Faulty aluminium led to the failure of the rocket that launched Nasa’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory

A metals manufacturer that provided faulty rocket parts to Nasa, resulting in the loss of two satellites worth $700 million, has been prosecuted after an investigation found that it falsified thousands of test results.

Hundreds of clients suffered combined losses of billions of dollars as a result of Sapa Profiles Inc (SPI) faking certificates to show that the aluminium it supplied had passed quality testing.

“When testing results are altered and certifications are provided falsely, missions fail,” Jim Norman, Nasa’s director for launch services, said. “Our trust was severely violated.”

The faulty aluminium was used in the construction of the Taurus XL rocket that launched Nasa’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) in 2009 and the $424 million Glory satellite in 2011. Both aimed to gather climate