Staff Writer, Nathaniel Diaz
NASA / ISS / Rocket Explosion_____________________________________
A catastrophic failure on the launchpad in Virgina happened this afternoon:
The Antares rocket was carrying 4,483 pounds of equipment to the station including 1,360 pounds of food. The rocket held a Cyngus cargo logistics spacecraft that was to have orbited above the Earth and was set to dock with the ISS on Nov. 2. Orbital Sciences had said this was the first use of its upgraded Castor 30XL second stage motor, which enables greater lift capacity.
The damage was contained on that platform and surrounding area. No one was killed.
Orbital Sciences, which has offices in Chandler, AZ, had this to say:
“It is far too early to know the details of what happened,” Frank Culbertson, Orbital’s general manager of its Advanced Programs Group, said in a statement. “We will conduct a thorough investigation immediately to determine the cause of this failure and what steps can be taken to avoid a repeat of this incident. As soon as we understand the cause we will begin the necessary work to return to flight to support our customers and the nation’s space program.”
Other supply lines are scheduled, but this accident cost nearly $2 billion in supplies and experiments. No details yet on the cost of the facility or rocket damage.
Source: ABC News
