MOSCOW. Dec 27 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia plans to launch a new-generation geostationary hydrometeorological satellite, Elektro-L, on January 20, 2011, a Russian space rocket industry source told Interfax-AVN.
The launch was originally planned for December 25, 2010.
"The launch of a Zenit-2SB launch vehicle coupled with a Fregat-SB upper stage and carrying the first Elektro-L satellite will open the Russian 2011 space launch program. The launch from the Baikonur space center is planned for January 20," the source said.
The source explained the postponement of the launch by the fact that the Fregat-SB is an absolutely new version of an upper stage, and therefore "a decision has been made to carry out the full cycle of additional tests of all of its systems and check its technical and design documentation."