Experts of the Thales Alenia Space company have completed a unique operation to "rescue" Yamal-402 satellite.

On December 9 the Breeze-M upper stage of Russia's Proton heavy-lift rocket failed, placing Yamal 402 telecommunications satellite into a too-low orbit. The satellite reached geostationary orbit after the fourth ignition of its own engine.

Yamal-402 was built by Thales Alenia Space for Gazprom Space Systems.

It will join the existing group of domestic communications satellites with transponders beaming to Russian territory, as well as Western and Central Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.

Source: Voice of Russia