spacetoday.net: Russia, Kazakhstan debate Dnepr crash compensation

Posted: Tue, Aug 15, 2006, 8:16 AM ET (1216 GMT)
Dnepr launch (Kosmotras)

The governments of Russia and Kazakhstan are debating how much money Kazakhstan should receive in compensation after a Russian Dnepr rocket crashed there last month, souring relations between the two countries. The Dnepr rocket, carrying 18 small satellites, crashed shortly after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on July 26. No one was injured when the rocket crashed in isolated terrain 150 kilometers south of the launch site, creating a crater 50 meters across and 15 meters deep, although there have been concerns about groundwater contamination caused by the rocket's toxic propellants. Russian officials have promised to pay compensation to Kazakhstan for the crash, under terms of the agreement whereby Russia leases the Baikonur launch site but have balked at a Kazakh estimate of $340 million in environmental damage. The cause of the failure may have been an overheated combustion chamber, Russian officials said.