launched from Russia

Astra 1K

Failure
NOV 25200223:04:00 UTC

Astra 1K was, at launch, the largest civilian communications satellite ever flown, a five-tonne SES spacecraft. The Blok DM upper stage was commanded to separate after only its first burn, stranding the satellite in a low parking orbit from which it could not reach geostationary altitude. It was deliberately de-orbited weeks later, one of the costliest commercial launch losses of its era.

launched from Pad 81/23 Baikonur

aboard Proton K/DM-2M into LEO

Payload

Astra 1K

Communications

last updated May 29, 2026