Russia announces the cause of the Proton-M rocket explosion

Speaking to reporters on July 18, Vice President of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) Alexander Lopatin said Proton-M rocket was blown up due to the unusual operation of the angular velocity sensor, causing instability and loss of control.

>>>Proton-M cosmic rocket launchers fall right after launch

According to Mr. Lopatin, three of the six sensors that measured angular velocity were reversed, this assembly error was from the manufacturer - the Khrunichev state-owned rocket science-production research center - and said that This is human error.

According to Mr. Lopatin, the flight time of Proton-M missile is 32 seconds.

Accidents occur due to inconsistent angle instability which is caused by abnormal operation of angular speed sensors.

Mr. Lopatin said that at the 13th second, the rocket control system ordered "malfunction" because the angle value exceeded the allowable level. "And then the structure of the boosters forces it to explode in the air."

Mr. Lopatin also announced that the Proton boosters are expected to continue to be used this September to complete the plan of the year.

Earlier on July 2, Proton-M boosters carrying DM-03 and three positioning satellites of the GLONASS-M system fell immediately after leaving the launch pad at Baikonur space airport.

Russian media calculated that Russia lost $ 300 million in the explosion of this rocket.