A Hawaii rocket called the "Super Strypi" exploded Tuesday following takeoff. The failure reportedly destroyed the University of Hawaii's 122-pound (55 kg) Earth observation research satellite called "HiakaSat," as well as 12 CubeSats, which are shoebox-sized experimental satellites.
The "HiakaSat" is supposed to be Hawaii's first satellite on space. The project has been supported by NASA and several other universities.
As for the "Super Strypi," which is a three-stage, solid-fuel rocket, it was developed through the collaboration of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc, the U.S. Department of Energy's Sandia National Laboratory in New Mexico and the University of Hawaii.
According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, the Air Force reported the Hawaii rocket explosion to be at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. Measuring 67 feet (21 meters), the "Super Strypi" rocket reportedly lifted off at 5:45 p.m. local time, or 0345 GMT, on Wednesday. The Hawaii rocket explosion occurred less than a minute after the takeoff, said the Air Force.
The Associated Press reported that October 13 was the original schedule of the "Super Strypi's" flight, however, it was suspended most times because of timing as well as technological issues.
The experimental, "Super Strypi" was a fin-guided rocket, which makes it launch off through a steerable rail.
Officials said Wednesday that the "Super Strypi" explosion meant a holdup for the U.S. military's plan to introduce a cheaper and on-demand small satellite launcher. Unfortunately, it also meant postponed activities for the HiakaSat, which was designed to take Earth's images in an aim to offer more information on global warming, ocean temperatures, as well as several other environmental issues, according to the AP.
The "Super Strypi's" design involves a payload capacity of over 660 pounds (300 kg) and launch height of over 295 miles (475 km) above Earth. The Air Force's aim was to lower production costs to over $15 million per rocket.
Last week, a report has been released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office stating that a the military doesn't have a program ready for testing when it comes to demonstrating launch-on-need services.
Aside from the U.S. military, Aerojet and UH, other companies are also currently working on producing low-cost small launchers. These companies, some of which include UrtheCast, Spire, Planet Labs, OneWeb, Google's Skybox Imaging, SpaceX, BlackSky Global, aims to fly and replace intended networks of communications, weather forecasting and remote sensing satellites, according to Reuters.
The failure of Hawaii's "Super Strypi" rocket explosion is currently being investigated by the University of Hawaii.