The empirical rocket take-off record was examined in this chapter. A total of
31 takeoff problems was documented. Attempted but unsuccessful take-offs by
Americans, Soviets, Russians, French, Israelis and South Koreans were documented.
Private sector failed take-offs afflicted private firms like Ariannespace, STC, U.S.
Aerospace, Armadillo Aerospace, Space-X, Scaled Composites and others. Failed takeoffs
in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s were documented.
Keywords: Alliant Techsystems, American, Ariannespace, Armadillo
Aerospace, Delta- III, French, French Guiana, Israel, Kennedy Space Center,
Scientific American, South Korea, Space Transportation Corporation, take-offs,
Titan-IV, Soviet, Rubicon I, U.S. Aerospace, Wallops Island, Virginia, X-Cup, XCup
Foundation.
