The rumor coming out of the Russian space press is that a fuel line that was changed out failed (possible gasket failure).
(translated from Russian)
Cable leaked a couple of satellites
The Commission seeks the causes of the emergency booster "Briz-M" in the fuel system
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Yesterday at the State Research and Production Space Center (Khrunichev) them. Khrunichev interdepartmental committee to clarify the contingency of the upper stage "Breeze-M" at a second meeting. The specialists consider several versions of what happened, but according to "Kommersant", the most likely cause of the accident is considered to be mechanical failure of the main cable, the fuel supply. However, according to sources, "b", the ban on the launch bundles "Proton-M" and "the Briz-M" will be removed before the end of next week, but before you start using all the products will now undergo further testing.
Yesterday morning, the specialists of the Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) managed to get the full amount of telemetry data from the board, "the Briz-M", which, as reported by the "b" the day before, was the cause of abnormal start launcher "Proton-M" with communication satellites "Express MD2 'and Telcom-3. According to the source "b" in the inter-ministerial committee, the situation is complicated by the fact that "razgonnik" spinning in space and the signal can be obtained only when the antenna was oriented to the Earth - that's why the process took almost all night.
The Commission, headed by First Deputy General Director of FSUE "Central Research Institute of Machine Building" Oleg Skorobogatova, Khrunichev was collected in them. Khrunichev. The work itself was carried out, according to the "Y", six working groups in key areas: organizational, telemetry, to investigate the causes of the incident (four groups).
According to the results obtained by telemetry experts yesterday found that after seven seconds after the second turn passed command to automatically disable the propulsion system. Sources of "b" are confident that the problem lies precisely in its work, since the analysis of telemetry is practically ruled out a version with a failure in the control system. "It was established that after the second turn the propulsion system pressure has fallen sharply in the fuel tank. This led to the nominal thrust has been achieved - the source says," b "in the commission. - In connection with this electronics automatically issued a command to switch off the engine ". That is why, according to him, including third set was not dismantled.
The pressure drop could be caused by several factors. According to sources, "b" is either the presence of foreign objects in the tank, which could cause obstruction of the main cable, or its mechanical failure. "This option (mechanical damage. -
"b" ) looks more real. Besides a few weeks ago, the cable had to re-run because of some problems. Therefore, the start had to be postponed for two weeks - the source says, "b" in Roskosmos. - There's a lot of rubber gaskets that could fall. For this type of product, even the slightest bend can be fatal. " According to the source "b" variant with blockages can not be excluded completely, although "it looks extremely unlikely." Recall that this blockage was the cause of abnormal motor unit (RD-0110) third stage rocket "Soyuz-U", which caused the truck accident Space "Progress M12-M" (see "Kommersant" on August 25, 2011).
However, according to the "Y" to the end of next week's Federal Space Agency could lift the ban on flights of rockets "Proton-M" with the upper stage "Breeze-M". This will be done in order to not disrupt the schedule of launches in the coming months: for example, on August 23 should be launched into orbit spacecraft Intelsat-23, September 8, planned to launch satellites, "Ray-5B" and "Yamal-300 K," is scheduled September 25 launch vehicle EchoStar-16, October 13 - Satmex-8, and on November 22 - Anik-G1. But at the same time, according to a source "b" in the Russian Space Agency, will be additional measures to verify the "razgonnikov", which are already at the launch site.
In addition, as the source added, "b", now the leadership of Russian Space Agency, the issue of fundamental change in the system testing of launch vehicles of all types. In particular, we plan to introduce additional testing representatives of Federal Space Agency has already started at the stage of assembly, it is finished, and already immediately after the removal of rockets on the launch pad. To date, validation occurs only in the latter case, and is based on the conclusion of the state commission.
Ivan Safronov
