Russian Soyuz blows up, killing one

CNNDOTCOM^ ^ | October 16, 2002 Posted: 9:52 AM EDT | Reuters

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MOSCOW (Reuters) --A Russian Soyuz rocket carrying a research satellite exploded seconds after blast-off, killing one person in a setback that could hit the international space station program, officials said on Wednesday.

The 300-ton unmanned Soyuz-U rocket exploded 29 seconds after take-off from Russia's Arctic Plesetsk cosmodrome late on Tuesday, its blazing debris showering onto the launchpad, an Emergencies Ministry spokesman said.

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Boom: Too bad it was not he flight with Lance Bass on board :-)

[Physicist]

29 seconds after lift-off, the blast shouldn't have killed anybody.

[NonZeroSum]

Soyuz has an escape tower, so it's possible that this would have been survivable if it had been a crewed flight. The Russians have had crews survive launch failures like this (though it's quite a high-g ride and landing).

[isthisnickcool]

In the voice of Gilda Radner:

"That was so funny I forgot to laugh!"

[End The Hypocrisy]

I wonder how much better off the Russian space industry would have been if NASA hadn't jealously thwarted privatized space station Mir's progress, as is graphically and concisely documented at:

http://www.spaceprojects.com/Mir

[Wright is right!]

"29 seconds after lift-off, the blast shouldn't have killed anybody."

Absolutemente'. How in the world was anyone even INJURED? 29 seconds after liftoff, the stage would be fairly high and somewhat downrange. This makes no sense...

Michael

[Paradox]

29 seconds after lift-off, the blast shouldn't have killed anybody.

One imagines an old Apollo 11 type lift-off in slooow motion or something.. Those old things sure took their sweet time in clearing the tower.

I recall seeing some Soyuz launch video, as I recall, those things popped right up and away. Maybe the payload was really, really heavy...

[AdA$tra]

It said "shockwave." Must have been using the same fertilzer that McVeigh had in his truck that can knock down a building 60 feet away for rocket fuel.

[Lokibob]

"A 20-year-old serviceman was killed by the blast's shockwave and eight other people were injured, defense ministry officials said."

Not necessarly high and down range. If the motor was under performing, it may not have been too high. The word used in the above says "SHOCKWAVE" indicates a catastrophic accident instead of just burning.

Rockets fired at that latitude are virtually vertical, depending on later correction at higher altitudes to correct the orbital path. Our orbiting rockets take advantage of the earths rotation to obtain orbit speed.

[MindBender26]

Your Pravda style of writing needs much improvement.

"graphically and concisely documented"

???

#1. There are no significant graphs.

#2. 50 pages of anti-US diatribe does not count as "concise."

#3. Just because someone types a "document" does not mean it is true. I specifically refer you to "The Myth of the Six Million."

You will find that FReepers do not let you get away with emotion-laden, logic-lacking postings.

[OldFriend]

Go away.......the death penalty for Bass......for what?

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Go away.......the death penalty for Bass......for what?

One has to wonder if he is just a little nervous after hearing about this.

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One imagines an old Apollo 11 type lift-off in slooow motion or something

Perhaps that is because those old films are in sloooow motion. I actually take some offense to the idea of those being "old" lift-offs. Seems like it was just yesterday to me. ;~)

[rudypoot]

what comes up, must come down. Maybe it fell on him. heh.

[RightWhale]

exploded 29 seconds after take-off

Had to be that the range safety officer took it out as it was coming back. It sure wasn't ten miles downrange.

[OldFriend]

Anyone participating in the space program of any country must have tremendous courage.

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Anyone participating in the space program of any country must have tremendous courage.

If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going!

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Anyone participating in the space program of any country must have tremendous courage.

Truthfully.....I would go on either the Shuttle or Soyuz in a heartbeat!

[RightWhale]

Boeing, Boeing, Boeing, gone!

[End The Hypocrisy]

>>>If it ain't Boeing, I ain't going"

You ain't going then. Here's Boeing's way of doing business:

http://www.spaceprojects.com/iss