Oh man...almost to painful to watch...almost.

Oh man...almost to painful to watch...almost.

Whoops.

All the launch personnel are in the remote launch ship 2 miles away.

Now I see why they evacuate the launch pad before they light her off!

DOUH'

this is the second launc failure for Sea-Launch. the first was actually their second attempt at using the Zenit rocket. The first time it had something to do with an Oxidizer valve. On some other web sites a couple people captures web cam pictures just after the explotion. The Oddsy platform looked a bit damaged but OK. Remember this is a liquid fuel rocket. Once the onboard tanks ruptured.. big bag ... The video is interesting as it appears that the rocket never attempted to lift off as if there was either not enough thrust or the clamping bolts did not disengage. I will go with some sort of leak down near the nozzel resulting in a lack of foward thrust and a jet of exaust gas entering the first stage of the rocket damaging lines and litteraly melting the first stage in seconds. Sea Launch will be shut down IMO for 6 moths while they investigate but they will be back... so who is launching Sirius's Sat in 2009? I know its a land launch in Kahzikstan but are they also using Zenit rockets? I think they do. Well, Thak god no one was hurt and all Sat Rad birds are flying. That would be the last thing XM or Sirius needs over the next couple years. Thes eSatellites are not exactly "off the shelf" Items

I told them to use " High Test " but OH NOoooooooo.

Next time, make sure you take the tie downs off before lighting the fuse.

Are they sure they werent trying to launch a Sirius unit? no wonder it couldnt get off the ground

Big bada boom