Turbopump bearing blamed for Proton failure
Posted: Thu, Jun 12, 2014, 7:53 AM ET (1153 GMT)
Russian officials have blamed a Proton launch failure last month on a faulty turbopump bearing in the rocket's upper stage. The head of Roscosmos, Oleg Ostapenko, said that the final report into the May 16 launch failure confirmed an initial investigation that the failed bearing forced the engine to shut down, causing the upper stage and its payload to reenter over China. Ostapenko said Roscosmos has not set a date for resuming Proton launches. Plans for the inaugural launch of the Angara rocket, scheduled for June 25, will continue as planned, he said, although "extra equipment inspections" of the vehicle are planned. The launch failure destroyed the Express АМ4R communications satellite.
Russian officials have blamed a Proton launch failure last month on a faulty turbopump bearing in the rocket's upper stage. The head of Roscosmos, Oleg Ostapenko, said that the final report into the May 16 launch failure confirmed an initial investigation that the failed bearing forced the engine to shut down, causing the upper stage and its payload to reenter over China. Ostapenko said Roscosmos has not set a date for resuming Proton launches. Plans for the inaugural launch of the Angara rocket, scheduled for June 25, will continue as planned, he said, although "extra equipment inspections" of the vehicle are planned. The launch failure destroyed the Express АМ4R communications satellite.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, March 17
INNOSPACE Identifies Cause of HANBIT-Nano Mission Termination Through Joint Investigation with Brazil’s CENIPA
INNOspace — 5:27 am ET (0927 GMT) ESA-enabled helical antenna innovations boost space-based connectivity
ESA — 5:27 am ET (0927 GMT) Innospace Identifies Gas Leak as Cause of Aborted Launch
Chosun Ilbo — 5:24 am ET (0924 GMT) Canada Leases Space Port in Bid to Break Reliance on US Rockets Like Musk’s SpaceX
Bloomberg News — 5:22 am ET (0922 GMT) 'Big Short' investor Michael Burry flags criticism of proposed rule change to fast-track SpaceX joining the Nasdaq
Business Insider — 5:21 am ET (0921 GMT) |
