ON PROTON LAUNCH ANOMALY
TO KHRUNICHEV STATE RESEARCH AND SPACE PRODUCTION CENTER
 

January 11, 2013- Roscosmos management has reviewed and approved the report provided by the Russian working group investigating the Proton launch anomaly during the Yamal 402 mission and have provided the report to Khrunichev State Research and Space Production Center (Khrunichev).The findings on the identified most probable root cause of the anomaly and the required corrective actions will be released to ILS after the report clears Russian security during the week of January 21st.

The Russian working group, convened by Roscosmos, included independent experts from TsNIIMash (Central Scientific Research Institute of Machine Building), the leading institution of Roscosmos to support design, development and research into rocket and space articles, and M.V. Keldysh Research Center, the leading Russian entity for rocket engines.

International Launch Services (ILS) has formed a Failure Review Oversight Board (FROB) which will review the Commission’s final report and corrective action plan, in accordance with U.S. and Russian government export control regulations.  The FROB will begin in Moscow on January 30thand consists of ILS customers, industry subject experts, and insurance industry representatives. The FROB will provide an independent review of the investigation, root cause and corrective actions required prior to return to commercial flight.  After the conclusion of the FROB, the FROB report will be briefed to ILS customers and the launch insurance industry.

The anomaly occurred during the 4th and final burn of the Breeze M engine during a planned 9 hour and 15 minute mission. The 4th burn ended about four minutes early and the spacecraft was subsequently separated. The spacecraft, built by Thales Alenia Space for Russian satellite operator Gazprom Space Systems, was successfully maneuvered to its orbital position and was declared fully operational on January 8th 2013 after completing its on orbit tests.

Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.