Posted: Sat, May 17, 2003, 5:44 PM ET (2144 GMT)

The Proton launch of the AMC-9 communications satellite has been delayed for the second time in as many months, International Launch Services (ILS) announced Saturday. The Proton K launch vehicle was scheduled to launch the satellite late Monday, but ILS announced Saturday that technicians had found a problem with one of the gyro units on the vehicle. The launch will be delayed to give engineers time to replace the faulty unit; no new launch date was announced. The launch had been scheduled for late April but was delayed because of a problem with the booster's Breeze M upper stage. AMC-9 is an Alcatel-built communications satellite for SES Americom that will provide video, data, and telecommunications services from 85 degrees west longitude.