Russian Proton-M fails at launch and crashes into spaceport
A Russian Proton rocket went out of control and slammed into the steppes of Kazakhstan mere moments after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on Monday night.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ5__1PPgNQ]
The government booster was carrying three Russian navigation satellites on the ill-fated mission that launched at 0238 GMT (10:38 p.m. EDT).
Live video showed the Proton gyrating left and then right as it ascended off the pad before going horizontal, barrel rolling and falling into a nose dive. The front end of the rocket sheared away and the main stage erupted in a massive fireball before hitting the ground in a horrific explosion.
The entire flight appeared to last a half-minute.
Way to go, and Russia is our only ride to the Space Station. WTF!