Launch notification below courtesy of Analytical Graphics.
New Launch: 2010 January 28, 0018 UTC
Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launcher: Proton-M
International Designator(s): 2010-002A
SSC Name Owner
36358 RADUGA-1M 2 CIS
"A Proton rocket launched overnight Thursday with a Russian defense ministry satellite to relay communications between troops and military commanders.
"The silver launcher blasted off at 0018 GMT Thursday (7:18 p.m. EST Wednesday) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, kicking off a nine-hour mission that included multiple burns of the Breeze M upper stage.
"The Proton thundered into crystal clear skies and shed its first stage about two minutes after liftoff as planned. The second and third stages completed their roles in the launch 9 minutes into the flight, before giving way to the Breeze M upper stage.
"The Breeze M deployed the military satellite around 0919 GMT (4:19 a.m. EST) Thursday, and Russia declared the launch successful.
"The payload is believed to be a modernized Raduga, or Globus, communications satellite designed to link Russian troops and senior military commanders. The spacecraft can relay messages through small mobile terminals deployed on the battlefield, Russian defense officials said.
"The Raduga fleet is stationed in geosynchronous orbit 22,300 miles [35,900 km] above Earth."
Source: Spaceflight Now, "Proton blasts off with Russian military payload"
