SCI/TECH: European Cryosat Space Mission Fails, page 1

posted on Oct, 9 2005 @ 05:50 AM

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A European satellite, the Cryosat, crashed into the Arctic Ocean only minutes after launching from a Russian facility. The satellite's mission was to study changes in ice sheets in the hopes of learning more about global warming's effects. Scientists hope to be able to recover some debris to try to learn what went wrong with the rocket, a converted Russian ICBM.

news.bbc.co.uk
The European Space Agency has confirmed that its ice mission Cryosat has been lost off the Russian coast.

The satellite fell into the Arctic Ocean minutes after lift-off from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in northern Russia.

The £90m (135m euro) craft was designed to monitor how the Earth's ice masses are responding to climate change.

Scientists said the crash was a "tragedy" and it would be years before they could launch a similar mission, even if more funding were available.

Please visit the link provided for the complete story.

It's always a shame when a space mission like this fails, since so much time and resources go wasted. I do question the wisdom of using a converted Russian nuclear missile to launch it though -- doesn't sound like the most reliable launch vehicle.

Mayet

posted on Oct, 9 2005 @ 07:39 AM

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Was there any radioactiveness about the rocket. if so then I find it ironic that it's mission was to abserve and see the effect that global warming has and instead the pollution has actually created more.

DYepes

posted on Oct, 9 2005 @ 10:16 PM

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It was just the rocket used to launch the warheads. not thactual warheads. The radioactive core is encase in lead inside the actual warhead so even standing in front of a live rocket and warhead woud not hurt your health.

I dont think the rocket was a bad idea. These things are actually made to leave the atmosphere on the way to their target.

Seekerof

posted on Oct, 9 2005 @ 10:54 PM

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Russia has just announced that it is suspending such type launches till an investigation into this mishap can be determined.
Reports: Russia suspends rocket launches

The rocket in question was a clean recycled SS-19 'Stiletto' ICBM launch vehicle. This particular missile, along with the SS-18 'Satan' ICBM launch vehicle, has been tested mulitples of times within the past two years by the Russians with minor glitches reported, along with a couple failed launches [Putin witnessing one such occurance].

seekerof