high-frequency combustion instability which had been a problem with the RD-219 engine and was also responsible for the 1970 and 1975 Kosmos 3M failures. The engine was redesigned and no further launches were lost due to first stage engine failures. More recently, on 21 November 2000, a Kosmos 3M launcher failed to place the QuickBird 1 satellite into orbit due to a failure of its second stage. The launch vehicle and satellite reentered the atmosphere over Uruguay, and an inquest into the accident was inconclusive. See also Comparison of orbital launcher families Comparison of orbital launch systems References External links Cosmos – 1, 3, 3M and 3MU Encyclopedia Astronautica entry 1967 in spaceflight 2010 in spaceflight Space launch vehicles of Russia Space launch vehicles of the Soviet Union