spacetoday.net: Proton launch delayed

Updated: Mon, Dec 5, 2005, 7:52 PM ET (0052 GMT)
Originally Posted: Mon, Dec 5, 2005, 1:43 PM ET (1843 GMT)
Proton launch of Intelsat 10-02 (ILS)

The launch of a Proton rocket carrying a commercial communications satellite has been delayed because of a technical problem, Russian officials said Monday. The Proton-M was scheduled to lift off early Tuesday, carrying the AMC-23 communications satellite for SES Americom. Officials told the Russian news media that the launch was postponed after a problem was detected in the control systems in the Briz-M upper stage. Although Russian reports indicated that the launch would be delayed only one day, International Launch Services (ILS) announced in a press release Monday that the launch had not been rescheduled. According to ILS, the Proton will be returned to the processing facility to investigate the problem.