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Upside-Down Sensors Caused Proton-M Rocket Crash

Posted by Unknown on from the someone's-getting-fired dept.

Michi writes "According to Anatoly Zak, the crash of the Russion Proton rocket on 1 July was apparently caused by several angular velocity sensors having been installed upside down. From the source: 'Each of those sensors had an arrow that was supposed to point toward the top of the vehicle, however multiple sensors on the failed rocket were pointing downward instead.' It seems amazing that something as fundamental as this was not caught during quality control. Even more amazing is that the design of the sensors permits them to be installed in the wrong orientation in the first place. Even the simplest of mechanical interlocks (such as a notch at one end that must be matched with a corresponding projection) could have prevented the accident." A review of the quality control procedures used by the contractors responsible is underway.

9 of 323 comments (clear)

  1. Wrong hemisphere by jovius · · Score: 4, Funny

    Should have launched from Australia.

    1. Re:Wrong hemisphere by ArcadeMan · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's the problem. Some parts were made by subcontractors in Australia, where up is down, rats are as tall as humans and hop around and flat-chested 30-years-old women are classified as underage teenagers.

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  2. Re:The quality conrol problems... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Quality Control in Russia basically consists of hitting it with a mallet, and if it doesn't fall apart on impact, it passes.

  3. Re:QA is not the problem by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    there is a job waiting for them in the space optics division of Perkin-Elmer

  4. Re:In Soviet Russia by RenderSeven · · Score: 5, Funny

    Perhaps the thinking is, as long as the arrow isnt pointed at you it's probably safe.

  5. Duck Dodgers in the 24 1/2th Century by dkleinsc · · Score: 3, Funny

    "Whoopth, I had the thilly thing in reverthe!"

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  6. heh by wbr1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    In Soviet Russia, snesors installed correctly, rocket installed upside down.

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  7. Re:QA is not the problem by LordLimecat · · Score: 4, Funny

    Ive seen RAM modules installed backwards. "Wait!", you say, "Isnt there a notch which prevents that?" Well, yes, there WAS a notch...

  8. Re:(The Real) Murphy's Law strikes again! by akh · · Score: 5, Funny

    If only they had labeled, with the arrow, the words "up", and put another arrow down, with the letters "dn" for "down", then none of this would have happened.

    Except that "dn" upside-down is indistinguishable from "up". Murphy strikes again?

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