Focus on Performance (Cont.)

LIFTOFF: Were these enhancements driven mostly by Russian government missions or commercial missions for ILS?

Bonner: The primary purpose of the enhancements is for ILS commercial missions, but ultimately they will be used for federal missions as well. In fact, the Russian government will be using a Proton M Breeze M on a mission for the first time this year since its debut in April 2001.

LIFTOFF: Does this current block change of Proton enhancements fall into separate, major categories? If so, can you describe them?

Bonner: Yes. There are three main categories in which improvements have taken place: vehicle structure, propulsion and production.

Here are some examples. To improve structure, Khrunichev has implemented a plan using lighter materials between the stages and replaced metal interstage adapters with graphite epoxy sections. This reduces the overall mass of the vehicle and provides additional performance without any system modifications. Additionally, the Breeze M reaction control system (RCS) has been improved. As part of this, the RCS fuel tanks were reduced in number from six to only two. Part count is thus reduced yielding inherent improvement to reliability. The settling thrusters with higher specific impulse have also been added to the Breeze. From a production standpoint, the process is more streamlined and efficient as well.

(continued, next page)

 pages   1   2   3   4   5