Russian proton rocket launch fails, payload of three satellites lost.

The Russian Federal Space Agency, and Krunichev State Research and Production Space Center of Moscow announced that the payload of the three Glonass-M satellites failed to reach orbit after being launched on Sunday.  An inquiry board will begin investigating the cause of the accident.

The outcome could have an effect on International Launch Services, a company in McLean, VA which is owned by Krunichev and handles the Proton launches.

ILS currently has a launch scheduled for the 20^th of this month. Despite the failure of Sunday’s launch, preparations are still being made to launch on time. It will launch with a different upper-stage, the Breeze M, instead of the Block DM used on the failed attempt. They will will be launching a consumer broadband satellite. 

A Russian Proton-M rocket carrying a Russian "GLONASS" global positioning systems satellite prepares to blast off.

Integral navigation availability for GLONASS customer (PDOP≤6) on the diurnal range for elevation not less than 5 degrees on 30 March 2010