MOSCOW. Feb 27 (Interfax-AVN) - Russia will launch three new Gonets-M communications satellites into space not earlier than June 2013, Dmitry Bakanov, the president of the company Gonets Satellite System, told Interfax-AVN.
"It is true that the dates are likely to be pushed back. I cannot tell you the exact date so far, but the launch may take place not sooner than at the end of June at best," Bakanov told Interfax-AVN.
He declined to say why the launch has been postponed.
The satellites were originally to be launched on April 23.
A source from the space industry told Interfax-AVN earlier that the postponement was chiefly due to mechanical problems during the launch of three military satellites on January 15, 2013.
"It looks like there was a problem either with the Briz-KM upper stage or with the control system. An interagency commission is handling the investigation. A final conclusion may be made after April 15," he said.