His development program was comprehensive, with static test vehicles, a low-altitude hopper, and extensive testing of the key technology: thrust-vector control.

The test run called for throttling the engines down and back up as they will be during an actual flight, testing the rocket's thrust vector control, or steering, system and monitoring how ...

His development program was comprehensive, with static test vehicles, a low-altitude hopper, and extensive testing of the key technology: thrust-vector control.

A video still from a thrust vector control test of the Teprel-B engine PLD Space is developing for its suborbital Mirua 1 rocket. Credit: PLD Space via YouTube.

But because of an issue with a “thrust vector control actuator,” the launch and historic landing have now been delayed.

At that point, the rocket started to lose its thrust vector control, or the ability to steer itself. This led to the initiation of the flight termination system.

Firefly Aerospace's debut launch last week failed because of a premature engine shutdown, company representatives have determined.