AEROSPACE

Commercial Rocket Destroyed: The first of Lockheed Martin’s new commercial rockets was destroyed over the Pacific Ocean 2 1/2 minutes after launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., when it began flying erratically, the Air Force said. The $16-million rocket was carrying a communications satellite that was to be placed in low Earth orbit. The launch was delayed three weeks because of problems with the booster. “The rocket had displayed erratic flight before it was destroyed. It was approximately 297 nautical miles downrange at the time of the destruction,” the Air Force said in a statement. “Rocket parts fell into the ocean. There were no injuries to personnel and no known damage to facilities here.” An investigation is under way.