Proton carrying the Express AM7 satellite to orbit. Photo: Roscosmos

[Via Satellite 03-20-2015] At 1:05 a.m. March 19 Moscow time a federal Proton Integrated Launch Vehicle (ILV) carried the Russian Satellite Communications Company’s (RSCC’s) Express AM7 satellite to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). Airbus Defence and Space, manufacturer of the satellite, has control of Express AM7 for the subsequent transfer to Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO).

The launch marks the second Proton mission of 2015 and 403rd overall. Following liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, the 5700 kg spacecraft separated in nine hours and 13 minutes from the Breeze M upper stage.

Once in GEO at the 40 degrees East orbit slot, RSCC’s newest satellite will provide communications and broadcasting services to Russia, Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. The satellite has a design life of 15 years, and was financed from off-budget funds based on a line of credit from the Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank) State Corporation.