A Russian rocket with a payload that included a U.S. communications satellite has plunged into the Pacific Ocean soon after launch.
Officials quoted by Russian and international news agencies cited engine trouble soon after liftoff early on February 1.
A purported video of the doomed launch posted on the SpaceVidsNet channel on YouTube appeared to show the engines cut off less than 30 seconds into the flight:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/YVCWokch2oQ
The rocket was said to be carrying a Boeing-made Intelsat-27 satellite.
The failure was the latest of a number of recent setbacks for Russia's space program, including other unsuccessful satellite launches and an abortive mission to study the Mars moon Phobos.
Officials quoted by Russian and international news agencies cited engine trouble soon after liftoff early on February 1.
A purported video of the doomed launch posted on the SpaceVidsNet channel on YouTube appeared to show the engines cut off less than 30 seconds into the flight:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/YVCWokch2oQ
The rocket was said to be carrying a Boeing-made Intelsat-27 satellite.
The failure was the latest of a number of recent setbacks for Russia's space program, including other unsuccessful satellite launches and an abortive mission to study the Mars moon Phobos.