Failure of Yamal-402’s Turbopump Bearing Results in Early Separation

Russia’s Roscosmos space agency reported that the initial failure of telecommunications satellite Yamal-402 to reach its predestined orbit was most likely brought about by the failure of a pump’s bearing.

Launched into space last December 8 from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan, Yamal-402 detached from its launch rocket four minutes early, causing it to fail from reaching the destined orbit. Thales Alenia Space, the company that constructed the satellite for Russia’s Gazprom Space Systems, later removed the satellite from its intended orbit with the help of its onboard engines.

Roscosmos space agency experts say that the damaged bearing inside the turbopump of the Briz-M launch rocket’s upper stage caused the early separation. Now, the service life of Yamal-402 telecommunications satellite will be reduced from 15 years to 11 years because of the emergency use of its fuel reserves.

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US Air Force satellite successfully launched

The United Launch Alliance or ULA - a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin - successfully launched the US Air Force’s X-37B, an Orbital Test Vehicle or OTV developed by Boeing. The unmanned spacecraft is a reusable vehicle which is launched into space via a rocket, but reenters earth as a spaceplane. ULA said the launch took place at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station via the Atlas 5 rocket.

Reports indicate the Air Force’s shuttle is classified and thus, the organization has not released much information about the launch’s mission. After the launch, a news and media blackout immediately followed.

Experts say the X-37B might be carrying specialized sensors that are being tested for possible use in future satellites. The space vehicle is about one fourth the size of NASA’s Space Shuttle, and are the first vehicle since the end of the shuttle program, to be runway-landing.

 

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