科技英语新闻:Russia determines cause of failed satellite launch

MOSCOW, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Russia's space agency said Tuesday that a Proton-M rocket launch failed earlier this month because of a malfunction in the upper stage.

The conclusion was reached by an independent investigation commission following a series of checks, Roscosmos said in a report that was posted on its website.

"The commission reported that the time span reserved for the gyrostabilized platform's turn was miscalculated and narrowed, which caused the Briz-M upper stage's disorientation and the satellite's journey to a wrong orbit," the agency said.

Other systems in the upper stage performed well, the agency said, adding it has lifted a ban on launches of the Proton-M carrier rockets equipped with the Briz-M upper stage.

Local media reported the Briz-M, manufactured by the Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, has had five failures over its 12-year history of operation.

On Aug. 18, a Proton-M carrier rocket failed to deliver a communications satellite into orbit. After the failure, Russia suspended launches of Proton-M rockets pending the outcome of an investigation into the failure.