Proton upper stage failure strands two satellites in transfer orbit
Posted: Tue, Aug 7, 2012, 4:54 PM ET (2054 GMT)
The upper stage of a Proton rocket that lifted off Tuesday malfunctioned, stranding its payload of two communications satellites in an intermediate orbit. The Proton M rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 3:31 pm EDT Monday (1931 GMT Monday, 1:31 am local time Tuesday) carrying the Express MD2 and Telkom 3 satellites. The two were destined to go to geosynchronous transfer orbit, but a malfunction with the Breeze M upper stage stranded the spacecraft in an "off-nominal intermediate" orbit with an apogee of only 6,000 kilometers, far short of GEO and with little chance of rescue. The failure was apparently associated with the third of four engine burns by the upper stage. Russian media reports indicate that Proton launches will be suspended while the failure is being investigated.
The upper stage of a Proton rocket that lifted off Tuesday malfunctioned, stranding its payload of two communications satellites in an intermediate orbit. The Proton M rocket lifted off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 3:31 pm EDT Monday (1931 GMT Monday, 1:31 am local time Tuesday) carrying the Express MD2 and Telkom 3 satellites. The two were destined to go to geosynchronous transfer orbit, but a malfunction with the Breeze M upper stage stranded the spacecraft in an "off-nominal intermediate" orbit with an apogee of only 6,000 kilometers, far short of GEO and with little chance of rescue. The failure was apparently associated with the third of four engine burns by the upper stage. Russian media reports indicate that Proton launches will be suspended while the failure is being investigated.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
FAA restricts hours for commercial launches during shutdown
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 9:05 AM ET (1405 GMT) China postpones Shenzhou-20 return on orbital debris concerns
Posted: Sun, Nov 9 8:58 AM ET (1358 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Saturday, November 15
Emirates to put Starlink on aircraft in major win for SpaceX
Bloomberg News — 5:11 am ET (1011 GMT) DOJ Issued Seizure Warrant to Starlink Over Satellite Internet Systems Used at Scam Compound
Wired News — 5:09 am ET (1009 GMT) New Glenn Rocket Aces Launch and Landing, Setting Up Space Force for More Options
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 5:06 am ET (1006 GMT) Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket landed its booster on a barge at sea – an achievement that will broaden the commercial spaceflight market
The Conversation — 5:05 am ET (1005 GMT) Second Viasat Broadband Satellite Enters Space
Aviation Week — 5:04 am ET (1004 GMT) |
