Photos: Proton Rocket Assembly for Return to Flight Mission after Lengthy Stand-Down

A Russian Proton Rocket is assembled at the Baikonur Cosmodrome for a long-awaited mission, coming almost a full year after the most recent launch of the heavy-lift vehicle. The Proton/EchoStar launch campaign had to be abandoned in December when it became clear that all existing Proton vehicles were outfitted with potentially flawed engines – requiring replacement before stages could be again shipped to the Baikonur Cosmodrome.

All Photos: International Launch Services