MOSCOW, June 11 (RIA Novosti) – The investigation into the crash of the Proton-M carrier rocket with communications satellite Express АМ4R is complete, and all of the documents have been transferred to the Russian Government, a representative of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) told RIA Novosti.
“The Interdepartmental Commission has completed its work. In accordance with procedure, the results have been transferred for further study by the Russian Government,” the representative said.
A source in the space industry told RIA Novosti the results could be announced Wednesday by Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who is responsible for the space and defense industries.
“It’s possible that Dmitry Rogozin will announce the results on Wednesday,” the source said.
Launched on May 16, from Baikonur, the Proton-M carrier rocket collided with communications satellite Express АМ4R and burned up in the atmosphere above China, leaving Russia without its most powerful telecommunications satellite. The Interdepartmental Commission looked at four possible causes of the crash, the most likely being that the turbo-pump bearing in the control engine of its third stage failed. The commission also considered the possibility of sabotage.
