Proton-M/Briz-M | Ekspress-AMU3 & AMU7 (Auto Orbit)

Craft celebrating the upcoming launch of the 112th mission of Proton-M carrying the Ekspress-AMU3 & AMU7 commercial satellites to Geostationary Earth Orbit

Mission - Ekspress-AMU3 & AMU7 :

The Ekspress-AMU3 and Ekspress-AMU7 are commercial satellites manufactured by the Information Satellite Systems (ISS-Reshetnev Company, a part of ROSCOSMOS) and Thales Alenia Space Italia on the base of the middle-class satellite bus Express-1000N for the RSCC. Their main objective is to provide stationary and mobile communication services, digital television and radio broadcasting, high-speed Internet, and data communication in Russia and in CIS countries. The modular design of this platform ensures parallel and independent manufacturing and testing of the satellites and the bus.

Where is the satellite going? :

Parking Orbit:

(> 550 x 550 km)

Satellites operational Orbit:

Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO)
[8863 x 8863 km in Droo Orbit]

Rocket: Proton-M/Briz-M :

Proton-M is a multi-use heavy-lift launch vehicle that first flew on April 7, 2001. It is capable to launch civilian and military satellites, as well as cargo missions to the ISS. This launch vehicle was developed and is manufactured by Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center. Over the decades, several variants of the Proton rocket have been developed and flown over 400 times.

Compared to its ancestor, Proton-K, the Proton-M rocket has a new control system that not only enhances its power performance, but also improves its operational and environmental characteristics. For instance, it makes propellants utilization more efficient. It ensures that almost all fuel on the first stage of Proton-M burns up completely during ascent and the rocket crashes on land with empty tanks, which prevents contamination of the area.

Fourth Stage (Briz-M):

The upper stage consists of a central unit and an additional fuel tank. The Briz-M upper stage is hypergolic and features the S5.98M gas generator engine, capable of producing 19.6 kN of thrust.

The basis of the control system is the Mars-3M platform developed by the OKB Mars (located in Moscow, Russia). Starting from the launch on June 9, 2016, the Briz-M features an upgraded radio-telemetry system PIRIT-RBCs that is lighter than its predecessor (8 kg vs. 14 kg) and increases energy efficiency of the stage.

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Craft Notes:

1. Auto-Launch to Orbit by Preprogrammed Vizzy. (Throttle 100%)
2. Multiple Pad and Rocket Camera setups
3. Preprogrammed Vizzy for Launch and circulation phases (>550 x 550 km parking orbit)

*Fairing Deploy to be done after 100 km AGL (manuallly)
*FInal orbit insertion (GEO) and payload deploy to be done manually

Payload Deploy Steps:

1. Select AG.1 to Activate the Separation motors.
2. Select AG.2 to Deploy the AMU3 Satellite.
   (wait 30 seconds)
3. Select AG.3 to Deploy the Dual Payload Shroud.
   (wait 45 seconds)
4. Select AG.4 to Deploy the AMU7 Satellite.

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Credits:

Predecessor Craft by UlmSpaceAgency - 1:1 Proton 8K82K (USSR) (For RSS)
Base Vizzy by: KAL

Modifications to Rocket, Space-craft and Vizzy by OrbiteX