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Russian specialists eliminate anomaly on Fregat booster — source

There was a micro-hole in the duct with helium and pressure started to fall during checks, a source said

Fregat booster Roscosmos

Fregat booster

MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. Russian specialists at the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana have eliminated a micro-hole on the Fregat booster intended to deliver OneWeb satellites into orbit, a source in the domestic space industry told TASS on Thursday.

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"There was a micro-hole in the duct with helium and pressure started to fall during checks. The specialists at the Kourou spaceport used standard materials and have already eliminated the micro-hole, using an ordinary repair kit. The transportation of the Fregat booster to Russia won’t be required," the source said.

The commission for the preparation and launch of OneWeb satellites, including French specialists, has given its approval for the further preparation of the Fregat upper stage for the launch, the source said.

A source in the Russian space industry earlier told TASS that a micro-hole had been found in one of the Fregat booster’s ducts. Specialists of Russia’s Lavochkin Research and Production Association were working on eliminating the problem at the Kourou spaceport, the source added.

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