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December 14, 2009. Baikonur launch site,
branch office of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia
At 13 hours: 38 minutes Moscow Time Launch Vehicle (LV) Proton-M with Upper Stage (US) DM and three spacecraft (SC) GLONASS-M was launched from Cosmodrome Baikonur.
The launch objective is to augment Russian constellation of global navigation satellite system GLONASS by the addition of new SC.
Under the Mission Program, US DM ensured successful injection of these SC into target near-earth orbit from low near-earth orbit where LV had delivered US with the cluster of three SC.
Following two successive firings of US main engines conducted with no remarks, SC were separated from US at the estimated time.
US prelaunch processing at Cosmodrome was carried out under the technical direction of S.P. Korolev RSC Energia. The Corporation specialists took part in and ensured US launch and monitored its operation.
For reference:
US of DM type developed and manufactured by RSC Energia after S.P. Korolev are intended to deliver SC from low near-earth orbits to high-energy orbits (including geosynchronous orbit), as well as to flight paths leading to Moon and Solar system planets. They run on ecosafe propellant components (liquid oxygen and kerosene). They have a long operational history confirming their high performance.
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