Rocket Lab cans launch, two seconds from lift-off
Tuesday, 12 December 2017
Rocket Lab aborted the launch of its second Electron rocket two seconds before lift-off on Tuesday afternoon.
After days of launch postponements due to adverse weather, space traffic and further preparation, Tuesday's attempt was the first to hear a countdown.
The company live streamed the attempt with full coverage and commentary from its Māhia Peninsula launch site.
After a 10-second countdown, a cloud of white steam billowed underneath the rocket.
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The rocket's engines are expected to burn for a couple of seconds before the rocket thrusts vertically into the air from the launch pad. It was aborted before it reached that stage.
The company released a statement after the attempt at 4.50pm that said the rocket performed a 'safe auto-sequence abort' because 'all sensors were not nominal'.
About 30,000 data points, such as monitoring sensors, fitted on the 17-metre carbon-fibre rocket, need to be aligned with perfect weather conditions for a successful launch.
The company's 10-day timeframe it had set out for a launch ends on Sunday at 6.30pm.
The launch of the rocket named Still Testing will be attempted again between 2.30pm and 6.30pm on Thursday.
A launch attempt will not be made on Wednesday because weather conditions at its launch site would not be favourable.
Excessive cloud cover, rain, lightning or winds at high altitude can all contribute to a launch being cancelled.
Rocket Lab successfully launched its first rocket in May, but it failed to reach orbit. That test launch made New Zealand the 11th country to launch into space.
If its second launch is successful, it will be a significant step towards understanding space.
Still Testing's mission is to release three satellite payloads into orbit that will deliver information such as aerial photography and weather tracking back to US firms Planet Labs and Spire Global.
The test flight will give Rocket Lab more information about rocket launches and flights.