A Russian Soyuz launcher exploded some 20 seconds after lift-off from the
Russian Plesetsk cosmodrome last night (15 October) at 20:20 CEST (Central
European Summer Time).
The launcher was carrying the unmanned Foton M-1 research satellite,
using capsules of the Foton/Bion family containing 44 experiments
supported by ESA. The experiments (*) covered a wide range of scientific
disciplines, including fluid physics, biology, crystal growth, radiation
dosimetry and exobiology.
ESA’s contribution included: the Fluid Physics Facility, with four
experiments, Biopan hosting nine experiments, the upgraded Telescience
Support Unit, to assist both FluidPac and the German AGAT furnace, six
Autonomous Experiments (three developed by university students) the latest
Stone simulated meteorites, and the ‘Soret Coefficient in Crude Oil’
experiment.
France’s IBIS biological incubator, Germany’s AGAT, Russia’s Polizon
furnace and five Russian experiments (Biokont, Komparus, Mirage-M,
Sinus-16 and Chistata) brought the spacecraft’s overall payload to a
total of 650 kg.
While there have unfortunately been reports of casualties, it has been
confirmed that all engineers and experts from ESA, the French space agency
CNES and the German space agency DLR involved in preparation of the
spacecraft in Plesetsk are safe and sound.
A State Inquiry Board headed by Russian space officials will be shortly
set up to investigate the causes of the accident.
(*)The experiments were prepared in Austria, Belgium, Canada, China,
France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and
the United Kingdom.
For more details please contact:
Dieter Isakeit
ESA, Human Spaceflight and Microgravity Directorate
Phone + 31(0)71.565.5451
Fax. + 31(0)71.565.3661
