Dislodged fuel filter linked to Virgin Orbit launch failure
Posted: Sat, Feb 18, 2023, 9:33 AM ET (1433 GMT)
Virgin Orbit released more details Tuesday about the failure of its LauncherOne rocket last month. The company said a fuel filter in the rocket's second-stage engine dislodged, and a fuel pump downstream of the filter subsequently suffered a loss of efficiency that reduced the amount of fuel reaching the engine. That caused the engine to operate at a higher temperature it was rated for, and components in the vicinity of it later malfunctioned, leading to a premature shutdown of the engine. The company said the failure investigation is ongoing and did not set a date for a return to flight. The statement came a week after Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart revealed at a conference that the failure appeared to be linked to a dislodged filter.
Virgin Orbit released more details Tuesday about the failure of its LauncherOne rocket last month. The company said a fuel filter in the rocket's second-stage engine dislodged, and a fuel pump downstream of the filter subsequently suffered a loss of efficiency that reduced the amount of fuel reaching the engine. That caused the engine to operate at a higher temperature it was rated for, and components in the vicinity of it later malfunctioned, leading to a premature shutdown of the engine. The company said the failure investigation is ongoing and did not set a date for a return to flight. The statement came a week after Virgin Orbit CEO Dan Hart revealed at a conference that the failure appeared to be linked to a dislodged filter.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Virgin Galactic conducts first suborbital spaceflight since 2021
Posted: Sat, May 27 10:56 AM ET (1456 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, May 31
North Korean Rocket Triggers ‘False Alarm’ Evacuation Alert in South Korea
New York Times — 6:48 am ET (1048 GMT) North Korea: Rocket failed mid-flight. Japan issues alert
NHK — 6:48 am ET (1048 GMT) US ‘strongly condemns’ North Korea’s purported satellite launch
The Hill — 6:47 am ET (1047 GMT) North Korea says it will try again ‘soon’ to launch spy satellite
Washington Post — 6:47 am ET (1047 GMT) North Korea spy satellite crashes into sea, Seoul salvages wreckage
AFP — 6:46 am ET (1046 GMT) |
