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Launch of Proton rocket carrying US satellite scheduled for December 22

The launch of the rocket, meant to deliver the US EchoStar-21 satellite into orbit, has been repeatedly postponed

MOSCOW, November 23. /TASS/. The launch of the Russian Proton-M carrier rocket, due to deliver the US EchoStar-21 satellite into orbit, has been scheduled for December 22, the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center said.

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Russia to hand launch facility for Proton rockets to Kazakhstan in 2020

The launch was initially scheduled for the first quarter of 2016 but it has been repeatedly postponed, first to August 29, then October 10 and then November 23. On November 21 the launch was delayed once again.

Proton’s previous launch was conducted on the morning of June 9, the rocket placed the Intelsat 31 satellite into orbit.

The EchoStar-21 satellite (previously known as EchoStar T2 and TerreStar 2), made by Space Systems/Loral for EchoStar Corporation, is designed for providing communication services in Europe. It will become the sixth satellite in the EchoStar orbit group put into the orbit by the Proton carrier rocket.

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