The inaugural flight of Spain’s first rocket was unexpectedly halted on Saturday due to a last-minute technical issue, according to PLD Space, the start-up behind the project.
The launch of the Miura 1 in the southwestern province of Huelva was automatically aborted as the umbilicals, which supply power and fuel to the rocket, did not detach as intended, as tweeted by Raul Torres, co-founder of PLD Space.
“We will analyze the data to obtain more information,” he added.
The launch of the Miura 1, named after a breed of fighting bulls, was originally scheduled for May 31 but was postponed due to high winds.
Standing at just 12 meters (40 feet) tall, this small reusable rocket was designed to reach an altitude of 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth.
Although this distance classifies it as outer space, the rocket lacks the necessary power to achieve orbit.
The sub-orbital launch planned for Saturday was intended to carry a payload of micro-gravity experiments.
Various companies are racing to develop launchers to cater to the growing satellite market.
An estimated 18,500 small satellites weighing less than 500 kilos (1,100 pounds) are projected to be launched in the next decade, as stated by analysts from Euroconsult.
© 2023 AFP
Citation: Spanish rocket launch aborted due to last-minute glitch (2023, June 18) retrieved 18 June 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-06-spanish-rocket-aborted-due-last-minute.html
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Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
