An unmanned Russian rocket exploded just seconds after takeoff on Tuesday, destroying all three satellites on board, and then it crashed in Kazakhstan.
Nobody was immediately reported injured or killed, CNN reported.
The rocket had just launched from Baikonur space center when it veered off path, officials said. Within seconds, it steered off course, burst into flame and crashed nose first to the ground, CNN said.
The rocket — a Proton-M — was carting three satellites meant for the country’s Global Navigation Satellite System, called Glonass. Glonass is akin to the Unites States’ Global Positioning System, GPS.
In 2010, another Proton-M rocket carrying three satellites had veered off course and crashed into the Pacific Ocean.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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