Last weekend specialists started general assembling of Proton-M booster in 92-A50 integration building. The booster  will launch Russian Yamal-401 telecommunication satellite in mid-December, – Khrunichev Centre press office reports.

Working schedule includes mechanical docking of Proton booster with space head, further electrical testings and preparations for the roll-out to the fuel service area.

Mechanical docking of the booster with the space head was completed on Sunday. This  Monday the specialists conducted electrical testing and installed thermal cover on the space head.

The launch is scheduled for December 15, 03.16, Moscow time.

Proton-M  is being prepared for Yamal-401 launch in the framework of the contract concluded by Russian-American  enterprise International Launch Services Inc. (ILS) with Khrunichev centre who is the designer and manufacturer of Proton booster and Briz-M upper stage  being the majority shareholder of ILS.

Yamal-401 space device was designed  by JSC Reshetnev Information Satellite systems against  Russian telecommunication operator Gazprom Space Systems  order;  some compounds of the payload and the platform were delivered by Thales Alenia Space Company ( France) . New Yamal satellite is aimed to provide broadcasting and telecommunication services for European and Asian territories.