MOSCOW, Russia (Jan. 15) - RIA Novosti news agency reported quoting sources in Russia's Defense Ministry that failed Russian probe Phobos-Grunt, whose mission to a Martian moon went off target before circling the Earth, has eventually fallen into the Pacific Ocean.
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| Debris of Russia's astray space probe Phobos-Grunt fallen into Pacific |
The out of control space probe sank into the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean at 17:45 GMT (21:45 Moscow time), says the press service of Russia’s Aerospace Defense Forces in the Defense Ministry.
The Phobos-Grunt is one of the heaviest pieces of space junk ever to fall on Earth, is around 13.5 metric tons (14.9 tons), and one of the most dangerous too due to highly toxic rocket fuel, around 12 tons, intended for the long journey to the Martian moon of Phobos.
The $170-million Phobos-Grunt was Russia's most expensive and the most ambitious space mission since Soviet times. It has been left unused as the probe got stuck in orbit around Earth shortly after its Nov. 9 launch.
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