Other than embarrassment, why on earth would the engine maker oppose a method that makes its engines run cooler and with less fuel?

FORBES: Institutional Stupidity, III

The gravity assist would allow a safe return to Earth even if the spacecraft's main rocket engine failed, Professor Longuski said.

BBC: Manned flight to Mars in 2014?

The 13-tonne mission was initially lifted into a 350km-high orbit above Earth, with the expectation that the probe's big engine would fire twice - first, to raise that orbit, and, second, to set course for Mars.

BBC: Signal picked up from Russia's stranded Mars probe

The rocket was intended to lift the satellite into an orbit 35, 696 kilometers above the earth, but during its final burn, the upper stage engine shut down four minutes early, and the satellite was released into too low of an orbit.

FORBES: Another Russian Rocket Misses The Target

Phobos-Grunt has been stuck in Earth orbit since its launch on 9 November, unable to fire the engine that would take it on to Mars.

BBC: Signal picked up from Russia's stranded Mars probe

But for some reason, those engine burns never happened, and Phobos-Grunt has continued to circle the Earth.

BBC: Signal picked up from Russia's stranded Mars probe