Launch of Proton rocket with Echostar-21 satellite postponed till next week - source
BAIKONUR. Jan 18 (Interfax) - The launch of a Proton carrier rocket with the Echostar-21 satellite from Baikonur has been postponed again, a source at the cosmodrome told Interfax on Wednesday.
"The launch of the Echostar-21 spacecraft is being delayed by a week for non-technical reasons," he said.
It was reported earlier that the satellite was to be launched on February 2.
A source at the cosmodrome told Interfax earlier that specialists at Khrunichev State Space Center were working to eliminate the problem detected in late 2016 at the final stage of preparations for the launch.
The malfunction caused the launch date to be moved from December 28 to 2017. It was initially planned to change the launch date to January 31.
The Echostar-21 is a geostationary communications satellite made by Space Systems/Loral for one of the world's biggest satellite communications operators, EchoStar Corporation (USA). The satellite is designed to provide mobile and satellite communications services over Europe. The Echostar-21 is to become a sixth satellite in the Echostar orbital group to be launched via a Proton carrier rocket.
