WATCH: There’s been a setback in NASA’s commercial space-flight program after a rocket exploded during takeoff Tuesday evening in Virginia. Engineers are now trying to figure out what went wrong. Susan McGinnis reports.
TORONTO – Six seconds after liftoff, an unmanned rocket destined for the International Space Station crashed to the ground and exploded.
The Antares rocket was carrying Orbital Sciences Corporation‘s Cygnus resupply ship with 2,300 kg of science experiments and supplies.
The rocket launched at 6:22 p.m. EDT from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. As it ascended, it appeared to lose speed, eventually falling to Earth.
WATCH ABOVE: Antares rocket explosion from press gallery
The cost of the launch was approximately $200 million.
READ MORE: Monday’s launch to space station scrubbed due to sailboat, 2nd try Tuesday
Ground control announced “a catastrophic anomaly.”
Around 6:45 p.m. control stated that no one had been injured.
The Antares rocket was originally scheduled to lift off on Monday, but the appearance of a sailboat in the restricted area caused a scrub. The area is restricted in case of a launch malfunction such as what happened Tuesday.
“Launch is a really tough business,” said Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate during a press conference Tuesday evening.
READ MORE: Boeing, SpaceX win bid to carry astronauts to International Space Station
Aboard the craft were more than 600 kg of food for the six astronauts aboard the space station, but the astronauts aren’t in any danger of running short.
“We’re in good shape in terms of consumables on the space station,” Gerstenmaier said.
Mike Suffredini, NASA’s International Space Station Program Manager, also confirmed that the astronauts had significant supplies.
“I think if no other vehicle showed up, we could go to into March,” he said.
Gestenmaier expressed empathy for the private company behind the launch vehicle.
“We really feel for Orbital.”
Frank Culbertson, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Programs Group at Orbital Sciences Corp. said that he in turn felt badly for NASA’s loss, as well as for those behind the science experiments that were aboard the rocket.
“Something went wrong and we will find out what that was,” Culbertson said.
Culberston also asked the public not to touch any debris that may have fallen in nearby fields or that may wash up on shore as there was hazardous materials on board. Liquid oxygen, kerosene and solid rocket fuel were aboard the rocket as well as hypergolic fuel.
Damage was mainly contained to the south end of Wallops. It was unclear how badly the launch pad was impacted.
Investigators will continue to evaluate the debris in an effort to determine what was behind the rocket failure, officials said.
Though Orbital Sciences will be the principle investigator, an earlier conversation via ground control said that it was likely that the National Transportation Safety Board would also be investigating. The Federal Aviation Authority will be involved as well.
Orbital Sciences won’t schedule another launch until they conclusively determine what caused the accident, Culbertson said.
“I can assure you that we will find out what went wrong, we will correct it and we will fly again.”
A Progress rocket is scheduled to launch from Baikanour Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Wednesday.
SpaceX, another private company that also launches supplies to the ISS, is scheduled for Dec. 9.
- 2021 heat dome fuelled by climate change, intensified wildfire risk: study
- B.C. introduces legislation recognizing Haida Gwaii Indigenous title
- Whale experts confident B.C. orca calf will survive, find family if rescue plan succeeds
- Chemical plant shuts down after high benzene levels detected near Ontario First Nation
Comments