Suborbital rocket explodes after liftoff
Posted: Fri, Aug 22, 2008, 9:10 AM ET (1310 GMT)
An ATK-developed suborbital rocket carrying two NASA experiments exploded shortly after liftoff from Virginia Friday morning. The ATK Launch Vehicle (ALV) X-1 lifted off from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island, Virginia, at 5:10 am EDT (0910 GMT) Friday but exploded 27 seconds after liftoff, according to a NASA statement. The cause for the explosion is not known. According to the statement most of the rocket debris fell into the Atlantic Ocean, although there were conflicting reports about whether any debris fell on land; that debris is considered hazardous and should not be approached by the public. The ALV was carrying two experiments, one to study the hypersonic boundary layer around the vehicle and the other to test a new design for reentry capsules, provided by NASA. The launch was the first for the two-stage solid-propellant vehicle, which was designed to lead to the development of a larger version for orbital launches of small satellites.
An ATK-developed suborbital rocket carrying two NASA experiments exploded shortly after liftoff from Virginia Friday morning. The ATK Launch Vehicle (ALV) X-1 lifted off from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at Wallops Island, Virginia, at 5:10 am EDT (0910 GMT) Friday but exploded 27 seconds after liftoff, according to a NASA statement. The cause for the explosion is not known. According to the statement most of the rocket debris fell into the Atlantic Ocean, although there were conflicting reports about whether any debris fell on land; that debris is considered hazardous and should not be approached by the public. The ALV was carrying two experiments, one to study the hypersonic boundary layer around the vehicle and the other to test a new design for reentry capsules, provided by NASA. The launch was the first for the two-stage solid-propellant vehicle, which was designed to lead to the development of a larger version for orbital launches of small satellites.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, February 18
Space Force needs 10,000 more Guardians, officials tell Senate
Huntsville Times — 5:40 am ET (1040 GMT) SpaceX, Not Tesla, Will Make Musk A Trillionaire
Forbes.com — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) Space Force needs to double in size, top enlisted leader says
FederalNewsRadio.com — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) GMV and the Spanish Air and Space Force Sign Agreement to Strengthen National Space Surveillance Capabilities
Space and Defense — 5:36 am ET (1036 GMT) Virgin Galactic Announces Date of Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results and Conference Call
Virgin Galactic — 5:35 am ET (1035 GMT) |
