Fwd: Proton Launch Failure Update: Culprit Found; Special group to be set up for inspecting production of Proton

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From: "Robert Hooi" <rwlh21@sbcglobal.net>
Date: July 13, 2013 6:38:09 PM GMT-06:00
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Subject: Fw: Proton Launch Failure Update: Culprit Found; Special group to be set up for inspecting production of Proton

 

 

 

July 10, 2013 at 03:07

 

Proton Launch Failure Update: Culprit Found

Merryl Azriel

 

Angular velocity sensors installed upside down may account for a July 1 Proton-M launch taking a nosedive (Credits: Rossiya 24).

It appears a likely culprit of the July 1 Proton-M launch failure has been discovered. In the first English-language report, Anatoly Zak of RussianSpaceWeb, relates that investigators combing through wreckage from the crash discovered that the angular velocity sensors known as DUS were installed upside down.

"Each of those sensors had an arrow that was suppose to point toward the top of the vehicle, however multiple sensors on the failed rocket were pointing downward instead," says Zak. "As a result, the flight control system was receiving wrong information about the position of the rocket and tried to 'correct' it, causing the vehicle to swing wildly and, ultimately, crash."

The unit was apparently installed by an inexperienced technician. "It appeared that no visual control of the faulty installation had been conducted, while electrical checks had not detected the problem since all circuits had been working correctly," says Zak.

There may have been additional problems with the flight, since faulty installation of the DUS would not seem to explain the apparent engine fire at liftoff.

It now appears that the three GLONASS-M satellites that burned up with their launch vehicle were not insured. Russia has announced plans to launch two replacement satellites this fall from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.

 

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Special group to be set up for inspecting production of Proton-M carrier rockets

 

 

Proton-M rocket

 

Photo: RIA Novosti

A special group of experts will be set up at the Khrunichev State Space Research Center for inspecting the entire technological chain of manufacturing the Proton-M carrier rocket, which collapsed on the ground within a minute after liftoff from the Baikonur Space Center a week ago, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin told Russian radio station Echo of Moscow.

He indicated, however, that the group will not include any specialists on the Khrunichev Center's payroll.

"We're setting up a technology inspecting group now that will include experts from other aerospace companies, the ones who are not linked to the causes of the accident in any way, not the Krunichev Center people," Rogozin said. "They will inspect the whole technological chain at the enterprise where the /Proton M/ rocket was manufactured."

He indicated that the misfortunate carrier rocket was built in November 2011 and was taken to Baikonur about a year ago.

The Proton-M that lifted off at 02:38 GMT July 2 exploded and came down to the ground within the first 60 seconds after liftoff. It was supposed to put into orbit three satellites of Russia's national GLONASS global navigation system.

Earlier, the director of Russia's Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Vladimir Popovkin said a commission investigating the accident might name its causes already before the end of this month.

Voice of Russia, TASS

 

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