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Russian Mix


Tyneside, UK
2024 Mar 29
Friday, Day 89

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Russian Launch Failures 2010-2011

The following table lists the Russian failures where the launch vehicle actually left the pad between 2010 December and 2011 December.

There are six launches and eight satellites in total that were lost or rendered useless. The frightening thing for Russia is that there is no common thread regarding hardware. It perhaps reinforces the view, expressed after the Meridian 5 launch by Vladimir Popovkin, that there is a structural problem in the Russian Space Agency.


Failed to reach orbit
Proton-M + Blok DM2
Baikonur Cosmodrome,Kazakhstan

2010 Dec 6,   10:25 UTC
Cosmos  (Uragan-M № 739)
One of a triplet of navigation satellites. The launch vehicle failed to reach orbit because of an error resulting in under-fuelling of the DM-2 rocket stage.
Cosmos  (Uragan-M № 740)
One of a triplet of navigation satellites. The launch vehicle failed to reach orbit because of an error resulting in under-fuelling of the DM-2 rocket stage.
Cosmos  (Uragan-M № 741)
One of a triplet of navigation satellites. The launch vehicle failed to reach orbit because of an error resulting in under-fuelling of the DM-2 rocket stage.


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2011-005
Rockot + Briz-KM
Plesetsk Cosmodrome,Archangel Region, Russia

2011 Feb 1,   14:00 UTC
Cosmos 2470  (Geo-IK-2 № 11/Musson 2-1)
2011-005A
37362

Re-entered - 2013 Jul 15
Geodetic satellite, based on the GLONASS-M chassis with equipment including radar altimeter, laser retro reflectors plus GLONASS and GPS receivers. Aimed at 1000 km circular orbit but circularisation burn of the Briz-KM did not occur. As a result, the satellite was unable to generate sufficient power from its solar cells. Mar 2, the satellite was declared as a loss and unable to conduct its intended mission. Later in 2011 Cosmos 2470's orbit allowed its batteries to charge sufficiently for it to start working and controllers were successful in sending commands but it was unable to fulfil any of its original duties. Re-entered 2013 Jul 15 around 14:27 UTC while southbound over China.

epoch (UTC)
s-m axis
( km )

ecc
perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl
( ° )
ω 
( ° )
no orbital parameters available


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2011-045
Proton-M + Briz-M
Baikonur Cosmodrome,Kazakhstan

2011 Aug 17,   21:25 UTC
Express-AM4   
2011-045A
37798

Re-entered - 2012 Mar 25
Russian domestic Ku-band communications satellite to replace the service lost due to the failure of the earlier Express AM-2. Injected into wrong orbit through due to a computing malfunction in the launch vehicle. Intended to be stationed in geosynchronous orbit at 80° east longitude. De-orbited - any unburnt fragments fell near 40° north, 175° west 2011 Mar 25 13:32 UTC.

epoch (UTC)
s-m axis
( km )

ecc
perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl
( ° )
ω 
( ° )
no orbital parameters available

Failed to reach orbit
Soyuz-U 11A511U
Baikonur Cosmodrome,Kazakhstan

2011 Aug 24,   13:00 UTC
Progress M-12M  (Progress 7K-TGM №412)
Supplies to ISS. Soyuz-U upper stage control system detected a problem at T+325 seconds, about 30 seconds after ignition and ordered the engine to shut down. The spacecraft fell from 200 km altitude in the Gorny Altai region of southern Siberia and may have been destroyed on re-entry into the atmosphere.The finding of the investigation was failure of a gas generator, part of the engine.


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2011-065
Zenit-2SB
Baikonur Cosmodrome,Kazakhstan

2011 Nov 8,   20:16 UTC
Phobos-Grunt   
2011-065A
37872

Re-entered - 2012 Jan 15
Russian soil-sampling spacecraft also carrying Yinghuo (Firefly) 1, a detachable Chinese orbiter vehicle. Separated from the launch vehicle at 20:27 UTC and departure from parking orbit was due Nov 9, approx 01:20 UTC but the necessary motor firings did not occur. Mars arrival was due 2012 October, followed by separation of Yinghuo (mass 110 kg) and about one year studying Phobos, including collection, 2013 February, of a soil sample to reach Earth 2014 August. Launch date was within a four week launch window with opening Nov 5. Delayed from 2009 Q4. the previous window, due to hardware/software problems.

epoch (UTC)
s-m axis
( km )

ecc
perigee
( km )
apogee
( km )
period
( min )
incl
( ° )
ω 
( ° )
no orbital parameters available

Failed to reach orbit
Soyuz-2 1B + Fregat
Plesetsk Cosmodrome,Archangel Region, Russia

2011 Dec 23,   12:08 UTC
Meridian 5  (Meridian № 15L)
HEO military/government comsat to support Russian forces, commercial shipping and communication ground stations at northern latitudes across Russia. Meridian also supports the clandestine short messaging system formerly provided by the Parus satellites. Launch failed through a problem with the Soyuz third stage. Rocket and payload fell back for a destructive re-entry into the atmosphere. Fragments were recovered after they hit the Earth near Novosibirsk, Russia about 12 minutes after launch.

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