See also: Sixth Proton Launch of 2007

(Apologies for the late posting of this news item. It is posted for the purpose of completness.)



The International Launch Services press release is reproduced below:

Proton M Rocket Delivered to Baikonur to Launch GLONASS M Spacecraft

Khrunichev press release

BAIKONUR COSMODROME, Kazakhstan. -- The booster rocket assigned to a December Proton M mission was delivered here by rail early the morning of Nov. 27.

The mission is the launch of a Proton M rocket with a Block DM upper stage, carrying three GLONASS M satellites for the Russian Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS). The launch, currently scheduled for Dec. 25, will be the 35th Proton mission with GLONASS spacecraft.

The containers with Proton rocket components were transported from the manufacturer, Khrunichev, in Moscow , by rail to the Cosmodrome.The vehicle will be installed in Assembly and Test Building (MIK, pad 92), where Khrunichev personnel will perform assembly and test operations with the rocket�s first three stages.

Two of the three GLONASS spacecraft have been delivered to the launch site and are undergoing pre-launch operations and checks. The third spacecraft is expected to arrive in early December.

Source: ILS News Release

The International Launch Services press release is reproduced below:

Proton Adds 3 More Satellites to Russia’s GLONASS System

Khrunichev press release

MOSCOW, Dec. 26, 2007 -- A Proton M launch vehicle with three GLONASS global navigation satellites onboard was launched successfully from Baikonur at 22:32 Moscow time (MT) Dec. 25. The launch, carried out by a Russian Space Forces launch crew, proceeded nominally.

The GLONASS spacecraft were separated from the RSC Energia-made Block DM upper stage at 02:04:42 (MT) today. This is the first time the Proton M/Block DM upper stage configuration has been used to launch GLONASS satellites.

This mission was the fourth successful launch for Proton in two months’ time. It also was the final space launch of 2007 for Russia.

The Proton launch vehicle has delivered all the GLONASS satellites into orbit. The Proton heavy class launch vehicle is manufactured by Khrunichev Space Center. The launcher has high power capacity and remarkable operational capabilities. Proton is currently used for implementation of national programs and commercial launches of foreign satellites for International Launch Services, a Russian-American joint venture in which Khrunichev is a partner.

GLONASS is a dual-purpose global navigation system designed to serve the Russian Ministry of Defense and civil users. The system is intended to provide continuous navigation coverage allowing unlimited number of domestic and foreign users at sea, in the air and on land to determine precise coordinates, velocity and time.

Source: ILS News Release