Proton-M

Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center * ROSKOSMOS * International Launch Service

KHRUNISHEV is working to the time on a further development Proton-K (Proton - KM). The fourth stage (Block DM) will be replace through a new cryogenic OHSM (Oxygen - Hydrogen Acceleration Module) with the engine KVD-1M or alternatively through the already ready for action Breeze-M (UDMH/Nitrogen Tetroxide). New engine modification for the first stage was designated as RD-275. Increase of thrust - 7.7% (162 ton instead of 150.3 ton), it is allow to increase payload mass on 600 kg.
NPO Energomash began development of RD-275M (14D14M) engine forcing at 5.2% by thrust. It is allow to increase payload mass for 150 kg.

The first Proton - KM with higher level Breeze-M and a payload Ekran-M (4) became at that 07. 04. 2001 successfully started.
Changes for the Proton-M consist of a number of minor enhancements to the first three stages. Stage inert weights are reduced using improved manufacturing techniques and a reduction in avionics mass.
Among a range of improvements which were incorporated into the Proton-M design, the very important innovations were concerned with propulsion units of its main stages, in a particular, with a use of the upgraded RD-275 (formerly RD-253) and RD-0210/0211 rocket engines of first and second stages accordingly.
The RD-253 basic rocked engine was just upgraded in 1987 -1993 when its thrust was enhanced by 8 % (the engine received the RD-275 designation after this improvement). A further enhancement of the engine thrust, which was being provided in the frame of its preparation for use in the Proton-M, had its goal as an achievement of thrust additional gain by 5 % in a comparison with the level, which had been just achieved for the RD-275 engine. Analogous work was made in a regard of the RD-0210/0211 main rocket engines, the thrusts of which were enhanced by 5 % in a comparison with the basic version. A continuation of the work on an enhacement of parameters is foreseen in the following for the RD-0212 (RD-0213 + 4x RD-0214) third stage engine which is identical to the RD-0210.
Thus, the Proton launcher, which was used for a commercial launch in November 4, 1998, was equipped with these engines having the thrust enhanced by 2 %. This level was achieved in the engines which were installed in the first flight example of Proton-M launch vehicle (Ekran-M).

The new Breeze-M upper stage  is a modified version of  the Breeze-KM upper stage  used on Rockot. It consists of two separate components. The cylindrical core section, which is very similar to the Breeze-KM, includes a single main engine, propellant tanks, and a avionics bay. Surrounding the core section is a toroidal auxiliary propellant tank that carries additional propellant. Breeze-M stage has a gimbaled main engine S5.98M with a thrust level of 19,62 kN, four verniers 11D458 with a thrust level of 99 N each, and 12 ACS thrusters with a thrust level of 13.3 N each.

DIRECTV 10 mission, at 07.07.2007, is the debut of the Enhanced Proton-M/Breeze-M (Proton-NM), which is capable of launching spacecraft over 6,000 kg into GTO.
The new Enhaced Proton-M/BreezeM can haul up to 6.3 tonnes to a GTO. Upgrades include the production of  1,016 tonnes of sea-level thrust from the six RD-275M (RD-276) first stage engines, reduction of tank mass in the first and second stages, replacement of metal with carbon epoxy isogrid structures in the second and third stages, use of a smaller number of larger tanks in the Briz-M stage, and the replacement of existing vernier thrusters by higher specific impulse thrusters.

Multiple payload fairings are available for the Proton-K and -KM: