Warm Reminder

This rocket was made in the DROO system, so you might need to make a few modifications if the galaxy you're using is the Solar System.

Introduction

Proton M is a disposable heavy lift launch vehicle developed by Russia from the Soviet-era Proton rocket. It launches from Site 81 and Site200 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Related commercial launches are conducted by International Launch Services (ILS), which typically uses Site 200/3. The first Proton M was launched on April 7, 2001, and was successful. In 2022, Roscosmos announced the end production of the Proton M rocket, with subsequent launches to be conducted by the Angara A5. Before the KVTK upper stage entered service, the Proton M was most capable GTO-capable launch vehicle currently in operation in Russia.

R&D history

The Proton M was an improved version of the Proton K, which featured a restructured first three stages based on the Proton K, reduced dead and allowed for more fuel to be loaded. The first stage engine was replaced with the RD-275 from the RD-253, and it was changed to closed loop guidance.

Service history

Subsequent improved model

In 2007, the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center introduced an enhanced version of the Proton-M (Proton- Enhanced/Proton M ), which used an improved RD-275 for its first stage, designated RD-275M or RD-26. In addition, avionics were updated, the tanks of the Breeze M upper stage were lightened, and RCS engines with greater thrust were used.
In 2011, the first flight of the Proton-M with third stage improvements (Proton-M Phase 3) took place. The improvements over theton-M are currently unknown.

Absurd accident

Proton M in service, due to various reasons, there has been a series of accidents:

On September 5, 207, Proton M/Breeze M launched Japanese Communication Satellite 11 from Baikonur, the separation of the first and second stages failed and one of the of the second stage worked abnormally, and the rocket self-destructed at T 135s.

On December 5, 201, Proton M/DM-03 upper stage launched three Glonass satellites, this launch was the first flight of DM-03. Compared with the previous model,-03 increased the size of the tank, but the content of the operation manual was still "Fill the tank to the maximum capacity of 90%."

July 2, 2013, Proton M/DM-03 upper stage launched three Glonass satellites. The rocket disintegrated before crashing due to the of attitude because six angular velocity sensors were connected in reverse for three, and the investigation could not trace the person responsible because there was no monitoring at the assembly site.

On 15, 2014, Proton M/Breeze M launched Express AM-4R. Due to the failure of the fixing method of the third engine's turbopump, the third stage propellant pipeline was damaged, and the satellite-upper stage combination did not enter orbit.

On May 16,2015, Proton M/Breeze M launched Mexican Satellite 1. The cause of the launch failure was the same as above.

The above failures basically related to the confusion of Russian aerospace management after the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

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