Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko stops at Yuzhmash factory during his visit to Dnepropetrovsk.
Photo: Alexander Techinsky
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Ukraine to Answer for Zenit Crush
Interstate Russia-Ukraine commission for investigating the crush of Zenit-3SL carrier rocket on January 31 disclosed the preliminary results of its work yesterday. Experts believe that the accident’s most likely cause is the spoilage which happened during the rocket’s production in Yuzhmash R&D center in Dnepropetrovsk.
Interstate commission for investigating the crush of Zenit-3SL carrier rocket began its work in Dnepropetrovsk last week. The accident happened on January 31, when the rocket took off with a Dutch commercial telecommunications satellite NSS-8 from Odissey sea self-propelled platform of Sea Launch international cosmodrome. Zenit crushed on the first minute of its flight, falling back onto the platform and causing strong fire.
Experts found that the accident’s most probable reason was the disruption of main feed line of liquid oxygen from the fuel tank to the engine. It might be the evidence of spoilage which happened during the rocket’s production in Yuzhmash R&D center.
Russia’s Ministry of Defense suspended preparation for launching Zenit-2M carrier rocket with Tselina-2 military satellite. Lockheed Martin corporation of the U.S. said the launch of Atlas-V carrier with six military satellites for the Pentagon, scheduled for February 23, is postponed till the reasons of Zenit crush are officially announced. The matter is that Atlas-V’s primary stage has Russia-produced RD-180 engine installed on it.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Feb. 13, 2007
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