spacetoday.net: Rocket Lab identifies cause of launch failure

Posted: Sat, Jul 24, 2021, 4:37 PM ET (2037 GMT)
Rocket Lab Electron launch of DARPA R3D2 (Rocket Lab)

Rocket Lab says it's ready to return its Electron rocket to flight after tracking down the cause of a failure in May. The company said Monday an investigation into the May 15 failure concluded that a "previously undetectable failure mode within the ignition system" on the rocket's second stage triggered a series of events that caused the second stage engine to shut down moments after ignition. The company said they made changes to the ignition system to prevent the problem from reoccurring. Rocket Lab said they're preparing to resume Electron launches in a window that opens later this month, but did not disclose a specific date or the payload for that launch.