Tim Furniss/LONDON
The launch by International Launch Services (ILS) of a Russian Proton booster carrying the Lockheed Martin Garuda 1 satellite for Asia Cellular Satellite (ACeS) is set for 12 February from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
This date depends, however, upon Kazakhstan lifting the ban on launches it imposed after last October's Proton failure - the second of the year.
The Garuda insurers have given the launch the go-ahead, having switched the launch schedule with three Russian Glonass satellites. The insurers previously requested that one successful Proton flight should be conducted before entrusting the Russian booster to the ACeS company's first satellite.
ILS says the second-stage engines for the Garuda's Proton have been inspected and cleared for flight, but a test firing on a second-stage engine will have to be made first.
The two Proton failures in July and October last year have been attributed to bad workmanship at the Voronezh Mechanical Engine Plant (Flight International, 18-24 January).
The Proton could make up to 14 launches this year, according to the Russian Space Aviation Agency. Six to nine of these launches will be made by ILS.
Source: Flight International