this post was submitted on 08 Dec 2024
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[–] [email protected] 86 points 3 weeks ago (8 children)

A Proton-M booster carrying a GLONASS satellite crashed shortly after takeoff at Baikonur in 2013. The failure was caused by a gyroscope package that had been installed upside down. The receptacle had a metal indexing pin that should've prevented the incorrect installation. The worker simply pushed so hard that it bent out of the way.

When you make a foolproof design, God makes a better fool.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (7 children)

How did someone like this land a job at NASA?

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

Ah yes, it's on the internet, so it must be American.

  • Kosmodrom Baikonur (located in Kazakhstan) is the primary launch site of Roskosmos (Russia)
  • The Proton is a Soviet-made heavy launch rocket, still used today (not related to Rocket Lab's Electron and Neutron families (which are also not American))
  • GLONASS is the Soviet/Russian equivalent of the GPS

I think it's safe to say that the guy did not land a job at NASA.

[–] gens 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Didn't nasa make the same mistake ? Because I remember that they put arrows on the slots because someone put a sensor upside down.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I can't recall anything like that. The only other crash I remember that was caused by a sensor was the Schiaparelli lander, and it was an ESA mission.

[–] gens 1 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I remember it from a youtube video from one of those engineering channels (might have been "real engineering") probably a year ago. I only remember it because I thought "wow they have to have so many safeties" and that it is good to draw on parts and such instead of just relying on technical drawings.

I don't remember, but it might not have crashed (multiple sensors), and it might not have had a latch/notch. But it was a long time ago.

Edit: I still remember the big yellow arrow.

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