The following information is adapted from a press release by Khrunichev:

June 10, 2002, Baikonur Cosmodrome — A Proton launch vehicle successfully launched the Express-A1R satellite today at 5:15 a.m. Moscow time. This was the third launch of a Proton this year. The two previous missions were commercial satellites carried out under International Launch Services.

The Express-A1R satellite was launched within the framework of the Federal program to renew the Russian civil communication and broadcast satellite constellation. The program calls for six new satellites of the Express-A and Express-AM series to be launched by 2005. The coverage area of the Express-A1R satellite includes the European part of Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, and Caucasus republics.