Proton is an expandable launch vehicle used for both commercial and Russian government launches. It is still in use as of 2018. All Protons are built at Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, and are then launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome. It can launch around 22.8 tonnes to Low Earth orbit, and it can launch around 6.3 tonnes to Geostationary orbit.[1] It is expected to be retired before 2030.[2]
It was originally created as a super heavy Intercontinental ballistic missile. The first Proton rocket was launced in 1965. Proton's design was kept secret until 1986. It launched several sections of the Mir space station, and also launched two modules to the ISS.[3]
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