Taurus launch declared failure, spacecraft feared lost
Posted: Fri, Sep 21, 2001, 8:12 PM ET (0012 GMT)
A problem during the flight of a Taurus launch vehicle Friday afternoon has apparently led to the loss of its payload of two spacecraft. The Taurus lifted off on schedule at 2:49 pm EDT (1849 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. However, the booster appeared to veer off course for several seconds after jettisoning its first stage, raising concerns from observers that something had gone wrong. After a long period of silence, launch officials did confirm that there had been a problem during the first stage separation, and that while the booster was able to reorient itself, it was unlikely it was able to reach the required altitude and velocity. This means the spacecraft's payload, the OrbView-4 commercial remote sensing satellite and NASA's QuickTOMS ozone monitoring spacecraft, likely failed to reach orbit and reentered the Earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. The booster also carried a payload of cremated remains for Celestis. The failure would be the first in six launches for the Taurus, operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation. An investigation into the failure is expected to begin immediately.
A problem during the flight of a Taurus launch vehicle Friday afternoon has apparently led to the loss of its payload of two spacecraft. The Taurus lifted off on schedule at 2:49 pm EDT (1849 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. However, the booster appeared to veer off course for several seconds after jettisoning its first stage, raising concerns from observers that something had gone wrong. After a long period of silence, launch officials did confirm that there had been a problem during the first stage separation, and that while the booster was able to reorient itself, it was unlikely it was able to reach the required altitude and velocity. This means the spacecraft's payload, the OrbView-4 commercial remote sensing satellite and NASA's QuickTOMS ozone monitoring spacecraft, likely failed to reach orbit and reentered the Earth's atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. The booster also carried a payload of cremated remains for Celestis. The failure would be the first in six launches for the Taurus, operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation. An investigation into the failure is expected to begin immediately.| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, January 27
Crawling, gripping and floating above ESA’s flat floor
ESA — 4:35 am ET (0935 GMT) ESA’s Biomass goes live with data now open to all
ESA — 4:35 am ET (0935 GMT) Ryanair says it could use Starlink in future despite Elon Musk feud
The Guardian — 4:35 am ET (0935 GMT) How we protected the UK and space in December 2025
UK Space Agency — 4:33 am ET (0933 GMT) Space Force’s Newest Reconnaissance Satellites Could Come Online by 2030
Air and Space Forces Magazine — 4:33 am ET (0933 GMT) |
