Russian Proton-M Carrier Rocket Launch Postponed 24 Hours

LAUNCH PAD

File photo of a Proton M Briz M rocket

Moscow (SPX) Dec 06, 2005
The launch of a Proton-M Russian carrier rocket, carrying a U.S. AMC-23 satellite (WorldSat-3) has been postponed by one day, until December 7, RIA Novosti reported a space agency official as saying Monday.

"The launch was postponed due to the revealed problems in the systems of the Russian Briz-M booster, manufactured by the Khrunichev center," Federal Space Agency spokesman Vyacheslav Davidenko said.

The AMC-23/WorldSat-3 was manufactured by French company AAS and is owned by the United States' SES Americom, a provider of satellite communications. The satellite has a flight weight of 5.027kg and a calculated service life of 16 years writes RIA Novosti.

Proton-M carrier rockets and Briz-M boosters are manufactured by the Russian Khrunichev Space Center.

Launch services are provided under contract with the joint venture International Launch Services (ILS), which includes Lockheed Martin and Khrunichev.

LAUNCH PAD

First Brazilian Rocket Launched From Esrange

Esrange, Sweden (SPX) Dec 02, 2005
Thursday, the Texus-EML sounding rocket which is jointly funded by ESA and DLR was successfully launched from Esrange at 09.04 UT. The Brazilian rocket motor VSB-30, was used for the very first time at Esrange. The flight provided 6 minutes and 37 seconds of microgravity as planned.