Russia's space agency Roscosmos has approved the postponement of the launch of a Proton-M carrier rocket with the European Eutelsat 9B communications satellite until January 30 due to weather-related logistical issues, the United Rocket and Space Corporation (URSC) said Thursday.

The launch, previously scheduled for January will be carried January 30 at 01.20 Moscow time from the Baikonur space center in Kazakhstan (22:20 GMT on January 29), URSC said in a statement.

According to the company, the preparation for the launch is continuing without any technical issues.

The Proton-M, produced by Russia's Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, is the largest carrier rocket in the country's space launch vehicle fleet. The rocket has lifted dozens of Russian-made and foreign satellites since it was first launched in 2001.

In October, a subsidiary of Khrunichev Center signed a contract with Eutelsat to put the French-based company's satellites into orbit during the period of 2016-2023.

According to the Khrunichev Center, the Russian Proton carrier rockets launched 11 Eutelsat satellites over the past 15 years.

Source: Sputnik News