The Taurus XL rocket built by Orbital Sciences failed to lift NASA's Earth-observation satellite into orbit and plummeted into the Pacific Ocean. The failed mission cost $424 million, the space agency said.
NASA scientists believe the launch on Friday failed because the satellite's protective cover, which opens like a clamshell, did not separate as expected.
It is the second consecutive time that NASA has encountered the problem with the Taurus XL rocket built by Orbital Sciences Corp.of Dulles, Va.
It is the second consecutive time that NASA has encountered the problem with the Taurus XL rocket built by Orbital Sciences Corp.of Dulles, Va.
The space agency's previous Taurus XL launch attempt on Feb. 24, 2009, carrying another Earth science spacecraft, dubbed the Orbiting Carbon Observatory, also failed to reach orbit because of lack of separation.
Orbital Sciences and NASA investigated the matter and believed that they had identified the problem.
Orbital Sciences and NASA investigated the matter and believed that they had identified the problem.
On Friday, Orbital Sciences said it was too early to tell whether the latest failure was linked to the issue they previously encountered.
Since 1994, Orbital Sciences has attempted to launch a Taurus XL rocket a total of nine times. It has been successful in six of those attempts.
Both Orbital Sciences and NASA plan to create investigation boards made up of engineers and scientists to evaluate the cause of Friday's failure.
NASA has another Earth sciences satellite slated to launch on a Taurus rocket in 2013. The space agency plans to wait and see the results of the investigation board before it goes forward with the launch.
NASA has another Earth sciences satellite slated to launch on a Taurus rocket in 2013. The space agency plans to wait and see the results of the investigation board before it goes forward with the launch.
Orbital Sciences shares lost 30 cents, or about 2%, on Friday, closing at $18.17.
