At the Baikonur cosmodrome, continues work on preparations for the launch of the Proton-M carrier rocket with the Briz-M upper stage and the Russian Express-103 and Express-80 spacecraft. In accordance with the work schedule, in the morning of July 26, 2020, a space rocket was delivered to the launch complex of site No. 200 and installed in a vertical position on the launch pad (launcher No. 39).
After supplying the service unit and connecting the necessary communications, the specialists of the enterprises of the State Corporation Roscosmos will begin work on the schedule of the first launch day. Within a few days, autonomous inspections of spacecraft, launch vehicle, upper stage, as well as final operations of the rocket control system will be carried out.
On Tuesday, July 28, 2020, a meeting of the Technical Management will take place based on the results of tests of space rocket systems and imitation of its refueling, the next day – a meeting of the State Commission to make a decision on refueling and subsequent launch, which is scheduled for July 30, 2020, at 00 : 27: 42 Moscow time. Separation of the Express-80 spacecraft from the Briz-M upper stage is expected in 17 hours 59 minutes after the launch, Express-103 – in another 17 minutes.
The Russian spacecraft Express-80 is designed to operate in an orbital position of 80 ° E and is equipped with 16 active transponders in the C-band, 20 active transponders in the Ku-band and two active transponders in the L-band. The Express-103 spacecraft is designed to operate in an orbital position of 96.5 ° E (103 ° E – a reserve position) and is equipped with 16 active transponders in the C-band, 20 active transponders in the Ku-band and one active transponder in L-band, according to the press service of Roscosmos.
