The launch of European Astra-2G telecommunication satellite scheduled for November 28 was indefinitely postponed. Proton-M booster already installed on the launchpad will be transported back to the integration building.
After prelaunch testing of the booster and Briz-M upper stage there was a decision taken to postpone the launch and remove the booster from the launchpad.
The reason of the launch postponement was the problems with the upper stage, – aerospace industry spokesman reported. There were some faults in Briz-M facilities operation. That’s why the decision was made to remove the rocket from the launching pad and go on further thorough testing in the integration building, – the spokesman stated. According to him the delay may amount up to several weeks. “Anyway it is better to spend more time on the ground, than to lose space device costing several hundred million Euro”, – he stated.
