spacetoday.net: Turbopump bearing blamed for Proton failure

Posted: Thu, Jun 12, 2014, 7:53 AM ET (1153 GMT)
Proton launch of Express-AM4R

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.