Sounding Rocket Flight Ends Prematurely:
After a few days not launching due to boats in the range area, early this morning the Terrier-Improved Malemute suborbital sounding rocket launched. Just seconds into the launch there was an issue with the second stage motor. This caused the rocket to go into a tumble and crash about one mile down range into the ocean at the northern edge of the hazard zone established by NASA. Good thing NASA makes sure the range is clear for boats.
Check out this video “NASA-TV Wallops” on @Ustream http://ustre.am/:3lwLt !
NASA Posted on July 2, 2014:
WALLOPS ISLAND, Va.—The flight of a Terrier-Improved Malemute sounding rocket from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility ended prematurely today at 4:36 a.m. EDT about 19 seconds after its launch.
Range controllers detected a flight anomaly with the second stage Improved Malemute motor; the vehicle flew to an altitude of 27,000 feet and impacted about one nautical mile downrange.
There were no injuries or property damage as the vehicle landed in the established hazard zone in the Atlantic Ocean, which was cleared prior to launch.
A NASA team will investigate the cause of the flight anomaly and more information will be released as it becomes available
For more mission information: Subtec-6 – NASA To Test Suborbital Rocket Technologies