp. of Reston, Va., blasted off from Kourou in French Guiana, shortly before 2 p.m. Eastern time. It was carried by a French Ariane-5 rocket.

The satellite weighs 6.9 metric tons, about the same as a school bus. In orbit 22,000 miles above the Earth, it will unfurl an umbrella-like antenna of gold mesh 60 feet across. TerreStar hopes to have it working before the end of the year.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-01-09 1315CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list