Tags: International Launch Services, Satellite Launch, Gazprom, Satmex, Thales Alenia Space
Publication: Space.com
Publication Date: 12/09/2012

The Yamal 402 satellite on board the Proton rocket ready to launch at the the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 9. Image credit: ILS

Russian Proton heavy-lift rocket launched by International Launch Services from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Dec. 9 suffered a failure, delivering Gazprom Space System’s telecommunication satellite, Yamal 402, into a lower orbit than desired. This marks the third failure of the rocket in 16 months.

The Yamal 402 satellite, built by Thales Alenia Space, has the capacity to boost itself into a better position but the rocket failure will likely mean that its operational life will be reduced significantly.

The failure threatens the launch of the next Satelites Mexicanos launch originally scheduled for Dec. 28. The Satmex 8 would replace the Satmex 5 satellite, which is expected to run out of fuel in May. If the launch is delayed, Satmex’s customers may turn to other providers, jeopardizing even more the already fragile financial condition of the company.

According to ILS, both a Russian government inquiry board and an independent ILS board will investigate the failure.

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