Failure to Launch: Three Russian Navigation Satellites Crash and Burn

3 Jul 2013

GLONASS, the Russian version of our GPS used for navigation and GPS tracking, suffered a significant setback when the Proton-M rocket carrying three of their navigational systems crashed almost immediately after takeoff.

The rocket burst into flames on live television just moments after takeoff landing a sharp not only to Russian plans for GLONASS, but also to the honor and prestige of the commercial space industry that has been quite lucrative.

For some, this incident has a feeling of deja-vu as a similar incident occurred in December 2010 when another Proton-M meant to carry three satellites into orbit crashed into the Pacific Ocean.

Proton failure has been a persistent problem over the years and blamed for the 2010 incident, an August 2011 satellite failure, and another failed launch in August 2012. This crash resulted in the loss of two communication satellites.

The latest incident occurred at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, the debris from the crash combined with the 600 tons of toxic fuel has spurred concerns over contamination of the steppe surrounding the facility. Stores were order closed as was public eating establishments. Locals were asked to stay indoors with windows closed.

The crash happened 17 seconds into the flight, according to the Russian Space Agency and crashed in a giant fireball just over a mile from the launch pad.

The crash created a crater nearly 218 yards in size and sent plumes of toxic fuel into the air. Concerns over toxicity prompted Baikonur, a city located 50 miles from the crash site, administrators to urge residents to close windows and remain indoors.The costs of the satellites destroyed in the crash was around $200 million, but the costs to Russian GPS tracking efforts, long-term may be far greater. The GLONASS global tracker program was of particular interests to political leaders, including President Vladimir Putin who continues to take a special interest in the development and success of GLONASS.

President Putin saw a resurgence of financial prosperity in Russia during the 2000’s and decided to make GLONASS a top priority, perhaps to reestablish Russian dominance in the space race or perhaps because he saw the financial and strategic rewards a strong global positioning system represents for Russian interests.

The recent crash also seems to have put, at least, a temporary strain on the relationship between Kazakhstan and Russia especially in light of the many setbacks and failures the Russian space program has suffered in the recent years, including a failed attempt to send a probe to Mars’ moon.

Russian officials have spread blame for the recent failures far and wide. In light of this latest crash, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered punishment to be delivered to those responsible for the latest crash while applying diligent efforts to regaining control of the struggling space industry.

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About George Karonis

George Karonis is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of LiveViewGPS Inc., a company he established in 2008 with the vision of making real-time GPS tracking more reliable, affordable, and accessible for businesses of all sizes. Over the past two decades, he has built a reputation as an innovator in GPS tracking, fleet management, asset monitoring, and Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC) communications. Under George's leadership, LiveViewGPS has grown into a nationally recognized provider of GPS tracking solutions, serving businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, law enforcement organizations, and public works departments throughout the United States. The company's technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency, protect valuable assets, increase driver safety, and reduce operating costs through real-time location intelligence. Before founding LiveViewGPS, George developed a background in security, surveillance, and emerging location technologies. His passion for innovation and practical problem solving has driven the development of products that combine dependable hardware with easy-to-use cloud software, giving customers actionable information when it matters most. In 2018, George expanded into nationwide Push-to-Talk over Cellular communications by launching PeakPTT, providing businesses with rugged, instant communication solutions that operate over LTE and Wi-Fi networks. His focus has remained the same throughout his career: delivering dependable technology backed by exceptional customer service and long-term customer relationships. George regularly writes about GPS tracking, fleet management, asset protection, business technology, and communication systems. Through this blog, he shares industry insights, practical advice, and emerging trends to help organizations make informed decisions about tracking technology and connected operations.