On October 21, 2014, at 19.09, Moscow time, Russian space industry launching crews successfully launched Proton-M booster with Briz-M upper stage and Express-AM6 telecommunication space device from #81 launchpad of Baikonur spaceport.
After the separation of the 3rd stage of the booster orbital block comprising Briz-M upper stage and Express-AM6 satellite continued the flight.
Further orbiting of the space device is accomplished with the help of upper stage’s thrusters.
On October 22, 2014, at 04.31, Moscow time, Express-AM6 space device reached the target orbit and separated from the upper stage.
Express-AM6 space device was made by the order of Space Communication Federal State unitary Enterprise on the basis of Express-2000 heavy platform and designed to provide Russia with communication and broadcasting services. Active operation period of the space device amounts to 15 years, the payload includes 11 antennas, 72 transponders of C-, Ku-, Ka-, and L- bands.
Proton-M booster and Briz-M upper stage were developed and are produced by Khrunichev Space Centre. Modernized Proton-M booster equipped with Briz-M upper stage is able to set into geostationary transfer orbit the payloads up to 6 tons.
This was the 6th launch with the help of Proton-M booster for 2014 and 399th for the history of Proton-M operation.
