Gazprom to launch two Yamal satellites in early September

Published: 8/26/1999

According to Energia, two Russian Yamal-100 communication satellites will be launched on September 6th 1999. The satellites, which were made to order for Gazprom, with a service life in orbit extended to 7-10 years, from the usual two of the older Russian satellites. Their receiving and transmitting equipment was assembled at Energia, in cooperation with foreign component suppliers. The satellites are intended to help facilitate digital television broadcasting, facsimile transmissions and Internet links. Initially scheduled for commission in 1998, the delay in financing, as well as design and technological problems, postponed the launch. The satellites will be launched from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, with a Proton-K booster rocket. The Khrunichev space center - the Proton manufacturer - said it hopes to reach agreement with Kazakhstan on lifting the ban on Proton launches from Baikonur within this timetable. Some reports have suggested that launches will, indeed, resume in September, but this may prove premature. The first launch of a Proton, after the widely reported crash in July 1999 (www.concise.org. 8/7/99), was scheduled to take place with an LMI-1 satellite by August 31st 1999. However, the delivery of the satellite, made by Russian-U.S. Lockheed Martin Intersputnik was delayed. It is now expected to arrive at the cosmodrome on August 27th 1999. The launch has been rescheduled for September 21-26th.

Article ID: 803