Proton Back in Action Next Month

Proton rocket

A Proton-M rocket is set to liftoff from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Aug. 28 with the Inmarsat-5F3 communications satellite. On May 16, an engine failure on a Proton booster destroyed the MexSat 1 satellite.

Proton has been the most troubled of Russian boosters over the past five years, with six failures, 1 partial failure and 11 spacecraft lost. One spacecraft was able to reach its intended orbit using on-board propulsion after the Proton rocket’s upper stage shut down prematurely.

The stand down has caused a backup in the Proton schedule. The launch vehicle is set to oribt the Express AM8, Garpun, Turksat 4B and Eutelsat 9B communications satellites this year.

In January, a Proton is set to launch ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter to the Red Planet.