Spills · other

Near san nicolas island, ca

Un-manned Rocket Failure; Near San Nicolas Island, Ca · NOAAORR-10093

issued
2020-05-25 00:00Z
status
cancelled 2020-06-08 00:00Z
self-cancels
2020-06-08 00:00Z
authority
NOAA OR&R
sea
North Pacific Ocean
position
33.100, -119.800
source
incidentnews · first seen 2026-09-03 15:09Z

Original warning text

Un-Manned Rocket Failure; near San Nicolas Island, CA.
near San Nicolas Island, CA.
1. On 25-MAY-2020, a 70 foot long, un-manned rocket was launched from an aircraft at 35,000’ altitude with 13,500 pounds of RP1 Kerosene fuel on-board (roughly 1,600 gallons). Shortly after launch, two explosions occurred destroying the rocket and causing it to fall to the water roughly 80-90 miles off the coast of Long Beach, CA. On the evening of 26-MAY-2020, USCG Sector LA/Long Beach contacted their NOAA SSC to request a drift estimate of fuel and/or debris.
2. THREAT: OTHER. COMMODITY: RP-1 KEROSENE FUEL. MAXIMUM POTENTIAL RELEASE: 1600 GALLONS.
3. POSITION 33.100N 119.800W. NOAA INCIDENTNEWS 10093: https://incidentnews.noaa.gov/incident/10093

This area · spills & pollution incidents

161 within 180 nm since 1969 · 11 in the last 12 months · 1 in force now

69
70
75
80
85
90
95
00
05
10
15
20
25
26

Season · when spills & pollution incidents happen here

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

month of issue, all years in the archive

Nearby now · within 120 nm

Worldwide now

8 spills & pollution incidents in force · see all

Spills

Oil and chemical spills, groundings and vessel casualties with a pollution threat: NOAA IncidentNews responses since 1957, and spill-response areas broadcast as navigational warnings. All current spills & pollution incidents

Not for navigation. This is a re-rendering of an official navigational warning for awareness; mariners must use official NAVAREA broadcasts and their national MSI service.