Private Space Firm Loses Third Rocket In Failed Launch, 3 Satellites Lost

August 5, 2008 12:23 a.m. EST

Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands (AHN) - A private U.S. space firm lost its third rocket together with three satellites aboard it shortly after launching here on Saturday.

Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) lost signal from its Falcon 1 rocket more than two minutes after launch and before the two stages of the vehicle separated. The firm, which is owned by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk, is investigating the cause of the failure.

The rocket was to put into orbit three satellites for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Department of Defense. An initial launch was aborted before the rocket took off around 11:30 p.m.

SpaceX launched its first rocket, Falcon 1, in March 2006, but it failed about one minute into its ascent due to a fuel leak. A second rocket launched a year later reached orbit five minutes after takeoff but was also lost when it started rolling uncontrollably.

SpaceX has won a contract from NASA to take over the cargo services of the space shuttle to the International Space Station in 2010.