The launch of three Amateur Radio satellites on a Taurus XL rocket has ended in failure.

The satellites were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 10:09:45 UT Friday, March 4 on an Orbital Sciences Taurus XL rocket.

The rocket's fairing, the part of the rocket which covers the satellite on top of the launcher, did not separate properly so the Taurus XL did not have enough velocity to enter orbit.

The rocket is believed to have crashed near the Antarctic; the Amateur Radio satellites Explorer-1, KySat-1 and Hermes were all lost.