MOSCOW, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Russia's loss of three satellites during launch this week was caused by an off-course booster rocket that had been given too much fuel, officials said.
The estimated 1-1/2 to 2 tons of excessive fuel caused the rocket to deviate from its course and the satellites crashed into the Pacific Ocean, RIA Novosti reported Friday.
"According to preliminary information, the problem was not with the fuel service unit at the launching site, but with one of the sensors showing the fuel level," Gennady Raikunov, head of the investigation commission, said.
"We do not rule out the factor of human error," he said.
Raikunov said the Russian space rocket corporation Energia may be linked to the incident.
The Sunday launch was intended to complete the forming of Russia's Glonass navigation system, similar to the U.S. GPS system.
However, the Proton-M rocket, launched from the Baikonur Space Center in Kazakhstan, deviated from its course by 8 degrees, resulting in the loss of the satellites.
The spacecraft fell into the Pacific Ocean to the northwest of Hawaii, RIA Novosti reported.
