On 25th November 2002, SES Astra launched the new Astra 1K from Baikonur Spaceport in Kazakhstan. The Proton rocket launched perfectly on time, but due to a 4th stage ignition failure, 1K was left in a useless low earth orbit. The links below lead to various pages that are deal with various aspects of the now lost satellite, or which reported the launch mishap over the following days. These press reports are taken from various organisations.
The Astra 1K transmission footprints
The Astra 1K planned launch orbits
Press releases relating to Astra 1K
Astra 1K delivery - press release Alcatel Space 25th October 2002
Press Release from International Launch Services (the launch company) - 26th November 2002
Press Release from SES Astra - 26th November 2002
News from RIA Novosti (Russian News Company) - 26th November 2002
Technical Item about the failure (www.space.com) - 26th November 2002
Press Release from SES Astra - 28th November 2002
Press Release from Orbital Recovery Corporation - 5th December 2002
Press Release from SES Astra - 1K destroyed - 10th December 2002
Press Release from ILS - initial review of accident - 29th January 2003
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