The U.S. Army has determined the cause behind the failure of a three-stage STARS solid rocket booster that was carrying a Advanced Hypersonic Weapon prototype last August.
The flight was terminated just four seconds after lift-off on Aug. 25 when a “an external thermal protective cover designed to regulate motor temperature interfered with the launch vehicle steering assembly.”
The Failure Review Board determined that the test range flight safety officer correctly followed established protocol and procedures in initiating the self-destruction of the rocket.
This was the second test flight of the Advanced Hypersonic Weapon. The first occurred in 2011 and was successful.