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| US private space rocket crashes | US private space rocket crashes |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A private US space rocket which blasted off from a site in New Mexico malfunctioned before it reached space, organisers have said. | A private US space rocket which blasted off from a site in New Mexico malfunctioned before it reached space, organisers have said. |
| SpaceLoft XL launched at 1414 local time (2014 GMT) from Spaceport America, a desert launch site. | SpaceLoft XL launched at 1414 local time (2014 GMT) from Spaceport America, a desert launch site. |
| But it veered off course at an altitude of about 12,200m (40,000ft) and crash-landed in the desert. | But it veered off course at an altitude of about 12,200m (40,000ft) and crash-landed in the desert. |
| The rocket was due to carry about 50 items into space, including cremated remains and school science projects. | |
| The reason for the failure of Monday's launch is unclear. | The reason for the failure of Monday's launch is unclear. |
| Launch co-ordinator Tracey Larson told AP news agency it was possible that the rocket and its payload could have survived the crash. | Launch co-ordinator Tracey Larson told AP news agency it was possible that the rocket and its payload could have survived the crash. |
| Opening up | Opening up |
| SpaceLoft XL is built by UP Aerospace, one of several private firms vying to open up cheaper public access to space. | SpaceLoft XL is built by UP Aerospace, one of several private firms vying to open up cheaper public access to space. |
| The rocket was originally set to blast off at 0730 local time (1330 GMT), but the launch was pushed back after a transponder failed to communicate with its eventual landing facility, the White Sands Missile Range, about 53km (33 miles) away. | The rocket was originally set to blast off at 0730 local time (1330 GMT), but the launch was pushed back after a transponder failed to communicate with its eventual landing facility, the White Sands Missile Range, about 53km (33 miles) away. |
| The success of SpaceShipOne, the private rocket plane which breached the Earth's atmosphere in 2005, raised the stakes in efforts to open up public access to space. | The success of SpaceShipOne, the private rocket plane which breached the Earth's atmosphere in 2005, raised the stakes in efforts to open up public access to space. |
| In August, the US space agency Nasa awarded two firms $500m to develop a vehicle that could deliver supplies to the International Space Station after the space shuttle fleet is retired in 2010. | In August, the US space agency Nasa awarded two firms $500m to develop a vehicle that could deliver supplies to the International Space Station after the space shuttle fleet is retired in 2010. |
| UP Aerospace had nine flights booked over the next 12 months, lugging payloads of up to 50kg (110lbs) up to the edge of space on a solid-fuel rocket. | UP Aerospace had nine flights booked over the next 12 months, lugging payloads of up to 50kg (110lbs) up to the edge of space on a solid-fuel rocket. |
| Chief executive Eric Knight has said clients would be able to buy payload space on rocket launches starting at a few hundred dollars for items weighing a few grams, rising to "many tens of thousands of dollars" for larger pieces of cargo. | Chief executive Eric Knight has said clients would be able to buy payload space on rocket launches starting at a few hundred dollars for items weighing a few grams, rising to "many tens of thousands of dollars" for larger pieces of cargo. |