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Proton Accident at Russian Space Center
By Yuri Karash
Special to SPACE.com
posted: 12:26 pm ET
16 February 2000
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Khrunichev_accident_000215_MB_ MOSCOW - During a routine test of a Proton propellant tank on Tuesday, one of the welded seams at the bottom of the rocket's tank became disjointed, a spokesman told SPACE.com. According to information released by Vesti TV News in Moscow, four employees received very minor injuries -- cuts and bruises -- when they were literally washed away by 200 tons (187,437 kilograms) of water that gushed from the tank. SPACE.com has learned that one employee was hospitalized and is expected to be released Wednesday. The accident, which took place at 9:15 a.m. local time, involved a Proton first stage. Khrunichev space center spokesman Sergey Zhiltsov, in an exclusive interview with SPACE.com, said this kind of accident is not out of the ordinary. "Statistics show that there is approximately one accident of this kind for every 20 to 25 tests," he said. Zhiltsov was not certain how this would affect Khrunichev's launch schedule. "At this point it is still unclear whether this damage will delay any of the scheduled Proton launches, Zhiltsov said. "Experts are currently studying the damage to decide whether this tank could still be used."
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