A Proton-M launch vehicle has successfully launched two Russian satellites from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. The satellites are both reportedly safe in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) and functioning as planned.
The 3 November launch of Yamal 300K, a telecommunications relay satellite for oil company Gazprom, and Luch-5B, a Russian government space communications relay satellite, went successfully, says Russian space agency Roscosmos.
The satellites are in orbit, and systems are being checked and verified, but all appears to have gone well. Neither Gazprom nor the Russian government responded to immediate questions.
It is Proton's 380th launch, according to Flightglobal Ascend's database.
The Proton launched with a Briz-M upper stage. The next Proton launch, scheduled for 20 November, will deploy television satellite EchoStar 16.
Source: Flight International
