A Proton-M rocket crashed in Siberia on May 16, delivering another major blow to the Russian space program. The vehicle was attempting to launch a Mexican satellite into orbit from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan.
Control thrusters on the third stage of the space vehicle may have failed, causing the mishap. This is the same system that was responsible for the destruction of another satellite exactly one year ago. Tests were carried out on the Proton-M rocket design following that accident in an attempt to correct the problem.
"The investigation into the causes of that crash showed that the third stage's control thrusters operated incorrectly... Analysis of telemetry data gives reasons to conclude that the control thrusters of the rocket's third stage failed. This theory is currently viewed among the most likely ones," an unnamed official with the Russian space program said.
The MexSat-1 was a communications satellite designed to operate in a geostationary orbit. The 5.4-ton craft was designed for Mexico by aerospace giant Boeing. The satellite would have joined a network providing 3G+ voice, data, video and Internet services to users. Instead of reaching orbit, the payload, along with the rocket, disintegrated over the Chita region of eastern Russia. There are no reports known of debris falling in the area or any injuries or damage on the ground.
Roscosmos officials have confirmed their rocket, along with its Mexican payload, burned up in the atmosphere roughly 100 miles above the ground.
"The failure happened on the 497th second of the flight, at an altitude of 161 kilometers. The third stage, the booster vehicle and the spacecraft almost completely burned up in the atmosphere. As of now there are no reports of debris reaching the ground," the space agency reported.
All Proton-M rockets have been grounded by Roscosmos officials until the problem with the delivery system can be identified and corrected. Initial results of the investigation should be released after a few weeks.
This is the latest in a series of failures by Russian spacecraft, hampering Moscow's efforts to reliably send satellites and cargo into space. On May 8, 2015, a Progress cargo ship heading to the International Space Station (ISS) was lost, coming down in the Pacific Ocean. A second Progress craft was unable to supply the ISS with a needed boost in altitude on May 16.
The MaxSat1 launch was originally scheduled for April 29, but the flight was delayed when Boeing officials reported they needed more time to test electronic systems aboard the satellite.
The last successful launch of a Proton rocket into space took place on March 29, 2015. There have been six successful flights of the system since that time.
Up to 10 tons of fuel may have remained in the vehicle when it burned up in the atmosphere. However, officials of Roshydromet, Russia's meteorology service, said the chemical presents no danger to the public or the environment.
