# Proton-M (DD-451)

> 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.

- Department: Space
- First published: 2025-01-08
- Last updated: 2025-01-08
- Permalink: https://detailenjoyer.com/case/proton-m/
- Author: Marcus Easterling (DetailEnjoyer), The Detail Department

## On the timeline

- **July 2, 2013**: Proton-M crash with GLONASS satellites
- **May 16, 2015**: Proton-M loses MexSat-1

Full timeline: https://detailenjoyer.com/timeline/?case=proton-m

## Quick facts

- **DD-451-F01**: Russian heavy-lift rocket. _(Write-up · Exhibit A (Type))_
- **DD-451-F02**: GLONASS launch crashed. _(Write-up · Exhibit B (2013))_

## 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. **Type**: Russian heavy-lift rocket.
2. **2013**: GLONASS launch crashed.
3. **Cause**: Sensors installed upside down.
4. **2015**: MexSat-1 lost.
5. **Site**: Baikonur.

## Related case files

- [It IS Rocket Science (DD-257)](https://detailenjoyer.com/case/it-is-rocket-science/): I linked more rockets

## Reel vs. record

- **Note**: The Reel ties the upside-down sensors to the 2015 failure; they caused the July 2, 2013 crash.

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

- Duration: 27.0 s · Published: 2025-01-08
- File: https://detailenjoyer.com/assets/videos/DEkny_pp3Mb.mp4

### Transcript

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!

## Questions & answers

**Q: When did the GLONASS launch crash?**  
A: Seconds after liftoff. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (Type) · Wikipedia: Proton-M)_

**Q: Cause in 2013?**  
A: Assembly error. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (2013) · Wikipedia: Proton-M)_

**Q: What was lost in 2015?**  
A: Mexican satellite. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit C (Cause) · Wikipedia: Proton-M)_

**Q: Where launched?**  
A: Kazakhstan. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (2015) · Wikipedia: Proton-M)_

**Q: What kind of rocket?**  
A: Proton. _(Source: Write-up · Exhibit E (Site) · Wikipedia: Proton-M)_

## Sources

- [Wikipedia: Proton-M](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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/