Americas

Fifty US Commercial Space Launches Failed Since 2000, Resulting in 12% Loss - Report

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Fifty US commercial space launches in the private sector have failed since the beginning of the 21st century, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in a report.
Sputnik
"Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) data show that 50 commercial space launches from 2000 through mid-January 2023 resulted in ‘mishaps’ - the industry term for incidents such as catastrophic explosions and other failures," the report said on Thursday.
That number represented about 12% of 433 launches during the period, the report said.
The failures often came as a result of explosions or other catastrophic accidents, the report added,
Astra’s First Florida Launch Proves Unsuccessful After Encountering Mid-Flight Setback
However, all the accidents, explosions and failures combined caused no fatalities, serious injuries or significant property damage to the public, according to the report.
Discuss