BREEZE-M R/B

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10-day predictions

NORAD ID: 32709

Int'l Code: 2008-011B

Perigee: 542.4 km

Apogee: 26,539.1 km

Inclination: 49.1 °

Period: 466.0 minutes

Semi major axis: 19911 km

RCS: 8.7186 m² (large)

Launch date: March 14, 2008
Source: Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR) (CIS)
Launch site: TYURATAM MISSILE AND SPACE COMPLEX (TTMTR)

For the second time in six months, a commercial launch of the Russian Proton rocket ended in failure early Saturday after an undetermined problem struck the booster's upper stage, leaving the mission's DISH Network broadcasting payload in a useless orbit. The failure occurred near the end of the 34-minute-long second burn of the launcher's Breeze M upper stage, which features a single engine powered by explosive hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide propellants. The Proton was carrying AMC 14, a communications satellite owned by SES AMERICOM, a New Jersey-based satellite operator, destined to beam direct-to-home television programming for DISH Network. ILS officials provided no further details on the nature of the failure, but Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, reported the Breeze M engine shut down two minutes and 13 seconds earlier than planned.
Note: This is a ROCKET BODY