SES-4 delayed again
January 30, 2012
By Chris Forrester
The planned launch last Friday evening (January 29) has again been delayed because of problems on the Proton/Breeze-M rocket. The satellite was originally scheduled for a launch back on December 26, when it was delayed for technical reasons.
This latest delay looks more worrying. Russian federal space agency Roscosmos admits the delay is “indefinite” and that the satellite and its launch assembly are being dismantled and removed from the launch pad into the safety of the integration building.
“The date and time of the launch will be established after all registered problems are fixed and additional tests are held,” the statement read.
SES-4 is the largest-ever SES satellite, built by SpaceSystems/Loral and designed to orbit for the Middle East, African, European and Latin American markets.