Russian Proton-M rocket launched into space with satellite: Roscosmos

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Russian space agency Roscosmos has confirmed on Sunday that the Proton-M rocket successfully launched into space, carrying the fourth Elektro–L meteorological satellite, from the Russian-leased Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan.

When it reaches low Earth orbit, the upper stage of the Proton-M launch vehicle, called the Blok DM, should release the satellite at an altitude of 35,400 kilometers. After it separates, the satellite is due to arrive automatically at a geostationary orbit. 

This counts as Russia’s first space launch this year, and another three launches are due to occur within the next upcoming months, which include the Soyuz MS-23 and the Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket launch to the International Space Station this month, and another Proton rocket in March.    

The first Electro–L satellite launched back in 2011 and stopped working in 2016 - it was due to serve 10 years. The second satellite was launched in 2015, and the third in 2019, and both are currently functioning normally. The four Electro–L satellites are due to be replaced in 2025. 

According to Yuri Borisov, the head of Roscosmos, Russia must have at least 1,000 satellites in orbit by 2030.

Moscow currently has about 200 satellites in orbit and must begin producing 250 spacecraft annually in order to reach this five-fold increase by 2030, according to the CEO of Roscosmos, taking into account the gradual replacement of spent satellites already in orbit.

Glavkosmos, a subsidiary of Roscosmos, reported that Russia intends to add two Glonass-K satellites and one Glonass-K2 to the constellation soon but the exact launch and installation dates are yet to be announced.

There are also plans to launch a lightweight Angara-1.2 rocket and a heavy-lift Angara-A5 rocket from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in 2023, located north of Moscow. 25 satellites are present in the Glonass constellation, with 24 of them functioning and one is still in the commissioning phase. In October, a Glonass-K satellite was successfully launched into space in a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from the Plesetsk cosmodrome.