* Astronomy

The Russian Express-AM11 telecommunications satellite in geostationary orbit at 96.5 degrees east longitude, failed at 3:41 a.m. Moscow time March 29, following what its builder says was a “sudden external impact” of undetermined origin. The satellite, Express-AM11, is being moved into a graveyard orbit before on-board temperatures render it uncontrollable, the Russian Satellite Communications Co. (RSCC) announced March 30.

All communications traffic has been transferred to other RSCC spacecraft located at 80 degrees, 103 degrees and 140 degrees east longitude.

The collision, which experts say is likely to have been space junk, ruptured the satellite's thermal control system and sent it spinning out of its proper orientation and rotation.

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