The Proton-M carrier rocket with two satellites launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome
Russia has launched a Proton-M carrier rocket with two telecommunications satellites. The rocket was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome. This is reported by TASS .
Nine minutes after launch, the head of the rocket with the Briz-M upper stage and two Express-AMU3 and Express-AMU7 satellites separated from the third stage of the rocket.
In 17 hours and 50 minutes after the launch of the Proton-M rocket, the Express-AMU7 will separate from the upper stage, and the Express-AMU3 satellite — in 18 hours and seven minutes.
After that, the removal of the devices will be provided by propulsion systems with two units SPD-100V and one SPD-140D. The completion of the "Express-AMU7" will take no more than 56 days, and "Express-AMU3" — no more than 59. The satellites are designed to provide communication services, digital broadcasting, data transmission and Internet access.
The launch of a rocket with telecommunications satellites was planned to be made on December 6. In November, the head of Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, announced the postponement of the launch to December 12. He noted that the transfer is due to the need to refine the upper stage. Later, the start was postponed to December 13.
In October, Sergey Savelyev, Deputy Director General of the State Corporation Roscosmos for International Cooperation, said that Proton-M would be operated until 2025.
