Zenit Flight History Page 2 of 2
                         Comprehensive Zenit Failure List

Date       Vehicle          ID    Site     Payload          Failure Description                       Result#
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4/13/1985  Zenit-2                TB 45/1  Tselina-2 dummy  2nd stg off early @400 sec (prop control)   FTO
6/21/1985  Zenit-2                TB 45/1  Tselina-2 dummy  2nd stg off early (prop control)            FTO
12/28/1985 Zenit-2                TB 45/1  Tselina-2        2nd stg no restart - incorrect orbit       (LEO) 
10/4/1990  Zenit-2                TB 45/2  Tselina-2        1st stg engine T+4 sec - destroyed pad      FTO
8/30/1991  Zenit-2                TB 45/1                   2nd stg failure                             FTO
2/5/1992   Zenit-2                TB 45/1                   2nd stg failure                             FTO
5/20/1997  Zenit-2                TB 45/1  Tselina-2        exploded T+48 sec                           FTO
9/9/1998   Zenit-2          22D   TB 45/1  12xGlobalstar    Guidance fail during 2nd stg T+272 sec      FTO
3/12/2000  Zenit-3SL/DMSL         POR      ICO F-1          2nd stg control 7 min (prelaunch error)     FTO  
6/29/2004  Zenit-3SL/DMSL   SL20  POR      Apstar 5         3rd stg 2nd burn off 54s early (electrical)(EEO)
1/30/2007  Zenit 3SL/DMSL   SL16  POR      NSS-8 (5.92t)    RD-171 eng failed at T-0, turbopump FOD     FTO
4/28/2008  Zenit 3SLB/DMSLB LL1   TB 45/1  Amos 3 (1.25 t)  75 m/s shortfall, DM "programming error"   (GEO-)
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Footnotes:

#  FTO:  Failed to Orbit
   (EEO):  Unintended Eliptical Earth Orbit
   (GTO):  Unintended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
   (LEO):  Unintended Low Earth Orbit

List does not include 1/8/2001 Zenit-3SL launch abort just before planned liftoff.  Abort 
call occurred after propellant flow "irreversible operation" into RD-171 engine but before 
engine ignition.  Ships had to return to San Diego for first stage replacement.  Stage 
involved was later refurbished. 


References:

Jonathan's Space Report Launch Vehicle Database "http://www.planet4589.org/space/lvdb/index.html"
Encylopedia Astronautica "http://www.astronautix.com/"
Gunter's Space Page "http://www.skyrocket.de/space"
Sea Launch User Guide, Rev C, March 1996, Sea Launch Company, LLC 
TRW Space Log 1957-1996, TRW Space & Electronics Group, Redondo Beach, CA. 
SpaceFlightNow "http://www.spaceflightnow.com"

Last Update 12/20/2008 by Ed Kyle