Proton M inaugurual launch a success
Posted: Sat, Apr 7, 2001, 11:04 AM ET (1504 GMT)
A Proton M, the newest version of the Russian heavy-lift launcher,successfully lifted off Saturday on its first flight. The rocket lifted off from Baikonur at 11:47 pm EDT Friday (0347 GMT Saturday) from Baikonur, Kazakhstan and placed into geosynchronous transfer orbit a domestic television broadcast satellite. The Proton M features a number of upgrades over the Proton K that has been in use, including more powerful first-stage engines and an improved flight control system, which combined will provide a small increase in the booster's payload capacity. A new advanced upper stage, Breeze-M, which has been flown on several Proton K flights, will also allow the Proton M to carry larger satellites. One or two more test flights, each carrying live payloads, are planned for the Protom M before it enters commercial service.
A Proton M, the newest version of the Russian heavy-lift launcher,successfully lifted off Saturday on its first flight. The rocket lifted off from Baikonur at 11:47 pm EDT Friday (0347 GMT Saturday) from Baikonur, Kazakhstan and placed into geosynchronous transfer orbit a domestic television broadcast satellite. The Proton M features a number of upgrades over the Proton K that has been in use, including more powerful first-stage engines and an improved flight control system, which combined will provide a small increase in the booster's payload capacity. A new advanced upper stage, Breeze-M, which has been flown on several Proton K flights, will also allow the Proton M to carry larger satellites. One or two more test flights, each carrying live payloads, are planned for the Protom M before it enters commercial service.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Manufacturing defect blamed for lost nozzle on second Vulcan launch
Posted: Sun, Mar 16 3:21 PM ET (1921 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, March 18
These Space Companies Compete for Lucrative NASA Contracts—They Also Support Each Other
New York Observer — 5:51 am ET (0951 GMT) History-making Blue Ghost lunar lander sends one last message from the moon
CNN — 5:51 am ET (0951 GMT) U.S. Space Force To Award 2 Satcom Programs No Earlier Than Mid-2025
Aviation Week — 5:49 am ET (0949 GMT) Blue Origin rocket engine arrives at Museum of Flight
KIRO-TV Seattle — 5:49 am ET (0949 GMT) Outgoing Commerce Official Shreds Elon Musk’s Starlink in Final Email
The New Republic — 5:46 am ET (0946 GMT) |
