NASA Glory Mission Failure
NASA’S Glory Satellite Fails To Reach Orbit
At a news conference following the unsuccessful attempt to place the Glory spacecraft in orbit, a team from NASA and Orbital Sciences Corporation, maker of the Taurus XL rocket, discussed the failure of the rocket’s fairing to separate. The fairing, which covers and protects the spacecraft during launch and ascent, underwent a redesign of its separation system after a similar failure two years ago. The new system has been successfully used on another Orbital launch vehicle several times.
NASA Launch Director Omar Baez said the countdown and launch went smoothly until the point at which they should have received data indicating that the fairing had separated from the vehicle.
Once more data is analyzed, the teams hope to have a better understanding of what went wrong and where in the South Pacific the spacecraft may have landed.
Rocket fails to reach orbit; likely crashes into ocean
(CNN) — A satellite and the unmanned rocket that carried it apparently crashed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after lifting off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Friday morning, NASA said.
A protective shell atop the Taurus XL rocket did not separate as planned, slowing the rocket and preventing it from going into orbit, NASA officials said, citing initial information. The rocket carried a satellite, known as Glory, that was to have collected information to help scientists better understand the Earth’s climate.
The satellite and rocket apparently fell into the southern Pacific, they said.
“This is a pretty tough night for all of us,” said NASA official Ron Grabe.
Taurus Launch Contingency - NASA Video
Launch Commentator George Diller concludes coverage of the Glory/Taurus XL launch.
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