Failed launch halts preparations for Proton-M rocket launches - agency
MOSCOW. August 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Federal Space Agency has suspended preparations for next launches of Proton-M carrier rockets with the Briz-M upper stage pending the results of an inquiry into the space accident that occurred on Tuesday, the agency said.
"Preparation of the upper stages for launches has been suspended pending the results of an inquiry into the accident," the agency said on its website on Tuesday.
A preliminary analysis of telemetric information has shown that the Briz-M upper stage's control system was running smoothly. "Also (the inter-agency commission) noted that the upper stage's engine failed to reach its nominal thrust, which resulted in its automatic shutdown," the statement said.
On Wednesday the commission will continue its work at the Khrunichev Space Center which designed and produced both Proton and Briz.
The Proton-M carrier rocket with a Briz-M upper stage and two communications satellites, Russia's Express-MD2 and Indonesia's Telkom 3, lifted off from Baikonur at 11:30 p.m. Moscow time on Monday. The carrier rocket was operating as usual. Subsequent delivery of the satellites was to be conducted with four engine firings of the upper stage. The third firing lasted less than it should have and the fourth one did not happen.
