Russian rocket falls into sea in failed launch!

The rocket booster Zenit-3SL on the launch platform Odyssey in the Pacific

 Russian news agencies reported that a rocket carrying a communications satellite suffered engine trouble and plunged into the Pacific Ocean shortly after launch on Friday.

The unsuccessful launch of the Intelsat-27 satellite was one of several setbacks for Russia's space programme in recent years, including failed satellite launches and an unsuccessful mission to study the Mars moon Phobos.

The engine of the Zenit-3SL rocket, similar to the one pictured above, malfunctioned 50 seconds into flight 

The Zenit-3SL rocket carrying the satellite suffered engine failure shortly after liftoff, state-run Itar-Tass reported, citing a Russian space industry source. The rocket is a joint production of Ukrainian and Russian companies, it said.

Intelsat-27 was to provide services for media, government and other customers in the Americas and Europe, according to the website of Luxembourg-based Intelsat.

Russia is increasing space spending and plans to send a probe to the moon in 2015, but its celebrations in 2011 of the 50th anniversary of the Soviet achievement of putting the first man in space were marred by several botched satellite launches.

Culled from: Reuters




Word For the Day: "A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided."- Tony Robbins