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Proton-M
58.2m
Human (1.8m)
1.8m
Proton-M / Credits: Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons)
RussiaActive2001–2026
Proton-M
Khrunichev / Roscosmos
Russia's workhorse heavy-lift rocket, launching satellites and interplanetary probes for over two decades.
Proton-M is the modernised variant of the Proton rocket family that has been flying since 1965. It uses unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) and nitrogen tetroxide propellants — highly toxic but storable. Proton-M has launched dozens of commercial geostationary satellites, modules of the International Space Station, and interplanetary missions including Mars Express and Venus Express.
Fun facts
Proton uses highly toxic hypergolic propellants — ground crews must wear full protective suits.
The original Proton rocket launched components of both Mir and the ISS into orbit.
A faulty sensor installation caused a famous 'corkscrew' launch failure in 2013, caught on video.
Height
58.2 m
Diameter
7.4 m
Mass
705 t
Stages
3
Thrust
10,070 kN
Payload LEO
23,000 kg
Payload GTO
6,300 kg
Total flights
116
Success rate91.4%
104 success4 partial8 failure
No upcoming launches scheduled.
