Russian satellite “Ray” was launched into orbit – BBC Russian

• September 28, 2014

Share

Last start “Proton” in May 2014 ended in failure

Russian relay satellite “Ray”, launched by a rocket “Proton-M”, launched into orbit.

Booster “Proton-M” was launched at 00:23 Moscow time from the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

System Relay “Ray” is intended to communicate the Russian segment of the International Space Station and other satellites with ground stations.

At this time, the Russian segment of the ISS may have a direct relationship with the Mission Control Center in the Russian Federation and the United States for 2.5 hours per day. To contact the rest of the Russian American buys services communication system TDRSS.

This is the fifth in 2014 with the launch of the rocket “Proton” and the first since the May accident that media. Launched on May 16 from Baikonur “Proton-M” satellite communication “Express AM4R” on board burned up in the atmosphere.

“Proton-M” – booster heavy class, which since the late 1960s ies regularly serves as a space truck for Soviet and Russian space programs.

History launches “Proton”

“Proton” is used for launching various automatic devices satellites, cargo spacecraft to deliver cargo to the ISS.

At the moment in April 2001 for the launch complex used “Proton-M” carrier rocket with (extra step) “Breeze-M”.

With all the advantages, among them, high load capacity, the rocket has one serious drawback – it uses as a propellant mixture of heptyl (dimethylhydrazine) and oxidant – amyl (dinitrogen tetroxide). Both substances are highly toxic and in case of an accident heavily pollute the soil, requiring the decontamination.

During the operation there were more than 40 rockets failed launches. Most emergency period – the first three years after the creation of the rocket, from 1967 to 1970.

A series of accidents occurred in the last few years.

last start May 16, 2014 also ended in failure. At the stage of the third stage of the launch vehicle is an emergency situation has arisen, and the satellite “Express-AM4R” has not been put into orbit.

In July 2013 immediately after the start exploded “Proton-M” with three GLONASS satellites . Commission investigating the accident, found that it occurred due to improperly installed angular rate sensors.

After the accident, the head of Roscosmos, Vladimir Popovkin was dismissed. It was succeeded by Oleg Ostapenko. However, retired predecessor Popovkin Anatoly Perminov, the experts also interpreted as a consequence of failure of the rocket “Proton-M” with devices GLONASS December 5, 2010.

Total in 2010 there were six accidents launches “Proton-M”. In this case, successful launches were more than 40.