Huwaii

The first satellite launch of the state of Hawaii has failed as the Super Strypi rocket carrying the satellite exploded minutes after launch.

It was the first flight for the 67ft tall Super Strypi rocket, built by Aerojet Rocketdyne in co-operation with Sandia National Laboratories and the University of Hawaii.

The rocket was going to launch 13 small satellites, including HiakaSat satellite developed by the University of Hawaii, into space. All of them were destroyed in the explosion.

The HiakaSat satellite was a 55kg Earth observation research satellite.

Other shoebox-sized experimental satellites known as CubeSats, which were lost in the incident, belonged to Nasa and other universities.

"The air force is reported to have invested more than $45m in the ORS-4 mission, which was originally scheduled in 2013."

The total value of the CubeSats is estimated to be $13.6m.

The mission was part of the US military’s ORS-4 mission to develop low-cost, quick-turnaround launch services for small satellites. It was funded by the Air Force’s operationally responsive space (ORS) office.

Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center said in a statement: "The ORS-4 mission on an experimental Super Strypi launch vehicle failed in mid-flight shortly after liftoff at 5:45pm Hawaii Standard Time (10:45pm EST) from the Pacific Missile Range Facility off Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii."

The mission, which is also part of Hawaii Space flight laboratory’s Low Earth Orbiting Nano satellite Integrated Defense Autonomous System (LEONIDAS) programme, aims to reduce the cost of lightweight satellites launch.

The air force is reported to have invested more than $45m in the ORS-4 mission, which was originally scheduled in 2013. It was postponed several times due to technical problems and other issues.

An investigation will be undertaken to find the cause of the incident.

Image: Hawaii Space flight laboratory’s Low Earth Orbiting Nano satellite Integrated Defense Autonomous System (LEONIDAS) programme. Photo: courtesy of Hawaii Space Flight Laboratory.