Emergency Aborted Russian Space Rocket Launch: Drama Unfolds Seconds Before Takeoff
The nerve-wracking moment Vladimir Putin’s crewed space rocket launch was abruptly aborted with mere seconds to go. The Russian Soyuz spacecraft was on the brink of setting off towards the International Space Station when a technical glitch brought the launch to a halt.
Technical Glitch Halts Soyuz Spacecraft Liftoff
Just seconds before takeoff, a critical malfunction caused smoke to billow from beneath the rocket. Despite preparations being in order, the alarm bells rang, signaling an imminent issue that needed immediate attention.
Crew Evacuated Safely Amid Launch Abortion
With only 20 seconds left, an “automated launch abort has been initiated” was announced. The glitch manifested within the launch capsule mere seconds before lift-off, prompting space officials to make the critical decision to abort the mission altogether.
Automated Abortion Due to Voltage Drop
The primary reason behind the failed launch was identified as a voltage drop in the chemical current source. Russian Space Agency chief, Yuri Borisov, confirmed that the automation system successfully prevented any further malfunctions within the spaceship’s critical systems.
Crew Identified and Mission Rescheduled
The crew, consisting of two women and one man, including NASA astronaut Tracy Dyson, and the first woman cosmonaut from Belarus, Marina Vasilevskaya, were swiftly evacuated from the rocket. Following the aborted mission, the space officials rescheduled the launch for Saturday afternoon.
Unprecedented Launch Cancelation
The incident marks an unprecedented event in modern Russia’s space history, where manned launches have never been terminated once a crew was inside a spacecraft. It was reported that such an event only occurred once in the USSR, back in 1969.