Two officers died at the Plesetsk cosmodrome

Two officers of the technical base of the Plesetsk cosmodrome died during planned work on cleaning the tank from under missile fuel, RIA Novosti reports with reference to the press service of the Ministry of Defense. Three more military personnel are hospitalized with poisoning.

The emergency occurred during the processing of one of the amyl tanks (diaxot tetraoxide), which is used as components of rocket fuel. "According to preliminary data, the emergency was the result of violation by officers of security requirements during regulatory work," the report said.

"Three military personnel who received toxic poisoning in pairs of nitrogen were promptly taken to a military hospital in the city of Mirny, where he had all the necessary medical care. There are no threats to the life of military personnel," the Ministry of Defense said. Doctors of toxicologists with the necessary medical equipment intended to provide assistance with toxic poisoning flew to the city hospital from St. Petersburg.

“The emergency did not occur during the preparation of the missile for the start, but during planned work to clean the tank tanks from under missile fuel. These works are not technologically connected with the Rokota, preparing on November 22,” the source at the cosmodrome told Interfax. The interlocutor emphasized that the incident would not affect the Rokot missile.

From the military cosmodrome "Plesetsk" launches of cosmic missiles are carried out in the interests of the Ministry of Defense and foreign customers. The cosmodrome began to be built in 1957 as a starting position of intercontinental missiles. The first space launch was made in 1966.