Contamination blamed for Proton failure
Posted: Fri, Apr 28, 2006, 7:40 AM ET (1140 GMT)
The failed launch of a communications satellite on a Proton rocket nearly two months ago has been blamed on contaminants in an upper-stage propellant system, Russian investigators announced this week. The Proton M lifted off March 1 from Baikonur, carrying the Arabsat 4A satellite. The launch initially appeared to go well, but the payload was stranded in an elliptical transfer orbit when the upper stage engine shut down prematurely during the second in a series of planned burns. Russian investigators said they believe the shutdown was caused when a "foreign particle" blocked a nozzle in a hydraulic pump, shutting down the flow of oxidizer to the engine. Corrective actions to prevent the problem from taking place on future launches will be implemented by the end of May. International Launch Services, which markets the Proton to commercial customers, said they hope to resume Proton M launches by July.
The failed launch of a communications satellite on a Proton rocket nearly two months ago has been blamed on contaminants in an upper-stage propellant system, Russian investigators announced this week. The Proton M lifted off March 1 from Baikonur, carrying the Arabsat 4A satellite. The launch initially appeared to go well, but the payload was stranded in an elliptical transfer orbit when the upper stage engine shut down prematurely during the second in a series of planned burns. Russian investigators said they believe the shutdown was caused when a "foreign particle" blocked a nozzle in a hydraulic pump, shutting down the flow of oxidizer to the engine. Corrective actions to prevent the problem from taking place on future launches will be implemented by the end of May. International Launch Services, which markets the Proton to commercial customers, said they hope to resume Proton M launches by July.
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