MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - The loss of GLONASS-M satellites in December 2010 was due to an excess amount of oxidizer in the upper stage, Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told Interfax.
"The 1.5 tonnes of oxidizer, charged into the upper stage in excess of the required amount caused a crash and loss of three GLONASS-M satellites," Markin said.
"The situation was due to an error in the formula of calculating the amount of liquid oxygen made by the Energia rocket and space corporation," he said.
The loss of the satellites caused the state 4.3 billion rubles in damages, Markin also said.
"The error was made and remained undetected due to organizational flaws in the work to develop and negotiate the technical documentation within the Energia rocket and space corporation, and also insufficient control on the part of the personnel responsible for the launch, the land-based infrastructure and the Federal Space Agency's cooperation ties," he said.
A legal assessment will be made of the actions that were or were not taken by persons who were preparing the rocket launch.
Reports said earlier that the Russian Investigative Committee's Department for the Central Federal District conducted a pre-investigation check into the crash and loss of three GLONASS-M satellites on December 5, which fell into the Pacific Ocean, and started a criminal case on counts of negligence.