A Russian Proton K booster was launched from Baikonur on 28 August, placing a Rechetnikov-built military Globus 1 communications satellite into orbit. The Raduga series satellite, designated Cosmos 2372, was the fifth launch of a Globus model since the type's first launch in 1990.
The Khrunichev company says that nine of the 15 Proton launches set for 2000 have been made, marking a record for the organisation.
The second Sirius Radio satellite spacecraft was due to be launched on a Proton K booster on 5 September. The first Sirius was launched on a Proton in June and the third will be launched in October.
The fourth back-up satellite, manufactured in case a satellite fails to reach orbit, has been damaged at the Loral Space and Communications manufacturing plant. The damage was reported to have been "significant", but no further details are available. Loral says it will be responsible for the repair costs.
Meanwhile, Russia's NPO PM company will build an Express communications satellite, designated 1A, to replace the craft lost in a Proton failure last October. The Express will be launched within 15 months and will be equipped with an additional L-band payload to support mobile communications. Since the Proton loss, two other Express satellites have been launched successfully by the vehicle.
Source: Flight International
