A Russian Proton rocket overcame a one-week delay to release two communications satellites into area Monday (Dec. 13). The Express-AMU3 and Express-AMU7 spacecraft flew to space from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 7:07 a.m. EST (1207 GMT or 5:07 p.m. regional time). Russian area company Roscosmos reported launch success and stated the upper stage rocket, Briz-M, would put the satellites into their target orbit across five more burns.” All phases of the flight (separation of the stages and payload fairing jettison) went nominally,” Roscosmos reported in a declaration. A video of the launch revealed clouds brushing by the rocket as it made a nighttime climb into the sky.The Proton-M rocket was initially expected to release Dec. 6, however the launch was postponed a number of days due to the need to address a “shortage” in the Briz-M booster, state media TASS reported previously in December. Related: Russias Space Centers and Launch Sites in PicturesA Russian Proton rocket bring the Express-AMU3 and Express-AMU7 communications satellites lifts off from a pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan on Dec. 13, 2021. (Image credit: Pavel Shvets/Yuzhny Space Center/Roscosmos) Assisted by Briz-M, the two satellites will shift to an altitude between 11,600 miles and 32,800 miles (between 18,700 km and 52,800 km) to ultimately move into geosynchronous orbit, at 22,236 miles (35,786 kilometers). Geosynchronous orbit will enable a fairly fixed position over Russia as the Earth rotates.The satellite set is meant to serve the Russian Federations interactions and relaying needs, consisting of “fixed and mobile communications, tv and radio broadcasting services, broadband high-speed access to details resources and other applications,” Roscosmos mentioned of the launch.The last Express launch, which likewise sent out 2 satellites up successfully, happened in July 2020. The very first of the satellite series was introduced in October 1994 to replace an older set of satellites known as Gorizont, then in use given that 1979, according to RussianSpaceWeb.com.Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or on Facebook..
