MOSCOW. Feb 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The Zenit launch could have failed due to strong waves in the Pacific Ocean in the launch area, a source in the rocket and space industry told Interfax-AVN.
"Strong waves have been registered in the launch area since yesterday and the stabilizing engines of the launch platform barely maintained stability. The Odyssey platform drifted in the launch area the day before," the source said.
A rocket launch requires full stability of the platform because all navigation and hydrological equipment of the platform and the rocket carrier are tied to the launch site.
Bearing in mind that the rocket carrier initially followed the wrong trajectory, " it can be said that the rocket systems classed the situation as an emergency caused by the instability of the platform immediately after the launch and turned the engines on to take the rocket away from the Odyssey Launch Platform to avoid its damage," the source said.