Roscosmos has confirmed the transfer of the start of “Proton” with Turkish satellite – RIA Novosti

MOSCOW, October 7 – RIA Novosti. Launch rocket “Proton-M” with the Turkish satellite Turksat-4B from Baikonur postponed from 14 October 16, said on Wednesday the Federal Space Agency.

The reasons for the transfer to the release says nothing. According to sources, RIA Novosti news agency in the space industry, the transfer is not related to any problems with the “Proton”.

“The launch rocket” Proton-M “with the Turkish satellite Turksat-4B from Baikonur planned 16 October 2015, “- said in a statement.

Earlier, several sources in the space industry told RIA Novosti that the start of the carrier rocket” Proton-M “with the Turkish satellite Turksat 4B can be moved from October 14 to 16 October.

The launch weight of the spacecraft, manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric – MELCO (Japan) commissioned by the satellite operator Turksat Satellite Communication, Cable TV and Operation AS (Turkey), will exceed 4,900 kilograms. Withdrawal of the satellite into the target orbit will provide the upper stage “Breeze-M”.

The spacecraft accompanied by personnel of the manufacturer arrived at the Baikonur Cosmodrome on September 2, September 16 from the factory MV Khrunichev Khrunichev delivered to Baikonur upper stage.

The contract for the launch of the carrier rocket “Proton-M” with the spacecraft Turksat 4B signed a Russian-American joint venture International Launch Services (ILS). The company ILS has exclusive marketing rights in the world market of the Russian carrier rocket heavy class “Proton-M”. Since May 2008, a majority stake in ILS owned Federal State Unitary Enterprise “State Research and Production Space Center Khrunichev” – developer and manufacturer of rocket “Proton” and the upper stage “Breeze-M”.

Rocket booster “Proton” for the second time will be used to launch spacecraft, manufactured based on the platform MELCO. In February 2014 the carrier rocket “Proton-M” with the upper stage “Breeze-M” has successfully placed into orbit a communications satellite Turksat 4A, also created by MELCO for the Turkish operator Turksat Satellite Communication.