Space rocket contracted by NASA, explodes after takeoff

[RyRy]

http://www.space.com/17933-nasa-tele...-space-tv.html



A rocket built by Orbital Sciences has taken off this evening, though it didn't even leave the atmosphere before what looks to be a malfunction with the rocket engines caused a "catastrophic failure". The explosion took place at 22:22 GMT.

This is from the website before the launch:

"Monday's Antares rocket launch will mark Orbital Sciences' third official cargo mission to the International Space Station for NASA under a $1.9 billion contract, which calls for a total of eight delivery missions. The mission, called Orb-3, will launch a robotic Cygnus spacecraft - also built by Orbital - that is filled with 5,000 lbs. of food, water, experiments and other gear for the astronauts currently living aboard the space station."

It's a massive loss, I've heard that there were resources from the University of Texas sending Cubesats which have now been lost, as well as a kickstarter project which was funded in an attempt to send something into space. There's a NASA press conference starting now (00:45 GMT) to discuss the failed launch and what's going to be done going forward.

Should be mentioned that this isn't a manned rocket launch therefore nobody should've been injured but if you look at that explosion, it's hard not to believe somebody MAY have been in the radius of that. Lets hope not.

EDIT: Press conference delayed to 1AM GMT. Tune in here http://www.ustream.tv/nasahdtv

[-:Undertaker:-]

A firework display you'd never forget.

[Chippiewill]

Everything's insured so payload wise it's not the end of the world. For Orbital Sciences it really sucks as they now will struggle to launch for at least year due to investigations and pad repairs. For NASA it sucks as they were just starting to ramp up the ISS research program (Due to having two cargo contracts). This is probably good for SpaceX though as they might get their NASA schedule moved forward to meet requirements.

[Matt]

It's lucky no one was hurt or killed in it! The actual explosion looks quite amazing.

[RyRy]

This is the view from what the press saw. It's pretty damn close, and you can tell that just by the time it took for that explosion to reach them.

if you're wearing headphones, you want to turn your volume down. seriously.

[j0rd]

view from a pilot from 3,000 ft

[Rachel]

It as an amazing explosion but sad they loss so many goods from it though hope no one got hurt since of the explosion and stuff.

[dbgtz]

Got to love that private sector efficiency . Jesus Christ though, that was pretty neat to watch.

[Phil]

That video from the plane is pretty incredible. That's actually so scary. How does stuff like this even happen!

Remember I was in Florida and they were launching a rocket so we went to see the launch but it was cancelled and I was raging.

I know it was unmanned but that's a pretty massive area. Hope everyone is okay

[lemons]

this is so coool but upsetting for ppl who probs spent months planning it!