News Proton rocket gets into railway accident

[SiberianTiger]

http://www.interfax.ru/society/news...6&by=2010&ed=21&em=7&ey=2010&secid=0&mp=0&p=1

On July 19th, a railway accident happened in Ulyanovsk territory: two cargo trains coming from opposite directions hung up their cars by each other. One train was carrying sections of Proton-M rocket which had been sent to cosmodrome from Khrunichev Centre plant in Moscow several days before.

The accident happened because both trains had outsized cars. The transported rocket was to be used for triple GLONASS navigational satellites launch on September, 2nd. It's now yet known if it was damaged, and how badly, if at all - a spokesman at the cosmodrome commented on.

Interfax does not have an official confirmation of the accident, yet.

 

[jinglesassy]

Hope its ok.

 

[Notebook]

Bummer!" If I had a rocket on a train, I'd have a man with a red flag walking in front. Hope all are well.

N.

 

[SiberianTiger]

Yep, Khrunichev have reported today that the rocket is okay and contunues on its way. However, it's not comprehensible how two outsized trains were allower to move on adjacent tracks - I haven't checked, but knowledgeable people say it's clearly prohibited by RRW corporate rules.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Roscosmos PAO: "Incident with Proton LV".

On Sunday, 18 July, in the Ulyanovsk area, the special-purpose train carrying a Proton launch vehicle collided with an oncoming train.

No visible damage has been sustained by the rocket. Proton LVs are covered by insurance.

The train resumed its journey to the destination.

There is sufficient backup capacity and equipment at Baikonur where checkouts will be performed upon arrival. It will then be decided whether or not the launch vehicle is fit for further use.

If required, a backup Proton launch vehicle is available, and the incident is not likely to impact the GLONASS spacecraft launch scheduled for September.

The launch will take place as planned.

 

[N_Molson]

Yeah, someone on the rail traffic control really did bad job !

 

[SiberianTiger]

http://lenta.ru/news/2010/07/27/proton/

After delivery to Baikonur specialists have found that the railway accident on July 18 actually resulted in damaging the core block of the 1st stage of transported Proton rocket. The engineers have established that the impact knocked the module off support liner and caused mechanical damage to the rocket stage. Other rocket blocks have also been hit.

Currently specialists are discussing if the defective blocks can be used for launch. Most probably, the damaged rocket will be sent back to the factory and a replacement will be used instead.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Proton LVs are covered by insurance.

Most probably, the damaged rocket will be sent back to the factory and a replacement will be used instead.

There goes Roscosmos' no claims bonus! :lol:

 

[N_Molson]

That's really a pity. That's not a small rocket, but one of the most powerful launchers available ! I don't know how much it costs, but certainly a lot more than the R7/Semiorka...

 

[Urwumpe]

That's really a pity. That's not a small rocket, but one of the most powerful launchers available ! I don't know how much it costs, but certainly a lot more than the R7/Semiorka...

Only about four times more. Russian labor is cheaper and salaries are the biggest item in the launch costs

 

[SiberianTiger]

I don't know how much it costs, but certainly a lot more than the R7/Semiorka...

Over one billion rubles (or 26 million euros).

---------- Post added 28-07-10 at 01:26 ---------- Previous post was 27-07-10 at 19:39 ----------

http://interfax.ru/news.asp?id=146873

A train carrying parts of a replacement Proton rocket have left Khrunichev factory in Moscow last Tuesday.

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

According to this article (translated using Google Translate), the repair bill for the damaged Proton could be over 10 million Roubles (330,420 USD).

 

[SiberianTiger]

According to this article (translated using Google Translate), the repair bill for the damaged Proton could be over 10 million Roubles (330,420 USD).

If only they don't manage to collide trains again: one transporting the Proton from Moscow to Baikonur, and another one back. In that case, it will be over 20 million.