MOSCOW. June 9 (Interfax) - A rocket connector defect has delayed the takeoff of a Proton-M launch vehicle coupled with the Intelsat DLA-2 satellite for one day, International Launch Services (ILS), a Russian-U.S. joint venture providing commercial launches of Proton-M rockets, said in its report.
"Following the additional verifications of the cables and connectors associated with last night's issue which resulted in a delay to the Intelsat 31 launch, the problem has been isolated to a connector on the flight vehicle. The ground system was wrongly identified as the cause of today's delay. The flight connector issue has been resolved and the vehicle cleared for flight," said the report posted on the ILS website.
A source from the rocket and space industry told Interfax that the connector defect was found in the Proton-M launch vehicle.
"The defect was timely found and repaired," the source said.
It was reported earlier that the Proton-M mission from Baikonur was delayed for one day due to a technical issue.
The IntelsatDLA-2 satellite was built by the U.S. company Space Systems Loral on orders from the U.S. satellite communication operator Intelsat S.A. The satellite weighs 6,320 kilograms, and carries ten C transponders and 72 Ku transponders.
The satellite will be put into a geostationary orbit at 95 degrees west, and will provide direct television broadcasting services to Latin America for 15 years.