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Soyuz fault found

Soyuz_TMA-9_launch web.jpgLast month, Russia lost a Progress resupply capsule destined for the International Space Station. As we noted at the time, the Russian rocket carrying the capsule was a Soyuz-U — a slight variation of the version used to lift astronauts into orbit. Without it, the world is unable to send people to the International Space Station (ISS).

It was a potentially huge setback for the station programme, but there was cause for optimism. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at Harvard University and rocket aficionado noted at the time that the Russians had a long history of Soyuz launches. The investigation would be swift, and, he predicted, “they will launch again fairly soon”.

It looks like McDowell was right. According to press reports, the Russian Space Agency is blaming a blocked duct in the third stage of the rocket that cut its fuel supply off prematurely. (If you read Russian, you can check out the official press release.)

The accident commission is describing the problem as a “random defect”. Existing engines are now being re-examined, and with luck, the next manned launch to the station, originally slated for late September, won’t be delayed too long.

Image: NASA

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