Russian rocket with advanced telecommunications satellite explodes

A Russian Proton M rocket carrying an advanced telecommunications satellite exploded shortly after launch. The destroyed satellite was to provide internet access to remote areas in Russia, among other things.

The Proton-M missile was launched from the Baykonur Russian base in Kazakhstan. After just under nine minutes, the rocket exploded at an altitude of about 150 kilometers. Parts of the missile landed in Siberia and the Pacific, but there are no reports of casualties or damage, Reuters reported.

The exact cause of the explosion is not yet clear, but the Russian space agency Roscosmos believes there may have been problems with the steering mechanism on the third part of the three-stage rocket. Until there is more certainty about the incident, Russia will no longer launch Proton M missiles. In July, a Proton M rocket also crashed, destroying three satellites worth about 150 million euros.

A valuable and advanced telecommunications satellite was lost in the accident. Among other things, the Express-AM4R was supposed to enable internet communication with remote areas in Russia, but the 5000 kg artificial satellite could also send telephony, video conferencing and other streams.