Early Tuesday, a Russian Proton-M rocket with a payload of three satellites malfunctioned almost immediately after launch, crashing down back into the launch pad at Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The three satellites were destined to become a part of the GLONASS constellation, a Russian version of the American GPS system, which has been undergoing modernization since the beginning of the 2000s. Sadly, the rocket was not able to properly navigate its way into to space, and the payload was a total loss.
The Proton-M rocket, a Russian design, had its first flight in 2001, so the design is relatively new. However, the Proton-M has had several malfunctions in recent years. Additionally, the fuel used to power the Proton-M is said to be highly toxic, containing heptyl, amyl and kerosene.