{"id":31770,"date":"2020-07-31T20:10:58","date_gmt":"2020-07-31T20:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/07\/31\/rocket-lab-identifies-anomaly-the-caused-failed-launch\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:17:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:17:26","slug":"rocket-lab-identifies-anomaly-the-caused-failed-launch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/space\/2020\/07\/31\/rocket-lab-identifies-anomaly-the-caused-failed-launch\/","title":{"rendered":"Rocket Lab identifies anomaly that caused failed launch"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Up-and-coming U.S. government launch provider Rocket Lab has identified the anomaly behind a July 4 in-flight failure of one of its rockets, and the Federal Aviation Administration has cleared the company to resume launches, the firm announced July 31.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several minutes after one of the company\u2019s Electron rockets successfully lifted off from its New Zealand launch pad on July 4, the engine automatically initiated a safe shutdown. It was unable to reach orbit, and \u2014 while no one was injured \u2014 the incident resulted in the loss of the rocket and the commercial payloads it was carrying<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the last few weeks, the company was able to go over its telemetry with the FAA to identify the issue: a single electrical connection that evaded preflight testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\t