Russian rocket launch of 38 satellites delayed following technical problems
- One of the satellites awaiting lift-off is a Japanese device named Elsa-d that is supposed to collect trash, such as decommissioned satellites
- Many of the satellites, including ones from Saudi Arabia and South Korea, are sending back data about Earth
Technical problems forced Russia’s space programme to delay a rocket launch set to carry 38 satellites into the heavens, the Russian space agency Roskosmos reported on Saturday.
The new launch date was briefly pushed back to Sunday, before officials decided that the launch from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, would indeed be on Monday.
The Soyuz rocket is carrying satellites from 18 different countries.
Roskosmos provided no details about the delay.
“The reasons are of a technical nature, which happens from time to time,” said a spokesperson on the Roskosmos TV channel on Saturday.
One of the satellites awaiting lift-off is a Japanese device named Elsa-d that is supposed to collect rubbish, such as decommissioned satellites, in an effort to clear up some of the debris threatening to take up available orbits and damage satellites still in use.