A Gazprom-owned communications satellite eventually reached orbit early Tuesday after space officials successfully corrected the satellite's course.
The Federal Space Agency told Interfax that the satellite was supervised by Thales Alenia Space, the European company that manufactured the satellite for state energy giant Gazprom, as it maneuvered into position.
"The planned maneuver was carried out according to plan," an unidentified space agency official said.
The Yamal-402 satellite, which was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome on Saturday, initially failed to reach its designated orbit after its Russian-made Briz-M booster block failed, news reports said.
A later attempt to correct its course also ended in failure.
Gazprom's space subsidiary, Gazprom Space Systems, ordered the satellite to offer broadcasting to customers in Russia, Western and Central Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
Experts told Interfax that the satellite's service life would be shortened by the maneuvering it took to reach orbit, as the satellite will have burned through some of its fuel supply.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.