Russia's Rosaviakosmos space agency has blamed a malfunctioning DM3 booster for "misplacing" the SES Astra-1K communications satellite last month. International Launch Services launched the Proton K/DM3 booster from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 26 November and the booster entered a low Earth parking orbit at 175km but failed to reignite. Rosaviakosmos says the satellite remains controllable, but is of little use in its current position and is unlikely to reach a higher orbit using its own engines.
Source: Flight International
