The Wrong Stuff - A Catalogue of Launch Vehicle Failures

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Credit-NASA The hard road to space...a catalogue of orbital launch vehicle failures 2008 March 14 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Premature shutdown of Briz upper stage due to escape of turbine gases through a thin-walled tube. 2007 September 5 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Second stage engine failure soon after ignition. 2007 March 21 - Launch Vehicle: Falcon. Liquid oxygen slosh in the second stage created an oscillation, putting the stage in an uncontrollable roll, starving the engine from propellant. 2007 January 30 - Launch Vehicle: Zenit. First stage exploded just after ignition, damaging launch platform. 2006 March 24 - Launch Vehicle: Falcon. Fuel leak at T+25 seconds caused a fire in the first stage engine area 2006 July 26 - Launch Vehicle: R-36M. First stage engine failed 2006 July 10 - Launch Vehicle: GSLV. One of the liquid-fueled strap-on motors failed to develop thrust. By 40 seconds after launch the GSLV had veered outside of the launch corridor and the destruct signal was sent. 2006 February 28 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Briz-M stage shut down 27.5 minutes into a planned 31-minute burn and could not be restarted. The failure left the satellite in a useless orbit from which it quickly decayed.. 2005 October 8 - Launch Vehicle: UR-100N. The first stage burned to depletion due to a missing command in the software sequence. This resulted in the second stage failing to separate. 2005 June 21 - Launch Vehicle: R-29. Failure 2005 June 21 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure - Third stage propulsion 2004 September 6 - Launch Vehicle: Shavit. Third stage orientation failure at 270 seconds into the flight 2004 June 29 - Launch Vehicle: Zenit. Partial failure - upper stage left satellite stranded in useless orbit. 2004 December 24 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Launch vehicle control system failure during third stage apogee kick burn. 2003 September 16 - Launch Vehicle: KT. Fourth stage failed to ignite. 2003 November 29 - Launch Vehicle: H-2. Destroyed by range safety after solid booster nozzle burn-through resulted in motor not separating from core. 2003 August 22 - Launch Vehicle: VLS. Failure - Exploded on pad during final prelaunch processing. 21 people were killed, with none injured. 2002 September 15 - Launch Vehicle: KT. Second stage failure. 2002 October 15 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Contamination in hydrogen peroxide line of fuel pump system led to explosion of Strap-on D 29 seconds after launch. The rocket crashed near the pad, debris from the explosion killing one soldier. 2002 November 25 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. The Block DM upper stage failed to ignite for its second burn, leaving the satellite in parking orbit. 2002 December 11 - Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5. The Ariane 5 core's Vulcain-2 engine began failing at T+178 seconds. The rocket veered off course and the destruct signal was sent. 2001 September 21 - Launch Vehicle: Taurus. A problem a few seconds after first stage separation caused the rocket to go off course; it recovered and the remainder of the stages fired, but final cutoff velocity was too low to reach a sustainable orbit. 2000 November 20 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Second stage failed to restart at apogee. 2000 March 12 - Launch Vehicle: Zenit. Second stage shut down prematurely due to a valve software command mistake. The satellite fell in the South Pacific, south of Pitcairn Island. 2000 February 10 - Launch Vehicle: M-V. First stage failure. An anomalous vibration was detected 25 seconds after launch. At 41 seconds ceramic heat shields in the first stage nozzle broke and fell off, and thrust vector control on the nozzle was lost. 2000 December 27 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. The S5M third stage steering unit failed and the vehicle crashed a few thousand km downrange near Wrangel Island. 1999 October 27 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Failed early in second-stage burn. 1999 November 15 - Launch Vehicle: H-2. Failure during first stage burn. 1999 May 5 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Engine failure at ignition for second burn of Centaur stage. 1999 July 5 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Second stage explosion. 1999 December 11 - Launch Vehicle: VLS. Second stage failed to ignite; destroyed by range safety. 1999 April 9 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. IUS first and second stages failed to separate. 1999 April 30 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Centaur software programming error. 1999 April 27 - Launch Vehicle: Athena. Payload shroud failed to separate four minutes after launch. 1998 September 9 - Launch Vehicle: Zenit. Computer error caused a very premature engine shutdown during second stage burn. 1998 June 15 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. The launch vehicle control system was misprogrammed before launch due to a malfunction of the ground instrumentation. However the satellites were in usable orbits. 1998 January 22 - Launch Vehicle: Shavit. Launch vehicle failed during second stage burn. 1998 August 31 - Launch Vehicle: Taepodong. Third stage failure. 1998 August 27 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Due to guidance system induced oscillation all solid motor gimbal hydraulic fluid exhausted after only 71 seconds of flight. Range safety destroyed booster 75 seconds into flight at 16 km altitude. 1998 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Due to guidance system loss of heading after power interrupt, booster pitched over 40 seconds after launch, and was destroyed by range safety. 1997 November 2 - Launch Vehicle: VLS. Destroyed during launch. 1997 May 20 - Launch Vehicle: Zenit. Strut in first stage engine failed at T+48 seconds. 1997 January 17 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. T+12 sec GEM strap-on number 2 structural failure. 1997 December 24 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. DM-3 Stage failed, leaving spacecraft in geosynchronous transfer orbit. 1996 November 4 - Launch Vehicle: Pegasus. The rocket functioned perfectly but the separation system failed to release the payload. 1996 November 16 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. No second Block D-2 ignition. 1996 May 14 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Shroud broke up at T+49 seconds. 1996 June 4 - Launch Vehicle: Ariane 5. Vehicle went off course and was destroyed by range safety. Reuse of flight software from Ariane 4 was the cause (faulty program logic that only took effect on Ariane 5 launch trajectory). 1996 June 20 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Shroud broke up at T+50seconds. 1996 February 19 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. No second Block DM-2 ignition (blocked LOX valve). Block DM-2 propellant automatically jettisoned. 1996 February 14 - Launch Vehicle: CZ. Guidance failure resulted in launch vehicle crashing 22 seconds after launch, killing or injuring 59 people. 1995 March 28 - Launch Vehicle: Topol. Fell in Sea of Okhotsk. 1995 June 22 - Launch Vehicle: Pegasus. Second stage failure; destroyed by range safety. 1995 January 25 - Launch Vehicle: CZ. Shortcomings in the guidance system lead to the vehicle not anticipating the true effects of horizontal wind-shear once the mountains surrounding the launch site were cleared. This caused the nose fairing to collapse and the spacecraft to be destroyed. 1995 January 15 - Launch Vehicle: Mu. Failure of second stage attitude control system. 1995 August 5 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Partial Failure. 1995 August 15 - Launch Vehicle: Athena. Destroyed by range safety 160 sec into flight after failure of thrust vector control system. 1994 May 25 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Stage 2 and 3 failed to separate due to a breakdown of the launch vehicle control system. 1994 June 27 - Launch Vehicle: Pegasus. Destroyed on launch 1994 January 24 - Launch Vehicle: Ariane. Stage 3 turbopump overheated. 1994 December 1 - Launch Vehicle: Ariane. Stage 3 gas generator. 1994 August 28 - Launch Vehicle: H-2. LAPS apogee kick motor failed to ignite. Partial Failure. 1993 September 20 - Launch Vehicle: PSLV. Software error caused vehicle to go off course. 1993 October 5 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Star-37XFP-ISS kick-motor malfunction. 1993 May 27 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Second stage did not reach planned velocity. Cause determined to be propellant contamination. 1993 March 25 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Atlas engine failure. Loss of booster engine thrust resulted in a lower-than planned 1560 km x 1900 km orbit 1993 August 2 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Radial cut inadvertently made in SRM during repairs resulted in explosion of SRM and vehicle at T+101 seconds. 1992 May 20 - Launch Vehicle: ASLV. Insufficient spin stabilization of fifth stage. Partial Failure. 1992 February 5 - Launch Vehicle: Zenit. Second stage malfunction due to heating problems in main engine. 1992 December 21 - Launch Vehicle: CZ. Shortcomings in the guidance system lead to the vehicle not anticipating the true effects of horizontal wind-shear once the mountains surrounding the launch site were cleared. This caused the nose fairing to collapse 45 seconds after launch. 1992 August 22 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Destroyed by range safety. Centaur engine turbopump did not start. Identical to the 18 April 1991 failure. 1991 June 25 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Second stage malfunction - no stable orbit. 1991 December 28 - Launch Vehicle: CZ. Third stage failed to ignite. Partial Failure. 1991 August 30 - Launch Vehicle: Zenit. Second stage exploded due to heating problems in main engine. 1991 April 18 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. RL-10 Centaur engine turbopump failed at T+361 seconds; destroyed by range safety. 1990 October 4 - Launch Vehicle: Zenit. First stage engine exploded after 3 seconds. 1990 March 14 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Second stage failed to separate due to a wiring error in the stage separation electronics, stranding the payload in low earth orbit. 1990 June 21 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Fourth stage failure. 1990 July 3 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1990 February 22 - Launch Vehicle: Ariane. Exploded 100 seconds after liftoff due to water line blockage. This was caused by a piece of cloth found in the first stage Viking engine water cooling system. 1990 December 1 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure of the spacecraft's TEM-364-15 AKM nozzle due to a manufacturing defect led to the satellite being placed into lower than planned orbit. 1990 August 9 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Third stage failure. 1990 April 3 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1989 June 9 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Stage 3 failure - third stage engine did not ignite for second burn. 1988 September 2 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Broken Transtage pressurization feed lines prevented the geosynchronous orbit apogee burn from taking place. 1988 November 11 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1988 July 9 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1988 July 27 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1988 July 13 - Launch Vehicle: ASLV. First stage failure. Insufficient control gain. 1988 January 18 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Third stage malfunction. 1988 February 17 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Block DM-2 failure, remained in LEO. 1987 May 15 - Launch Vehicle: Energia. No orbital insertion due to failure of the FGB attitude control system (Energia performed perfectly). Partial Failure. 1987 March 26 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Lightning strike zapped guidance at T+51 seconds. Fault was directly attributed to a random memory upset that forced rocket to veer off course. Destroyed by range safety. 1987 March 24 - Launch Vehicle: ASLV. Second stage failed to ignite. 1987 June 18 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Booster exploded on pad. 1987 January 30 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Block DM-2 ignition failure, remained in LEO. 1987 April 24 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Block DM-2 failure, remained in LEO. 1986 October 3 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Fourth stage failure. 1986 October 15 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. First-stage failure as a result of leakage of the tank pressurization system. 1986 November 29 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Second stage explosion. 1986 May 31 - Launch Vehicle: Ariane. Third stage ignition failure. Destroyed by range safety. 1986 May 3 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Stage one main engine shutdown at T+71 seconds due to electrical failure. 1986 March 26 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1986 January 28 - Launch Vehicle: Shuttle. Seal on SRB failed, allowed hot gas to burn through External Tank. 1986 April 18 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. SRM case insulation burned through, causing case burn-through and catastrophic explosion over pad at T+8.5 seconds. 1985 September 12 - Launch Vehicle: Ariane. Geosynchronous orbit injection failure. Third stage igniter cartridge failure was determined to be the most likely cause. 1985 October 23 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1985 December 28 - Launch Vehicle: Zenit. Second stage failed to ignite. Partial Failure. 1985 August 28 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Stage 1 propellant feed system failure forced premature engine shutdown. 1984 November 27 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Stage 3 failed to reignite. 1984 June 9 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Centaur structural failure. 1984 January 29 - Launch Vehicle: CZ. Third stage failed to ignite. 1983 September 26 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Launch vehicle blew up on pad. 1983 January 25 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1982 September 9 - Launch Vehicle: Ariane. Stage 3 turbopump. 1982 November 24 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1982 May 15 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1982 March 4 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1982 June 12 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1982 July 22 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Stage 1 - vehicle failed at launch. 1982 December 8 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Fourth stage failure. 1982 December 24 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Stage 1 - vehicle failed at launch. 1982 August 30 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1981 September 11 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Fourth stage failure. 1981 May 31 - Launch Vehicle: SLV. Partial Failure. 1981 March 28 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure of launch vehicle. 1981 January 23 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Payload shroud failed to separate. 1981 December 19 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure. 1981 August 6 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure of the fiberglass fairing during ascent. 1981 August 3 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Partial Failure. 1980 May 29 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Atlas sustainer engine under-thrust resulted in 50 second extended burn time, and spacecraft attempted to separate and fired apogee kick motor while booster was still thrusting. 1980 May 23 - Launch Vehicle: Ariane. Stage 1 combustion instability. 1980 March 18 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Booster exploded on pad during servicing. Severe pad damage, 48 people killed. Cause found to be change in solder with tin to that with lead in H2O2 filters, causing decomposition and explosion. 1980 July 15 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Separation problem gutted wiring from spacecraft. 1980 February 12 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Fourth stage failure. 1980 December 9 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Premature shut down of one of the Atlas booster engines turned the vehicle around, thereafter the sustainer thrust it back toward the earth. 1980 April 18 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Fourth stage failure. 1979 October 12 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1979 July 28 - Launch Vehicle: CZ. Second stage failure. 1979 February 6 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Third stage collided with ECS a. 1979 February 16 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1979 August 10 - Launch Vehicle: SLV. Thrust vectoring of second stage failed. 1979 April 20 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Engines ignited but immediately shut down on launch pad. Booster could be reused with new payload. 1978 October 17 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Second stage explosion. 1978 May 27 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Stage 1 - vehicle failed at launch. 1978 March 25 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Second stage hydraulic pump failure. 1978 December 19 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Block DM malfunction, wrong orbit. 1978 August 17 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Stage 1 - vehicle failed at launch. 1977 September 30 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Atlas failure - gas generator hot gas leak. 1977 September 24 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Probable failure of launch vehicle stage to reach proper orbit. 1977 September 13 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Vehicle exploded, probably SRM case. 1977 November 29 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Failure 1977 February 22 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1977 December 27 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Probable failure of launch vehicle stage to reach proper orbit. 1977 August 4 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. First stage engine steering unit failure at T+40.1 seconds 1977 August 10 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1976 September 1 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Fourth stage failure. 1976 October 4 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Launch vehicle destroyed at T+95 seconds. 1976 November 10 - Launch Vehicle: CZ. Failure 1976 July 1 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Fourth stage failure. 1976 February 4 - Launch Vehicle: Mu. Stage 2 thrust vector control failure. 1976 February 19 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Early booster cut-off due to incorrect calculation of the Thor fuel load. 1975 October 16 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Block D stage failed. 1975 May 20 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Transtage gyro platform lost power; attitude control lost; orbit too low. 1975 June 3 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. First stage failed 84 seconds after launch. 1975 February 20 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Staging electrical disconnect. 1975 December 6 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Failure 1975 December 19 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1975 April 5 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. During second-third stage separation third stage failed to separate from second stage but still ignited. 1975 April 13 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. First stage failure due to explosion in flame pit at lift-off. 1974 November 5 - Launch Vehicle: CZ. Cable carrying pitch rate gyro signal disconnected. 1974 May 23 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. A problem in separation of the second and third stages of resulted in radio contact being lost with the spacecraft at T+439.6 sec. This automatically triggered the destruct charge in the Yantar OSA Descent Module, destroying the spacecraft and booster. 1974 July 14 - Launch Vehicle: CZ. Vehicle lost attitude stability and destroyed by range safety. 1974 July 11 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. First stage failed 84 seconds after launch. 1974 January 19 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Partial Failure. Failed to reach planned orbit. 1974 February 11 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Centaur LOX pump failure. 1974 August 30 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1974 August 30 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Partial Failure. 1974 April 12 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1973 September 18 - Launch Vehicle: CZ. Failure 1973 May 25 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1973 May 21 - Launch Vehicle: Diamant. Failure - fairing did not jettison. 1973 June 26 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Agena upper stage failed to orbit. 1973 June 26 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Nine persons were killed in the explosion of the vehicle. 1973 July 4 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1973 July 16 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Second stage failure. 1973 April 25 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Payload propulsion system failed; no orbit. 1972 September 2 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1972 October 17 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1972 November 23 - Launch Vehicle: N1. Failure 1972 May 20 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Failure 1972 March 31 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. The escape stage Block L's engine cut off 125 seconds after ignition due to timer failure. 1972 July 29 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Second stage malfunction at T+ 162 sec. 1972 February 16 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Failure 1972 April 25 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Second stage failed 367 seconds after launch. 1971 October 21 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure. 1971 November 5 - Launch Vehicle: Europa. Structural failure of third stage. Guidance signals were reversed. 1971 May 9 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Inadvertent Centaur electronic signal shut down stage early. 1971 May 10 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. No Block D ignition due wrong timer setting. 1971 March 5 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1971 March 5 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Second stage failed 133 seconds after launch. 1971 June 26 - Launch Vehicle: N1. First stage failed. 1971 June 25 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1971 July 22 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1971 February 17 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1971 December 5 - Launch Vehicle: Diamant. Second stage failed. 1971 December 4 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. First stage failure. 1971 December 3 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1971 August 3 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Second stage failed 204 seconds after launch. 1971 August 19 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1970 September 25 - Launch Vehicle: Mu. Fourth stage failed to ignite. 1970 September 2 - Launch Vehicle: Black Arrow. Second stage shut down 13 seconds early. 1970 November 6 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Partial Failure. 1970 November 30 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Shroud failed to separate. 1970 May 22 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. First stage failed 112 seconds after launch. 1970 June 27 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1970 June 12 - Launch Vehicle: Europa. Payload fairing failed to separate. 1970 July 21 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1970 January 30 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Second stage failed 128 seconds after launch. 1970 February 6 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Failure of vehicle on launch. 1970 December 22 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. First stage failed 1 second after launch. 1970 August 22 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. The escape stage Block L's engine 11D33 was late igniting and cut off early at 25 seconds after firing due to abnormal operation of the sequencer and a DC transformer failure. 1969 September 23 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Block D lost LOX due to valve defect. 1969 September 22 - Launch Vehicle: Lambda. Fourth stage control system malfunction after third stage collided with fourth stage. 1969 October 22 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Block D control system failure. 1969 October 1 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Partial Failure. 1969 November 28 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. First stage malfunction. 1969 November 16 - Launch Vehicle: CZ-1. The program distributor in the second stage broke down. The rocket crashed into the earth within view of the launch site after 69 seconds of flight. 1969 March 27 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. T+51s payload shroud failed. Second stage continued but third stage failed to ignite. 1969 June 14 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Block D upper stage did not fire and payload did not attain earth orbit, 1969 July 3 - Launch Vehicle: N1. First stage failure. 1969 July 26 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Third stage failure; left in unusable orbit. 1969 July 23 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Second stage failed 267 seconds after launch. 1969 July 2 - Launch Vehicle: Europa. Third stage failed. 1969 January 25 - Launch Vehicle: Tsiklon. Payload propulsion system failed; no orbit. 1969 January 20 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Second stage - One RD-0210 engine fails at T+510 sec, resulting in flight path deviation, automatic shutoff of launch vehicle. 1969 February 21 - Launch Vehicle: N1. First stage failure. 1969 February 19 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. First-stage engine failure caused the rocket to crash 15 km from the pad. 1969 February 1 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Upper stage failure. 1969 December 27 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1969 August 27 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. First stage hydraulics failure. Vehicle destructed at T+383 seconds 1969 April 2 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. First stage - 1 x RD-253 fire beginning at T+ 0.02 sec, rocket crashed near pad. 1968 September 19 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Control system failure; destroyed by range safety. 1968 November 29 - Launch Vehicle: Europa. Third stage exploded. 1968 May 18 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1968 March 6 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Second stage failed 216 seconds after launch. 1968 March 5 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Partial Failure. 1968 June 4 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1968 June 15 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1968 February 7 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. At T+524.6 sec Stage 3's engine 11D55 cut off prematurely because it ran out of fuel due to an excessive fuel consumption rate through the gas-generator. 1968 August 16 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure 1968 August 10 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Centaur oxidizer leak. No restart. 1968 April 22 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Second stage shut-off prematurely due to short-circuit in Zond control system. 1967 September 27 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. First stage -1 RD-253 failed, resulting at T+67 sec in deviation from flight path. 1967 September 27 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle exploded on pad. 1967 September 1 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure of Block I stage at 296 seconds. Remnants of spacecraft and stage fell near Novaya Zemlya. 1967 November 22 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Second stage - 1 x RD-0210 failure, shutoff of stage 4 seconds after ignition. Launcher crashed downrange. 1967 May 9 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure of the booster cut-off switch. 1967 May 30 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Third stage failure. 1967 June 26 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1967 June 20 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1967 June 17 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Stage 4's engine 11D33 failed to ignite because the turbopump had not been cooled before ignition. 1967 July 27 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Partial Failure. 1967 July 21 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1967 January 31 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Failure. 1967 February 8 - Launch Vehicle: Diamant. Partial Failure - injected into too low an orbit. 1967 April 8 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Block D ullage rocket failure; no restart. 1967 April 6 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Partial Failure. 1967 April 26 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Stage 2 engine lost thrust. 1967 April 13 - Launch Vehicle: Lambda. Fourth stage failed to ignite. 1966 September 26 - Launch Vehicle: Lambda. Fourth stage attitude control failed. 1966 September 16 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Launch vehicle destroyed. Failure of Block D core stage. 1966 October 26 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Partial Failure. 1966 November 16 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1966 May 3 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1966 May 17 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Control system failure. 1966 May 17 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1966 March 27 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. The booster failed during ascent. The launcher and payload broke up on impact with the ground. 1966 March 24 - Launch Vehicle: Proton. Second stage malfunction. 1966 March 1 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. The escape stage Block L lost roll control during unpowered coast in parking orbit because the axis of the course regulator of the control system jammed in the zero position. The stage's engine was not fired. 1966 July 14 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Partial Failure. 1966 January 8 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Second stage failed. 1966 February 21 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. First stage failed 83 seconds after launch. 1966 December 20 - Launch Vehicle: Lambda. Fourth stage failed to ignite. 1966 December 14 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Erroneous firing of launch escape tower ignited launch vehicle on the pad. 1966 August 26 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Payload fairing broke up 78 seconds after launch. 1966 April 8 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Centaur propellant leak. 1965 September 2 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Agena-D failed; destroyed by range safety. 1965 October 25 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Exploded 6 minutes after takeoff. Failure. 1965 October 15 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Partial Failure. 1965 November 23 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. At T+528 sec, during the final thrust phase of the Block I's 8D715K engine, one of the combustion chambers blew up due to a tear in the fuel pipeline. This resulted in an abnormal separation of the upper stages. 1965 May 28 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure. 1965 March 2 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure 1965 March 12 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. The escape stage Block L's engine failed to ignite due to failure of a transformer in the power supply of the control system. 1965 July 13 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Second stage guidance failure. 1965 July 12 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure 1965 January 21 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure 1965 February 20 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. First stage failed 64 seconds after launch. 1965 February 12 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Second stage failed. 1965 December 28 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. First stage failed. 1965 August 25 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Premature third stage ignition. 1965 April 10 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Stage 3's engine 8D715K failed due to depressurization of the nitrogen pipeline of the LOX tank pressurization system of Block I. 1964 September 1 - Launch Vehicle: Titan. Transtage pressurization failure caused premature shutdown. 1964 October 8 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure 1964 October 23 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 3. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1964 November 5 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Launch fairing failure 1964 March 27 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. During unpowered coast in parking orbit the escape stage Block L lost stable attitude due to a loss of the power circuit of the pneumatic valves of the attitude control and stabilization system. 1964 March 24 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1964 March 21 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure 1964 March 19 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Insufficient third stage thrust. 1964 June 4 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. At T+104 sec the tank draining of core Block A failed due to jamming of the servo-motored throttle and break down of the motor's circuit The launcher was destroyed on impact downrange from the pad. 1964 June 30 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Centaur hydraulics failure. 1964 June 25 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Second stage exploded. 1964 February 19 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Second stage failure. 1964 December 1 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Payload shroud did not separate. 1964 August 28 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Agena-B cut off too early. Partial Failure. 1964 April 21 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1964 April 20 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Power failure caused upper stage shutdown at T+340 seconds. 1963 September 27 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Failure. 1963 October 24 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Second stage failed 353 seconds after launch. 1963 November 9 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1963 November 28 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure of block E upper stage. Spacecraft liquidated by APO destruct system. 1963 November 11 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. During unpowered coast in parking orbit the escape stage Block L lost stable attitude. Engine ignition occurred in an incorrect direction. 1963 March 18 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1963 June 12 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure 1963 June 1 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. First stage failed 4 seconds after launch. 1963 July 10 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Shutdown of Block B strap-on engine stage 1.9 seconds after liftoff. Pad damaged. 1963 January 4 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. The escape stage's BOZ unit failed to operate due to failure of a DC transformer of the power system. The stage with payload remained in Earth orbit. 1963 February 3 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Upper stage gyro platform failure. 1963 February 28 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1963 August 22 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. First stage failed. 1963 April 6 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. First stage failed. 1963 April 5 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Failure. 1963 April 26 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Attitude sensors were misaligned. No orbit. 1963 April 26 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Failure. 1962 September 12 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. At T+531 sec, the fourth vernier chamber of Stage 3's 8D715K engine exploded because the LOX cut-off valve had not closed as scheduled and LOX flowed into the hot chamber. 1962 September 1 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. At T+ 61 min 30 sec the fuel valve did not open.; the ignition command was blocked from going to the main engine of Stage 4. 1962 October 25 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Launch vehicle failed to orbit - unknown cause. 1962 October 24 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. 16 seconds after ignition of Stage 4, Block L's S1.5400A1 engine exploded. A lubricant leak resulted in the jamming of a shaft in the turbopump gearbox and break up of the turbine. 1962 November 4 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. After T+260 sec, a malfunction of the pressurization system of the central sustainer led to cavitation in the oxidizer pipeline and LOX pump, followed at T+292s by the fuel pump. 1962 May 24 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Failure. 1962 May 10 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Able-Star failed to ignite. 1962 June 1 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Shutdown of Block B strap-on engine stage 1.8 seconds after liftoff. The booster crashed 300 m from the pad. Pad damaged. 1962 July 22 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Destroyed by range safety. 1962 January 26 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Agena B second stage guidance system failure 1962 January 24 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1962 January 13 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1962 February 21 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Partial failure. Agena failed to restart to circularize orbit. 1962 December 17 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure 1962 August 25 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. At T+60 min 50 sec one of the four solid motors of the escape stage's BOZ unit did not fire. The resulting asymmetric torque caused the stage to lose correct attitude and three seconds after ignition of the main engine S1.5400A1 it began to tumble. 1962 April 26 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Failure. 1961 September 9 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Exploded on launch pad. 1961 October 27 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. First stage failed. 1961 October 23 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1961 November 22 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Failure. 1961 November 18 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Agena B Second Stage failed to restart. 1961 November 1 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Failure 1961 May 24 - Launch Vehicle: Jupiter. Second Stage failed to ignite. 1961 March 30 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1961 June 8 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1961 June 30 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Third stage did not ignite, and the vehicle was destroyed. 1961 July 21 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1961 February 4 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. At T+531 sec, the fourth vernier chamber of Stage 3's 8D715K engine exploded because the LOX cut-off valve had not closed as scheduled and LOX flowed into the hot chamber. 1961 February 25 - Launch Vehicle: Jupiter. Third Stage failed to ignite. 1961 December 21 - Launch Vehicle: Kosmos 2. Second stage failed 354 seconds after launch. 1961 December 11 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. RO-7 engine of block E upper stage cutoff prematurely. Spacecraft liquidated by self destruct system APO in 407th second of flight. Debris landed 100 km north of Vilyuisk. 1961 August 4 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1961 August 25 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Partial Failure. 1961 August 23 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Agena B second stage failure. 1961 April 25 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Destroyed by range safety. 1960 September 25 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Second stage exploded. 1960 October 26 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1960 October 14 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. At T+290 sec Stage 3's engine 8D715K failed to ignite because a LOX leak froze kerosene in the fuel inlet to the pump on the launch pad due to a faulty LOX valve seal. 1960 October 11 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Second stage failure. 1960 October 10 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. At T+300.9 sec, the launcher went out of control and the destruct command was given at T+324.2 sec - the engine of Stage 3 cut off after 13.32 s of burning. 1960 November 30 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1960 May 13 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Second stage attitude control failure. 1960 March 23 - Launch Vehicle: Jupiter. Upper stage failed to ignite. Third stage failed to ignite due to loss of radio contact. 1960 June 29 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1960 July 28 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. At ignition one of the combustion chambers in strap on Block B or G burned through. The strap on separated from the core at 17 seconds into the flight and the launch vehicle exploded at 28.5 seconds. 1960 February 4 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1960 February 26 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Second stage failed to separate. 1960 February 19 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Failure 1960 February 15 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Vehicle exploded in static firing. 1960 December 4 - Launch Vehicle: Scout. Second stage malfunction. 1960 December 22 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. The third stage engine RO-7 failed just after ignition, 425 seconds in to flight. 1960 December 15 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Atlas exploded 70 seconds after liftoff. 1960 August 18 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Exploded 2.5 minutes after launch. 1960 April 16 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Strap-on B reached only 75 percent of thrust at ignition. Four tenths of a second after liftoff it broke away from the core. 1960 April 15 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. The third stage RO-5 engine either did not reach full thrust or shut down early. 1959 September 24 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Vehicle exploded on pad. 1959 September 17 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Third stage failed. 1959 November 26 - Launch Vehicle: Atlas. Payload shroud failed after 45 sec, broke away prematurely. 1959 June 3 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. No telemetry after Agena ignition. 1959 June 25 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Insufficient stage 2 velocity. 1959 June 22 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Stage 2 propulsion malfunction. 1959 June 18 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Inertial system failed at 153 seconds after launch. Vehicle destroyed by range safety. 1959 July 16 - Launch Vehicle: Jupiter. Control lost after 5.5 sec. Destroyed by range safety. 1959 January 21 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Launch vehicle failure. 1959 January 2 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Failure of the launch vehicle control system. 1959 August 15 - Launch Vehicle: Jupiter. First stage shut down too early; no attitude control for upper stages. 1959 April 14 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Stage 2 damaged at separation. 1958 September 26 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Insufficient 2nd stage thrust - unknown cause. 1958 September 23 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Launcher disintegrated 93 seconds after launch due to longitudinal resonance of strap-ons. 1958 October 23 - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Upper stages separated prior to burnout. Structural failure after 149 sec due to vibration disturbances generated by the spinning payload. 1958 October 11 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Launcher disintegrated 104 seconds after launch due to longitudinal resonance of strap-ons. 1958 October 11 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Third stage produced insufficient thrust. Partial Failure. 1958 November 8 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Third stage ignition unsuccessful. 1958 May 28 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Improper third stage trajectory - unknown cause. 1958 March 5 - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. Fourth Stage failed to ignite. 1958 June 26 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Premature second stage cutoff. Unknown cause. 1958 July 25 - Launch Vehicle: Project Pilot. Radio contact lost; possibly reached orbit. 1958 February 5 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Control system malfunction - control lost after 57 sec. 1958 December 6 - Launch Vehicle: Jupiter. First Stage shut down too early. Partial Failure. 1958 December 4 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Core engines shut off at 245 seconds into the flight. Cause was a loss of lubrication to the hydrogen peroxide pump. 1958 August 28 - Launch Vehicle: Project Pilot. One first stage motor failed to ignite, causing structural failure. 1958 August 26 - Launch Vehicle: Project Pilot. Stage failed to ignite, vehicle fell into Pacific. 1958 August 25 - Launch Vehicle: Project Pilot. Vehicle exploded after 0.75sec. 1958 August 24 - Launch Vehicle: Redstone. First Stage collided with upper stages. Second Stage ignited in wrong direction. 1958 August 22 - Launch Vehicle: Project Pilot. Radio contact lost; possibly reached orbit. 1958 August 17 - Launch Vehicle: Delta. Thor exploded after 77 sec. 1958 August 12 - Launch Vehicle: Project Pilot. Vehicle exploded at ignition. 1958 April 29 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Third Stage failed to ignite. 1958 April 27 - Launch Vehicle: Soyuz. Launch vehicle disintegrated 88 seconds after liftoff. 1957 December 6 - Launch Vehicle: Vanguard. Vehicle lost thrust and exploded after 2 seconds. 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