Russia excitedly prepared for the first flight of the Angara rocket, a $3 billion new-generation shuttle 20 years in the making, on Friday.
President Vladimir Putin awaited the launch sitting alone, Bond villain-style, at the head of a long table in a spacious room in the Kremlin.
Russia's technical elite looked on in horror.
A visibly crestfallen Putin ordered them to find out the reason for the failed launch in one hour.
"I'm sorry, Vladimir, I'm afraid I can't do that."