Sea Launch, the floating spaceport made from a converted oil rig, suffered
its first failure in three launches on 12 March, when a communications satellite
crashed into the Pacific. The first stage of the Russian-Ukrainian Zenit rocket
functioned normally, but signals became erratic during the second stage. Mission
controllers lost contact with the rocket several minutes after its launch. The
lost satellite was the first of a dozen planned for launch by ICO Global
Communications to provide digital voice, fax and message services to mobile
phone users from 11 000 kilometres above Earth.
To continue reading, today with our introductory offers
Advertisement
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Can prebiotics, probiotics or postbiotics help your ageing microbiome?
Comment
Life
Remarkable fossils rewrite the story of how animals conquered the land
News
Earth
Waves reflecting off Earth's core shifted Japan after 2011 earthquake
News
Environment
Why El Niño’s impacts on the UK are hard to predict
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
A quantum state that lasts forever may finally be within our grasp
2
Remarkable fossils rewrite the story of how animals conquered the land
3
Has the answer to life's origins been hiding in our cells all along?
4
The secrets to keeping your brain sharp in old age
5
Cervical cancer deaths have plummeted thanks to HPV vaccine
6
Autism may have two distinct subtypes that vary by brain activity
7
Waves reflecting off Earth's core shifted Japan after 2011 earthquake
8
Complex life on Earth may last 500 million years longer than expected
9
Ancient monument marked summer solstice centuries before Stonehenge
10
Walking shark found in Papua New Guinea is new to science
