MOSCOW. March 10 (Interfax) - The launch date for the Proton-M carrier rocket with Express satellites from Baikonur has been changed from March 31 to the end of May, Khrunichev Center General Director Alexei Varochko said.
"In order to ensure reliability and guarantee the performance of its obligations, the Khrunichev Center has decided to replace a series of parts, including on the Proton-M rocket currently at a technical complex at Baikonur cosmodrome, for the launch of the Express space satellites," Varochko was quoted by Roscosmos as saying on Tuesday.
The replacement is related to a defect found in one of the parameters during quality control of the parts, he said.
"Given the need to conduct a regular cycle of checks on the carrier rocket after the replacement of the parts, the satellites' launch date is planned to be moved to the end of May of this year," Varochko said.