MOSCOW, November 15 (RIA Novosti) – A broken communications cable which severed Russian links with civilian satellites has been repaired, Russian telecom operator Akado said on Thursday.
“The broken cable has been restored. Now the operator is testing the communications line together with [Russian space agency] Roscosmos,” company spokesman Denis Rychka said.
Three teams worked at the site outside Moscow to repair the cable, he said.
The cable serving the Russian mission control center at Korolev near Moscow was cut by construction workers on Wednesday. As a result, controllers could not send commands to satellites or the Russian segments of the ISS.
The emergency has not affected communications with the Russian segment of the International Space Station, Roscosmos said.
The Defense Ministry said its military satellites were also not affected as it uses its own communications channels.
Roscosmos spokesman said the return to earth of cosmonauts Yury Malenchenko, Sunita Williams and Akihiko Hoshide from the ISS remains scheduled for November 19 despite the incident.