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Proton-M

Short answer: Proton-M is a Russian heavy-lift rocket. On July 2, 2013, one carrying three GLONASS navigation satellites veered off course right after liftoff from Baikonur and crashed; investigators found angular velocity sensors had been installed upside down.

On May 16, 2015, another Proton-M failed during ascent and lost Mexico's MexSat-1 satellite. The footage shows the 2013 crash.

VideoWrite-up1 sources
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What should you know about Proton-M?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. Russian heavy-lift rocket.

    DD-451-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit A (Type)

  2. GLONASS launch crashed.

    DD-451-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit B (2013)

Video transcript: Proton-M: On July 2, 2013, a Proton-M Veered and Crashed Seconds After Liftoff

Did you know the Proton-M, a Russian heavy-lift launch vehicle, has faced several significant failures over the years, notably the crash on July 2nd, 2013, when a rocket carrying three GLONAS navigation satellites lost control and exploded shortly after liftoff. Due to angular velocity sensors being installed upside down, another failure occurred on May 16th, 2015, when a Proton-M carrying a Mexican satellite failed after launch, marking another setback for Russia's space program. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 27.0s Reel ·

Video coming soonProton-M · Instagram Reel
Proton-M: On July 2, 2013, a Proton-M Veered and Crashed Seconds After Liftoff Instagram Reel · · 27.0s

The write-up

On July 2, 2013, a Proton-M veered and crashed seconds after liftoff. Its angular velocity sensors had been installed upside down.

  1. Exhibit A

    Type

    Russian heavy-lift rocket.

  2. Exhibit B

    2013

    GLONASS launch crashed.

  3. Exhibit C

    Cause

    Sensors installed upside down.

  4. Exhibit D

    2015

    MexSat-1 lost.

  5. Exhibit E

    Site

    Baikonur.

Questions people ask about Proton-M

When did the GLONASS launch crash?

Seconds after liftoff.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Type) · Wikipedia: Proton-M

Cause in 2013?

Assembly error.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (2013) · Wikipedia: Proton-M

What was lost in 2015?

Mexican satellite.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Cause) · Wikipedia: Proton-M

Where launched?

Kazakhstan.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (2015) · Wikipedia: Proton-M

What kind of rocket?

Proton.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Site) · Wikipedia: Proton-M

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. When did the GLONASS launch crash?

    1. July 2, 2013
    2. May 16, 2015
    3. 2001
    4. 2020
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. July 2, 2013 Seconds after liftoff. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Type) · Wikipedia: Proton-M

  2. Cause in 2013?

    1. Sensors upside down
    2. Lightning
    3. Fuel leak
    4. Bird strike
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Sensors upside down Assembly error. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (2013) · Wikipedia: Proton-M

  3. What was lost in 2015?

    1. MexSat-1
    2. Hubble
    3. ISS module
    4. Starlink
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. MexSat-1 Mexican satellite. Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Cause) · Wikipedia: Proton-M

  4. Where launched?

    1. Baikonur
    2. Cape Canaveral
    3. Kourou
    4. Plesetsk
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Baikonur Kazakhstan. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (2015) · Wikipedia: Proton-M

  5. What kind of rocket?

    1. Heavy-lift
    2. Sounding rocket
    3. Suborbital
    4. Reusable
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Heavy-lift Proton. Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Site) · Wikipedia: Proton-M

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Proton-M." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-451, last updated Jan 8, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/proton-m/

Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/proton-m/ · Last updated

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