Proton M Successfully Launches Russian Military Satellite

• First Flight of 2010 Year for Proton

(Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, January 28, 2010) -- A Proton M launch vehicle, carrying a Russian military satellite, blasted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 03:18 Moscow Time (MT).

The lift off of the launcher was nominal. The Proton's Ascent Unit (the Breeze M upper stage and the attached payload) separation from the Proton third stage booster occurred successfully and on schedule.


The mission successfully ended with the spacecraft separation from the Breeze M upper stage: the spacecraft was successfully released into correct orbit at 12:19 MT. The Russian military's space division has taken control of the new satellite. The satellite is functioning normally.

This launch is the first Proton flight of 2010 year.

Source : International Launch Services