Small errors can have massive consequences. In this case, three orientation sensors were installed upside down, leading to a catastrophic failure.

I would not call installing orientation sensors upside down a small error.

Never skip low quality video 😂😂😢

On 2 July 2013, a massive Proton-M rocket lifted off from a launch site in Russia. Just seconds after liftoff, engineers realised the rocket had veered off course. The triple sensors indicating the rocket's "up" direction had been installed backwards, causing the rocket to receive completely incorrect information about its position. Although the guidance system attempted to correct the situation, it was too late, and the rocket exploded violently, breaking apart.

Note: In the 2013 Proton-M rocket failure, a young technician at the Khrunichev assembly plant installed three yaw-axis angular velocity sensors upside down. The sensors had clear directional arrows, but the worker forced them into place, bending the lockout pins. A supervisor signed off without proper checks. This sent wrong data to the flight computer, causing the rocket to wobble wildly, lose control, and explode 17 seconds after launch from Baikonur, destroying three GLONASS satellites. The error happened during refurbishment in 2011 and went undetected until wreckage analysis.

The upside is, they worked perfectly.

Upside down orientation sensors: “Okay, we’re good now.”

Good engineering practice is to make it impossible to install wrong. Use keyed slots, asymmetric bolt patterns, etc

The sensors were manufactured to only fit the “proper” way….but the technician bent the pins and forced them to fit upside down. (Plus the sensors had clear visable arrows pointing up) 🤣 🤦🏻

Lack of a final verification layer that assumes humans will eventually mess up so I would say Small errors don’t cause disasters, systems that trust perfection do.

Not just "installed" upside-down - the sensors were "keyed" to only be installed with the correct orientation, but someone used a HAMMER to forcibly insert the sensors in the opposite way - it was obvious sabotage by a disgruntled Russian worker who wanted the rocket to crash.

So, they worked?

Too much vodka on the morning shift ?

@grok where did this happen ?

All the rocket's brain knew is what the sensors told it. Just as every piece of information your brain sees and reacts to comes from your 5 senses.

Unbelievable pieces of modern day engineering! Yeah ZERO scope of error!

SNAFU. I'm not surprised by who was responsible for this failure. This is a nation that has a knack for fking up everything they touch.

Not just a small error the system failed. A mistake only makes it to launch if no one catches it.

More here:

That was careless by those in charge of it, they had all the time to cross check to avoid such catastrophic.

Another broken space DILDO!!!

Worst show ride ever.

One of the world's most expensive fireworks.

Is that a proton rocker?

Installing things backwards on a space rocket is insane to me. Was Russia doing DEI, too?

Seems the sensors worked perfectly. They told the Rocket up was down and it adjusted accordingly.

Because Ariane5 accelerated faster than Ariane4, the software (written for Ariane4) caused an overflow error that destroyed the rocket. (In 1996)

Here's a good one: Lake Peigneur drilling disaster on November 20, 1980.