Submission + - Upside-down sensors cause rocket crash 3
Michi writes: According to Anatoly Zak, the crash of the Russion Proton rocket on 1 July was apparently caused by several angular velocity sensors having been installed upside down.
Each of those sensors had an arrow that was supposed to point toward the top of the vehicle, however multiple sensors on the failed rocket were pointing downward instead.
It seems amazing that something as fundamental as this was not caught during quality control. Even more amazing is that the design of the sensors permits them to be installed in the wrong orientation in the first place. Even the simplest of mechanical interlocks (such as a notch at one end that must be matched with a corresponding projection) could have prevented the accident.
Where a picture is worth a 1000 words (Score:2)
I thought as many probably did what kind of nard would put a "angular velocity sensor" upside down even
when it has an arrow showing it's position till I looked at a few http://preview.tinyurl.com/lg25gf5 [tinyurl.com]
even putting "russian" in front of the search did little good, "rocket" helped even less
Putting "this side up" I figure could of done wonders and mayhaps a design change now.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/k56w43a [tinyurl.com] as this one even has an arrow.
They'd make a better idiot (Score:2)
Even the simplest of mechanical interlocks (such as a notch at one end that must be matched with a corresponding projection) could have prevented the accident."
The QA guy would've just ground down the unnecessary projection, thinking he'd saved a little weight.
Pet Peeve (Score:2)
...had an arrow that was suppose to point...
AARGH! Pet peeve! The word is supposed. I hear that all the time and it grates me, I tells ya! I understand that the article was probably translated from Russian, but still!