SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
"The ORS-4 mission on an experimental Super Strypi launch vehicle failed in mid-flight after liftoff at 5:45 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time (7:45 p.m. PST/10:45 p.m. EST) today from the Pacific Missile Range Facility off Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii," the Air Force said in a brief statement early Nov. 4. "Additional information will be released as it becomes available."
After multiple delays, the fin-guided Super Strypi rocket finally lifted off from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai in the first-ever orbital launch attempt from Hawaii. The range is used for testing of U.S. missile defense systems, among other things.
The debut of the rail-launched Super Strypi rocket was the key feature of the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS)-4 mission, which carried 13 experimental satellites.
http://spacenews.com/rail-launched-super-strypi-rocket-packed-with-cubesats-fails-after-liftoff/
(Score: 2) by fnj on Thursday November 05 2015, @07:31PM
Unless I am completely missing something, the rail does not impart any momentum. It is a straightforward pure rocket-driven vehicle. The rail is necessary to get the thing started off in the right direction before the fins can impart enough spin to crudely stabilize the (first stage) flight path. Stages 2 and 3 are guided.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Friday November 06 2015, @02:08AM
Exactly, it allows them to cheap shot the initial engine balancing act.
This is not the rail launch you're looking for.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.