NASA and ATK Investigate Failed Launch Of Hypersonic Experiments

Aug. 22, 2008

Beth Dickey
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-2087
beth.dickey-1@xxxxxxxx

Keith Koehler
Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va.
757-824-1579
keith.a.koehler@xxxxxxxx

Kathy Barnstorff
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
757-864-9886/757-344-8511
kathy.barnstorff@xxxxxxxx

Trina Patterson
ATK Space Systems, Salt Lake City
801-699-0943
trina.patterson@xxxxxxx


MEDIA ADVISORY: 08-213

NASA AND ATK INVESTIGATE FAILED LAUNCH OF HYPERSONIC EXPERIMENTS

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. -- An Alliant Tech Systems suborbital rocket
carrying two NASA hypersonic experiments was destroyed shortly after
liftoff from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia Friday. No
injuries or property damage were immediately reported.

Most debris from the rocket is thought to have fallen in the Atlantic
Ocean. However, there are conflicting reports of debris being sighted
on land. This debris could be hazardous. People who think they may
have encountered rocket debris are advised not to touch it and to
report it to the Wallops Emergency Operations Center at 757-824-1300.

NASA is very disappointed in this failure but has directed its focus
on protecting public safety and conducting a comprehensive
investigation to identify the root cause. NASA is assembling a
multidiscipline team, along with the rocket's maker Alliant Tech
Systems, or ATK, of Salt Lake City, to begin the investigation
promptly.

The exact launch time was 5:10 a.m. EDT. The anomaly that caused the
failure occurred approximately 27 seconds into flight and is not
known.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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