Glonass navigation system satellites delivered to near-earth orbit by the DM-type Space Upper Stage

The DM-type Space Upper Stage delivered three Russian satellites of the Glonass navigation system (two Glonass satellites and one Glonass-M satellite) to near-earth orbit.

The Upper Stage with satellites was launched from low neat-earth orbit where they were injected by the Proton-K launch vehicle the launch of which was performed from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 16:53, Moscow time.

According to the flight program after two sequential firings of the US main engine, passed with no comments these satellites separated from the Upper Stage and were transferred to a free flight at 20:38, Moscow time.

This is a 248-th successful launch for D- and DM-type Space Upper Stages which is the seventh in 2004 and completes the execution of an annual launch plan of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia spacecraft. In compliance with this plan in 2004 Corporation provided a total of 13 successful launches, 4 launches were postponed to the next year on request of their Customers.

These D- and DM-type Space Upper Stages developed and manufactured by RSC Energia are designed for the spacecraft injection from low near-earth orbits to high-energy orbits, including geostationary orbit and also to trajectories for a flight to the Moon and the solar system planets. They have been used since 1967; 11 modifications are available, six of them are developed from the middle of nineties.

The US launch and operation control during its functioning was provided with participation of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia specialists.