SPACE TECH
On This Day in Space: Super Strypi Rail-Launched Rocket Failure in 2015
Reviewing the 2015 experimental launch for the U.S. Air Force that tested rail-assisted liftoff for small satellite swarms.
Reflecting on aerospace history, November 4 marks the anniversary of the 2015 Super Strypi rocket test conducted by the U.S. Air Force from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. The experimental vehicle utilized a unique rail-assisted launch system to deploy a swarm of 13 cubesats.
Shortly after liftoff, the vehicle spun out of control due to a suspected first-stage motor failure, destroying all payloads on board. Although the setback halted the Super Strypi program permanently, the mission remains a notable chapter in the evolution of low-cost, swarm-capable small satellite deployment strategies.