Ukrainian, Russian and US specialists study reasons of launch vehicle Zenit-3SL failure

KYIV, February 5 /UKRINFORM/. Ukrainian, Russian and U.S. specialists study the cause of the failure of the launch vehicle Zenit-3SL, its unsuccessful launch was held on February 1, which ended with the fall of the launch vehicle in the Pacific Ocean.

The Yuzhmash press-service reported about this.

"Currently, a commission was formed with experts of the Sea Launch corporation, Yuzhmash, NGO Energomash, RSC Energia and Scientific-Production Center of Automatics and Instrument-Making (SUE SICAIE),” a statement specifies.

An express analysis of received telemetric data allows making a preliminary conclusion that the first-stage propulsion system and a control system of the launch vehicle were operating normally.

Documentation analysis, conducted by the propulsion system manufacturer enterprise (NGO Energomash) and the control system (SUE SICAIE), showed that no variations were allowed in their production.

The enterprise reminded that on February 1, the start of the launch vehicle Zenit-2S was implemented from the space-rocket complex Sea Launch with the upper stage DM-SL and the spacecraft Intelsat 27 (USA).

After the start, the failure of the launch vehicle began at the initial stage, on which the propulsion system did not react over 20 seconds. Following that, a command was formed for the emergency engine shut off and the flight of the launch vehicle was stopped.

The launch was held by the international joint stock company Sea Launch (USA). This launch was the first setback for the Sea Launch over the past six years.

Booster Zenit-2S was manufactured at SE Yuzhmash. Some component elements, the propulsion system of the first stage, the upper stage block DM-SL and the control system, were made by the Russian enterprises.