A commercial satellite-carrying rocket was “lost” after launching its launch pad on Sunday in New Zealand, company owner Rocket Lab said.
“We lost the flight late during the mission,” wrote Peter Beck, founder and director of Rocket Lab, on Twitter.
“I very much regret having failed” to put into orbit “the satellites of our customers today. We can assure you that we will identify the problem, correct it and return to the launch pad soon, ”he added.
Rocket Lab presents itself as an American company with its headquarters in New Zealand. Among its investors are the American companies Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Lockheed Martin, Promus Ventures and Data Collective.
The failed mission was the 13e launch of Rocket Lab.
In a statement posted on its website, Rocket Lab says it encountered an “anomaly” after four minutes of flight. The company says it is working with the American aeronautical authorities to identify the cause of the incident.
The rocket carried seven satellites for Spaceflight, Canon Electronics, Planet and In-Space Missions, said Beck.
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