July 12, 2000
Baikonur launch site - Korolev, Moscow region.

Service Module Zvezda - the most critical Russian element of the International Space Station (ISS) - has been launched on Proton K launch vehicle and put into a low-earth orbit with inclination of 51.6° , minimum altitude of 185.1 km, maximum altitude of 352.8 km.

The launch occurred at Baikonur at 8 hours 56 minutes 36 seconds Moscow Summer Time.

In accordance with the Service Module mission plan, solar arrays and on-board antennas have been deployed, making possible radiomonitoring of the orbit and communications with Earth. Tests are now to be run on the on-board systems: star tracking system, computer system, propulsion system, rendezvous and docking system, radio systems, motion control and navigation system, thermal control system and others. By performing a few burns with its propulsion system, SM will gradually raise its orbit to the altitude of no less than 350 km, taking two weeks to approach Zarya-Unity modules in order to assure the necessary conditions for docking which is set for July 26, 2000.

The flight of Service Module Zvezda and modules Zarya-Unity is controlled by the Lead Operational Control Team (LOCT) residing in the Mission Control Center in Korolev (near Moscow) and communicating with the US Mission Control Center (Houston). LOCT consists of managers and leading experts from S.P.Korolev RSC Energia (including Flight Director, cosmonaut V.A.Soloviev), and leading experts from other companies and organizations.

The operation of the Service Module on-board systems is analyzed and supported by S.P. Korolev RSC Energia using Integrated Simulation Facility, Integrated Simulator of the Service Module Zarya (its electrical analog on the ground), and other hardware and software aids.