Hopes dashed as rocket launch fails
THREE, two, one... Oh. Years of work on a space rocket went kaput – when it failed to launch.
Crowds had gathered at Capesthorne Hall in Macclesfield to watch the launch, organised by Tameside business Starchaser Ltd.
Their ‘ tempest’ rocket was due to reach an altitude of up to 2,000ft before descending by parachute.
But disaster struck when after a few seconds of thrust the rocket’s fuel supply failed and it fell to earth.
The problem was caused when highly pressurised fuel caused part of the rocket to crack.
But following the failed launch near Jodrell Bank in Cheshire, Starchaser CEO Steve Bennett was undeterred.
He said his team would now mend the faults and be back with a successful launch in three months’ time.
He said: “It’s just one of those things, we couldn’t have predicted it.
“Maybe the cold weather today had something to do with it, but we know what went wrong and we can fix it.
“The rocket’s not in bad shape so we can fix it up and go again.”
Starchaser
Industries, based in Based in Hyde, is a group of technology businesses with the goal of offering commercial space flights.
Watch a video of the launch attempt at www. macclesfieldexpress. co.uk