Guardian:
The Russian Express-A4M satellite disappeared hours after it
was sent into orbit from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan,
just as flight controllers began to celebrate the launch. It
was later found to be still attached to its booster. Roscosmos,
Russia's space agency, said that the satellite's Briz-M unit,
the booster responsible for positioning it correctly in high
orbit, had fired correctly over four out of five stages, but
contact was lost before the final firing. The agency later
located the booster and, along with it, the satellite. The
A-4M's propulsion engine wasn't designed for maneuvering with
extra weight; unless it's separated from the booster it will be
unable to reach its designated geostationary orbit and station.
The satellite, which is the largest communications satellite
built in Europe thus far, was designed to provide digital
television, telephone, and internet services across the former
Soviet Union.
