Latest Proton crash further sours relations between Kazakshtan and Russia

Published: 11/8/1999

A joint investigation by Russian and Kazakh commissions, is now underway on the latest Russian Proton booster rocket crash, which happened on 27th October, shortly after blast-off from Baikonur. With an Express-A1 satellite on board, the rocket crashed over the Karaganda of Kazakhstan, with tanks containing some 30 tonnes of the highly toxic fuel, heptyl. Kazakhstan has again banned all rocket launches from Baikonur, pending the results of the investigation. Around 30 fragments of the spacecraft have been recovered in a 15-20km area near the village of Atasu. The results of checks into for heptyl contamination in soil, water and air samples are not yet available. In common with the crash, in July 1999, of another Proton rocket, the cause is reported to be the breakdown of the second stage engines. On 5th July, this happened during the 277th second of the flight. On October 27th, it occurred during the 220th second, which means that much more unburned fuel remained in the tanks. The investigation into the July accident determined that the engine breakdown was caused by poor welding on the turbogenerator cover. This defect is impossible to detect during bench tests, owing to the peculiarities of the rocket's construction. Although the specific cause of this latest crash has yet to be confirmed, it is likely to be the same defect. According to a report in Segodnya, work on preparing all previously built Proton booster rockets for launching has been suspended. Kazakhstan has warned Russia that this time it will demand more than the $270,000 compensation and the promise of punctual payments for the rental of the space centre. Ilya Klebanov, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister, has attempted to play down the incident, claiming that there is little risk of contamination from the rocket fuel, as it occurred at a high altitude over an unpopulated area. According to Klebanov, Moscow will not pressure Kazakhstan to lift the temporary ban, but he also insists that, in the circumstances, compensation is unlikely.

Article ID: 1056