For reasons still unknown, the liftoff of Russia's Angara rocket -- the first new rocket designed and built since the fall of the Soviet Union -- was scratched at the very last second Friday.
Just moments before liftoff, the rocket's computers automatically aborted the launch, apparently having detected some sort of problem. Russia's Lieutenant General Alexander Golovko told Interfax the launch has been rescheduled for Saturday.
Tensions were apparently running high at the Kremlin in the wake of the botched launch. According to the Moscow Times, President Vladimir Putin told Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu -- after watching the launch abandoned on a live stream in a Kremlin conference room -- that he had just one hour to sort out the problem and report back.
It's the latest a long series of failures over the last decade. Just last month Russia's Proton-M booster ended in failure. The summer before, the same rocket crashed and burned. Three navigation satellites, worth $200 million, were destroyed in the accident.
Russian officials have since deflected the embarrassment by suggesting the mishap was the result of international sabotage. Russia's Ministry of Interior launched a criminal case, levying the charge of "Intentional destruction or waste of property which caused human death through negligence or other grave consequences."
Experts have suggested Russia's failures are a product of diminished funding and brain drain of the last decade, not outside manipulation.
GMT 16:03 2018 Wednesday ,28 November
Executive Office of Arab Ministers of Communications starts in CairoGMT 09:09 2018 Thursday ,15 November
Syria, Iran discuss enhancing scientific cooperationGMT 09:53 2018 Wednesday ,07 November
Drones bring innovation to Africa, from Morocco to MalawiGMT 11:31 2018 Wednesday ,17 October
Japan high-tech fair CEATEC opens in ChibaGMT 14:03 2018 Monday ,08 October
American scientists awarded 2018 Prize in Economic SciencesGMT 07:35 2018 Monday ,08 October
First foreign space agency opens in Abu DhabiGMT 10:47 2018 Sunday ,07 October
Bahrain hosts World Robotics Olympiad2018GMT 09:20 2018 Thursday ,04 October
UAE participates in World Space WeekMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor