Russia's Vesti TV news says the Yuri Dolgoruky's escape capsule can accommodate the whole crew and float to the surface in an emergency.

BBC: New Russian nuclear sub 'safer than Kursk'

The Russian navy has received a new nuclear missile submarine which has an escape capsule, to avoid any repetition of the 2000 Kursk disaster.

BBC: New Russian nuclear sub 'safer than Kursk'

What would be an upper stage, with a crew capsule and its emergency escape mechanism, is actually a simulator made to the correct shape and weight.

BBC: Nasa rocket launches successfully