Friday 4 March 2011

Glory Satellite Disaster

NASA have announced that it will set up a Glory Satellite Mishap Investigation Board after the  spacecraft failed to reach orbit following its successful launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Problem with separation
Scientists say that telemetry indicates that the protective fairing shell on top of the satellite's Taurus XL rocket did not separate as expected.

The launch proceeded as planned from its liftoff at 5:09 a.m. EST through the ignition of the Taurus XL's second stage. However, the fairing failure occurred during the second stage engine burn. It is likely the spacecraft fell into the South Pacific, although the exact location has yet to be identified. 

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