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26.12.2013
The Express-AM5 satellite is designed to beam digital television and radio broadcasts onto the territory of Russia
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The Proton-M space rocket with the acceleration unit Briz-M and the Express-AM5 spacecraft was launched from Baikonur spaceport on Thursday, an official in the press service of Roscosmos (Federal Space Agency) told Itar-Tass.
"The launch was successfully carried out at 14:50 Moscow time (10:50 GMT), from Baikonur's Launch Pad 81," the press service official said.
The Express-AM5 satellite is designed to beam digital television and radio broadcasts onto the territory of Russia, to accomplish mobile presidential and government communication tasks, and provide a package of multiple-system services, as well as establish communications networks based on VSAT technology.
The spacecraft was developed at the OAO (public joint-stock company) "Information Satellite Systems" named after M.F. Reshetnikov. The Express-AM5 carries transponders of C-, Ku-, Ka-, and L- wavebands. The warranty term for an active operation of the satellite will be 15 years.
The carrier rocket Proton-M is an upgrade version of the Proton-K rocket. It is notable for improved mass-energy, operating and environmental characteristics. The first launch of a Proton-M with Briz-M acceleration unit was made on April 7, 2001.
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Photo of the Express AM5 satellite being attached to the Proton rocket's Breeze M upper stage. Credit: Roscosmos
Quelle: ITARTASS
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Update: 27.12.2013
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Proton Successfully Launches a Russian Federal Satellite
Moscow, Russia, December 26, 2013 - Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center (Khrunichev) announced the successful Proton M Breeze M launch of the Express-AM5 communications satellite for the Russian Federation today. This was the 10th Proton launch this year and the 393rd Proton launch overall since its maiden flight in 1965. The satellite was built by ISS-Reshetnev and MDA.
The Proton liftoff occurred from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Baikonur, Kazakhstan on December 26th.
Quelle: ILS