MOSCOW. Dec 10 (Interfax-AVN) - The Astra-1K space satellite was immersed in the Pacific Ocean in accordance with the decision taken by the European Union Operators Association.
"At a decision of the European Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), the Astra 1K's engines received a deceleration command from the mission control center in Zurich to leave orbit. It was driven into the southern part of the Pacific and sank at 4:19 a.m. Moscow time (0119 GMT) on Tuesday," Sergei Derevyashkin, an official of the Russian Space Troops press service, told Interfax-Military News Agency Tuesday.
Thus, the satellite, which failed to reach its intended orbit, was destroyed at its owners' decision, he said.
The Astra-1K, a 5-tonne telecom satellite, was launched on the Proton launcher from the Baikonur space center November 26 to be settled on the 36,000-km geostationary orbit. However, the launcher failed to place it correctly.
The 15t of not consumed rocket fuel of the acceleration unit dispersed in the outer space after the acceleration unit had left the spacecraft, experts say.