The launch of a Russian ILS Proton-M carrier rocket with the SES-4 satellite onboard was called off just hours before take-off due to “technical problems”.
The launch of the ILS Proton launch vehicle from the Baikonur Cosmodrome was postponed for approximately 25 days for technical reasons associated with the avionics system of the launch vehicle’s Breeze M upper stage. The additional time is needed due to the required destacking and replacement of the affected avionics unit.
The delay was called after engineers at the launch site received an anomalous telemetry reading on the upper stage during preflight testing.
The launch would have been the 70th commercial launch of a Proton carrier rocket since 1995 and the 10th launch of this type of carrier rocket this year. SES-4 is also the 50th satellite for SES.
SES-4 is a 20-kilowatt satellite with 52 C-band and 72 Ku-band transponders. It has C-band beams serving the eastern hemisphere of Europe and Africa, full coverage of the Americas, and a global beam to support mobile and maritime customers.
(The picture shows the SES-4 being delivered to the Baikonur Cosmodrome)
