Spaceflight Now: Mission Report
Countdown aborted in final seconds

SPACEFLIGHT NOW DIGITAL VIDEO
Posted: January 8, 2001

The countdown for XM 1 aboard a Sea Launch Zenit 3SL rocket is aborted in the final seconds due to a problem noted with the satellite cargo. This movie was recorded as the launch team identified the concern and frantically ordered the countdown stopped with less than 30 seconds until blastoff. The water deluge system did activate, sending a torrent of seawater into the flame trench of the Odyssey launch platform. The commentator mistakenly called engine ignition and liftoff despite the aborted countdown. Source video: Sea Launch (259k, 44sec QuickTime file).

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MISSION STATUS CENTER