October 24, 2018
Categories: Baikonur Cosmodrome, History, Space
The Day When no Rockets launched

October 24 is considered to be the black day in the history of Russian space exploration. On this date within three years period Russian cosmonautics faced two terrible accidents with heavy losses.
The first one happened in 1960 during the first launch of R-16 intercontinental ballistic missile. Second stage engine was accidentally ignited causing a fire and then a terrific explosion. 74 (according to various sources from 92 to 126) people met a horrible death in fiery hell the launchpad turned into. This accident is also called Nedelin catastrophe since Soviet Marshall Nedelin attending the launch also died then.
Three years after Baikonur faced another tragedy on this date. There was a fuel leak in the launch silo of R-9A, a small spark in the gassy silo caused a fire. 8 engineers died.
Since then no launches are planned for this date and more over no serious maintenance operations are accomplished.
October 24 is also considered to be as fallen rocket specialists memorial day.

More from this category:
April 28, 2021
Progress MS-14 Undocked from the ISS

Russian cargo vehicle Progress MS-14 that had spend record for Russian cargo vehicles time on the orbit undocked from the ISS. The vehicle undocked from…

full story
November 27, 2014
Roscosmos: Yamal-401 Satellite Launch Won’t be Postponed

The postponement of Proton-M booster launch with European Astra-2G space device won’t affect the launch of Proton-M with Yamal-401 telecommunication satellite planned for December 26….

full story
October 5, 2019
“Proton-M” rocket installed on the launch pad

Preparations for the launch of the “Proton-M” launch vehicle with the “Breeze-M” upper stage, the Eutelsat 5 West B telecommunication satellite and the technological satellite…

full story
October 16, 2013
GCTC: Olympic Torch Modernized for Spacewalk

Olympic Torch that is to be carried into the open space from the ISS by Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov and Sergey Ryazansky on November 9…

full story
July 11, 2014
Moscow to Host Space Assembly

More than 2000 scientists dealing with  space exploration are going to visit Committee on Space Research Scientific Assembly. Assembly program includes more than 4000 reports,…

full story
December 12, 2018
Spacewalk performed successfully

The spacewalk according to the Russian program was successfully completed by the cosmonauts of Roscosmos Oleg Kononenko and Sergey Prokopiev. The main task of VKD-45A…

full story
March 20, 2014
New ISS Mission Crew Demonstrated their Training to Journalists

New ISS mission crew leaving for the station on March 26 carried out demonstrational training on Soyuz TMA-12M spacecraft for the journalists. Prime crew consisting…

full story
May 19, 2015
Russian Businessman Filaret Galchev to go to the ISS instead Sarah Brightman?

Russian billionaire Filaret Galtchev Eurocement Group beneficiary may go to the International Space Station as space tourist. Galchev is willing to take vacant seat in…

full story