VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — NASA says a rocket that blasted off carrying an Earth-observation satellite has failed to reach orbit.
Vandenberg Air Force Base officials say the Taurus XL rocket carrying NASA’s Glory satellite lifted off about 2:10 a.m. PST Friday from the base.
But NASA says in a statement that a protective shell atop the rocket did not separate from the satellite as it should have about three minutes after the launch.
NASA launch commentator George Diller says that left the Glory spacecraft without the velocity to reach orbit.