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Launch of Proton rocket carrying US satellite postponed till Dec 28 — source

The launch was postponed five times

© Sergei Savostianov/TASS

MOSCOW, December 16. /TASS/. The launch of the US space satellite EchoStar-21 with Russia’s Proton rocket has been postponed again from December 22 to December 28, a source in the space rocket industry has told TASS.

"The newly-set date and time are December 28, 19:26 Moscow time," the source said without mentioning any reason why the launch has put off.

Read also

Russia develops new "medium" version of heavy Proton rocket

The Russian space corporation Roscosmos has refrained from comment.

Originally, the satellite was to be put in space in the first quarter of this year. The launch was postponed five times.

EchoStar-21 (previously named EchoStar T2 and TerreStar 2), manufactured by Space Systems/Loral is expected to provide communication services in Europe. Once in orbit, it will be included in Britain’s national register.

The previous launch of a Proton rocket was on June 9. It put in space the Intelsat 31 satellite.

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