The Russian communications satellite Express AM-7 has been successfully launched by a Proton M Breeze M rocket flying from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, near Tyratam in Kazakhstan. Lift off occurred at 2205 GMT on 18 March 2015. The 5,720kg spacecraft was built by European spacecraft manufacturer, Airbus Defence and Space using its Eurostar E3000 platform/bus design. The spacecraft was built and launched for the state run firm, the Russian Satellite Communications Company (RSCC). The Proton launch was a “government” one with the launch services provided by Khrunichev directly.