Adelaide, we have a problem

An ATSpace Kestrel rocket has again failed to launch from the Whalers Way Orbital Launch Complex near Port Lincoln in South Australia.

Launch range operator Southern Launch went live on its social media channels this afternoon, however the 10 metre VS03 mission rocket was initially held in its countdown at minus 15 minutes before – again – being cancelled.

Earlier this year Southern Launch was forced to abandon the launch of a sister rocket – the VS02 mission.

During the oxidiser filling process a leak was detected and the launch preparations were halted. After further investigation it was determined that the launch should be postponed.

Lightning strikes and bad weather also stymied previous launch attempts.

Southern Launch has not yet revealed the exact reason for today’s cancellation of the VS03 mission.

It went on social media to say: “Unfortunately today’s launch has been scrubbed at T-15 minutes due to a technical difficulty with the ATSpace launch vehicle.”

The VS03 mission carries a state-of-the-art payload from Inovor Technologies – a spacecraft integrated with payloads designed by Asension and Southern Launch.

It is planned to launch over the Southern Ocean and reach a sub-orbital height of 200 kilometres.

In July NASA launched a second rocket from the Arnhem Space Centre (ASC) in the Northern Territory.

More to come…

Further reading:
SECOND NASA ROCKET LAUNCH FROM ARNHEM LAND

Picture: Southern Launch/VS03 on the launch pad at Whalers Way