McLean-based space launch company International Launch Services has scheduled its first mission following the failure of its Proton rocket last month.
ILS has a joint venture with the Russian government to market the launch of satellites and other commercial payloads using the Proton vehicle.
On Sept. 6, the Proton failed to properly place a satellite for a Tokyo telecommunications company, JSAT Corp.
According to a report from the Russian State Commission, which investigated the failure, it occurred because there was a damaged firing cable that kept two parts of the rocket from separating.
The next ILS launch will be Nov. 18, spokeswoman Fran Slimmer confirmed Monday.
ILS will haul a satellite for SES Sirius of Sweden, a telecommunications firm that is not related to New York-based Sirius Satellite Radio.
Slimmer said ILS established its own review board, which looked at last month’s accident, agreed with the Russian commission’s findings and took corrective action to fix the problem with the cable.
“That’s why we were able to go forward with the launch date,” she said.
JSAT said last month in a statement that the financial effect of the failure to the company is expected to be negligible because the satellite and launch costs were insured.
The Proton rocket will get another chance to launch successfully before the Sirius takeoff; the Russian government has a navigation satellite called Glonass scheduled for takeoff Thursday, though ILS is not affiliated with the mission, Slimmer said.
