Client Pauses Launch of Proton Rocket Carrying British Satellite

The launch of a Proton-M space rocket carrying a UK-built Inmarsat satellite was postponed until February 1 at the request of the client, the Russian Federal Space Agency reported.

MOSCOW, January 16 (Sputnik) — The Russian Federal Space Agency has postponed until February 1 the launch of a Proton-M carrier rocket carrying a UK-built Inmarsat satellite upon request of the client, the agency's spokesperson told RIA Novosti Friday.

"At the request of the client, a decision postponing the launch until February 1 has been made," the spokesperson told RIA Novosti, without specifying details.

The Proton-M is the largest carrier rocket in Russia's space launch vehicle fleet. The rocket has lifted dozens of Russian and foreign satellites into orbit since its first launch in 2001.

This will be the second of two Inmarsat-5 satellites to be launched by International Launch Services using the Proton carrier rocket. The first satellite was successfully placed in orbit in December 2013.