NordSpace, a company based in St. Lawrence, N.L., is gearing up to launch its Taiga rocket, standing at six meters tall. Despite initial plans for a launch on Tuesday, NordSpace announced on its livestream that the launch attempt will be postponed to the following day due to time constraints within the designated launch window.
The safety officer at NordSpace explained to CBC News that the decision to delay the launch was necessary as there wasn’t enough time to complete the entire launch process within the allotted timeframe. NordSpace CEO Rahul Goel expressed the company’s eagerness to proceed with the launch, emphasizing that their safety systems have been functioning effectively, with the launch pad and rocket fully prepared for the upcoming attempt on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, NordSpace made two unsuccessful launch attempts. The first attempt was halted just before reaching zero on the countdown timer when smoke and fire were observed near the rocket’s base, caused by residual propellant on the launch pad. Another attempt was paused due to the presence of a small boat in the ocean near the launch area.
Goel acknowledged that encountering obstacles is part of the process leading up to a rocket launch, particularly for a relatively young company like NordSpace. He highlighted that setbacks are expected, stating, “It’s pretty much about what we were expecting. If it worked on the first try, I would have been absolutely surprised.” The Taiga rocket, constructed using 3D-printed metal, has faced challenges in previous launch attempts, including an ignition issue that led to a mission cancellation just 58 seconds before takeoff.
When the launch eventually takes place, it will be suborbital, meaning the rocket will not achieve Earth’s orbit and will only remain airborne for approximately a minute before descending into the Atlantic Ocean. Goel had previously noted in an interview with CBC News that St. Lawrence is an ideal location for commercial space launches due to its strategic position for achieving the necessary orbital inclinations.