Dislodged fuel filter blamed for Spaceport rocket launch failure

The AAIB has completed its investigation into the launch in January last year

Virgin Orbit's 747 'Cosmic Girl' taking off from Newquay in January 2023
Author: Simon McleanPublished 4th Oct 2024

A dislodged fuel filter is being blamed for the failure of the rocket launch from Spaceport Cornwall in January last year.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch has published its report into what happened when the rocket with a payload of satellites wasn't able to reach orbit.

It says LauncherOne, a two-stage rocket, was dropped from under the wing of a modified Boeing 747-400, and the mission proceeded as expected until the beginning of the first burn of the second stage engine when it is likely that a fuel filter within the fuel feedline dislodged from its normal position.

The report says this led to 'a series of events that caused the second stage engine to shut down prematurely, and the reduction of thrust meant the stage fell back to Earth.'

You can read the full report here.

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