A privately held rocket company on Wednesday blamed a design error for its latest failure to reach orbit, which caused the loss of three government satellites and human ashes, including the remains of astronaut Gordon Cooper and Star Trek actor James Doohan.*
Leftover thrust after engine cutoff caused the first stage to fall back and hit the second stage, according to SpaceX, which is based in Hawthorne, Calif.
The rocket, containing the remains of 208 people, dropped in the Pacific and was not recovered.
I canna do it, Captain...
...she's givin' all she got...
