Factory error blamed for supply rocket crash

The flaw led to the failure of a gas generator of the Soyuz rocket’s third-stage engine minutes after launch. The government panel investigating the August 24 crash concluded that the manufacturing flaw was “accidental”.

The agency added that all similar rocket engines will be checked.

The panel also recommended tightening quality controls at the rocket-manufacturing plant, including the introduction of surveillance cameras.

The space agency said further Soyuz launches will proceed depending on the condition of the engines, but gave no specific schedule.

With Nasa’s space shuttles retired as of July, Soyuz is the only means of getting astronauts to and from the space station. The Soyuz rocket that failed last month is similar to the ones used to launch astronauts to the station.

Nasa said the space station – continuously manned for nearly 11 years – will need to be abandoned temporarily if a new crew cannot be launched before the last of the station’s six residents fly back to Earth in mid-November.