Asia Satellite Communications has ordered an Asiasat 3S from Hughes to replace the Asiasat 3 satellite stranded in orbit after an ILS International Launch Services Proton launch failure on 25 December last year.
Asia Satellite received $200 million insurance compensation for the loss and will use the funds for the 3S satellite. This will be launched within 15 months on a Proton, "subject to satisfactory results from the failure investigation", the company says.
The Proton K's second stage cut off 1s into its planned 110s firing after the failure of a faulty gasket in the fuel turbopump.
Source: Flight International