Helicopter of Emergencies Ministry to check area where Proton’s debris may fall

MOSCOW, May 16. /TASS/. A Mi8 helicopter of Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has left for an area, to where debris of Proton-M carrier may fall, a source at the space sector told TASS on Saturday.

"From the Khilok settlement in the Chita region, the helicopter went to the proposed area, which is about 130 kilometres from the settlement," the source said.

Local residents have not reported or claimed anything regarding possible debris.

An emergency situation happened during the flight of Proton-M carrier, which was launched on Saturday from the Baikonur cosmodrome at 08:47 Moscow time, at 08:56 Moscow time, one minute to the scheduled separation of the Briz-M booster and the Mexican MexSat-1 space apparatus, which was to be taken to the orbit.