Khrunichev press release

McLEAN, VA., Jan. 10, 2008 – The Khrunichev–made Proton, Russia’s premier heavy launch vehicle, is rapidly approaching its first flight of 2008.
 
The Proton Breeze M is expected to lift off from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 28 January, at 3:09 a.m. Moscow Time (00:09 GMT), carrying Russia’s communications satellite Express AM-33, designed and manufactured by Thales Alenia Space and Reshetnev Research and Production Association (NPO Reshetneva).

As engineers from NPO Reshetneva are carrying out preparation of the spacecraft, the Khrunichev team and other Russian participants in the campaign are undertaking prelaunch operations with the launch vehicle stages, launch pad and ground–based technical equipment.

According to the current launch schedule, this morning fueling of the Breeze M upper stage with propellants began. The fueling operations are conducted by Russian personnel from Khrunichev and the Chemical Transport Engineering Design Bureau.