Proton Failure Follows Troublesome July IncidentWednesday'sexplosion of a Proton rocket puts a second blemish on the industry recordfor launches of the Russian launch vehicle, coming less than four monthsafter a similar failure at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazahkstan.The July 5 failure, attributedto dustthat clogged an engine in the rockets second stage, resulted in Kazakhstaninitially banning all Russian launches from Baikonur.
The politicalfallout grew heated, with the head of the Kazakhstan Space Agency sayinghe wanted his country to have the right to approve monthly launch schedulesat Baikonur and a percentage of profits from launches.
The ban threatened a supplymission to the Mir space station, which was at risk for crashing toEarth if Kazakhstan failed to make an exception for the launch.That crisis was averted afterRussiaagreed to pay back rent owed to Kazakhstan for use of the cosmodrome.
Kazakhstan responded by easingthe ban so that it applied just to Proton launches, the main workhorsesof the Russian rocket arsenal. A Soyuz rocket with the supply ship wentup successfully on September 16.
Once an investigation wasconcluded, Kazakhstan lifted the ban and the row ended with a September6 launch of Proton from Baikonur
The ban prevented InternationalLaunch Services, the American/Russian joint venture that launches theAmerican-built Atlas II and the Russian-built Proton rockets, from launchingits payload from Baikonur until September 27 (local time).
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