Proton Conducts Military Launch

Michael A. Taverna mike_taverna@aviationweek.com

Alexey Komarov

A Proton K Block DM-2 rocket launch and a new Proton M contract have Proton prime contractor Khrunichev and launch provider International Launch Services (ILS) off to a solid start in 2009.

The Proton K launch, at 7:10 AM Moscow time on Feb. 28, orbited a Raduga-1 military communications satellite. Russian space officials said the 2 metric-ton spacecraft separated without incident.

Also known as the Globus-1, Raduga-1 was developed by Reshetnev ISS to provide communications for the Russian government and strategic armed forces.

It was the first Proton K mission of the year and the second government launch for the Proton vehicle. On Feb. 11, a Proton M Block M lofted a pair of civil telecom satellites, Express AM44 and Express DM-1, into orbit for Russian Satellite Communications Co.

The first commercial launch of 2009, scheduled for March 28, will see a Proton M boost Eutelsat's W2A into orbit. In addition to Ku- and C-band transponders, W2A, built by Thales Alenia Space, includes Europe's first S-band geostationary mobile satellite payload.

Meanwhile, ILS says it has landed a contract from Asia Satellite Communications to launch its AsiaSat 5 spacecraft. Supplied by Space Systems/Loral, AsiaSat 5 will be launched in the third quarter of 2009 to 100.5 deg. E. Long., where it will provide C- and Ku-band communications services.

The satellite was initially due to be orbited by a Land Launch Zenit 3SLB rocket, but ramp-up of this Sea Launch derivative has been slower than expected. The second Land Launch mission, carrying Telesat's Telstar 11N, was performed on Feb. 26, ten months after the rocket's inaugural flight.

File photo of Proton: ESA

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