Proton-K Block-DM

"Proton" (UR-500 - Universal rocket, "Proton-K", "Proton-M") is a heavy-class launch vehicle (LV) designed for automatic launch of spacecraft into low-Earth orbit and further into outer space. Developed in 1961-1967 in the department of OKB-23 (now the State Space Research and Production Center named after M.V. Khrunichev), which was part of OKB-52 V.N. Chelomeya.

Proton-K is a three-stage launch vehicle created by upgrading the Proton launch vehicle.

The first stage was equipped with six RD-253 (later RD-275) liquid rocket engines, the second stage with three RD-0210 and one RD-0211 liquid rocket engines.

The newly created third stage had a liquid-propellant rocket engine RD-0212.

In total, from March 10, 1967 to March 30, 2012, 310 launches of Proton-K rockets were carried out (372 spacecraft were launched into near-Earth orbits and departure trajectories), including one into suborbital space.

The carrier was used to launch automatic interplanetary stations to the Moon, Venus and Mars, spacecraft and orbital station modules, communications satellites, television broadcasting, relaying, navigation, scientific and military purposes, as well as foreign spacecraft.