Antares Rocket Explodes During Launch

originally posted by: badgerprints
Was that a NASA rocket or a commercial rocket that NASA had paid for to move the payload?
I'm just curious.

Not sure..
On the NASA twitter feed, they kept reiterating "Private Launch"

originally posted by: badgerprints
Was that a NASA rocket or a commercial rocket that NASA had paid for to move the payload?
I'm just curious.

Updated title. Here's the Wikipedia page for the mission.

Do they have a backup rocket with at least life support equipment and food and water or something ?

A write up at Space Flight Insider

a reply to: roadgravel

Unmanned, yes, but hopefully no one was hurt by the explosion and flying debris.

originally posted by: theantediluvian

originally posted by: badgerprints
Was that a NASA rocket or a commercial rocket that NASA had paid for to move the payload?
I'm just curious.

Updated title. Here's the Wikipedia page for the mission.

Ok.
It was a contract flight. Not a nasa rocket.
Hope they got good insurance.

Was on the news in New Jersey all morning that some kids from a local school had an experiment going up there and were at the launch. Poor little ones.

We were outside waiting for it. I'm in Hampton VA right across the Chesapeake from Wallops island and we can see them from here. One launched a day or two ago with no problem. Reports say extensive property damage.I'm editing this post Because my husband just told me that the launch scheduled a couple of days ago was postponed so this is that launch. I was cooking and just thought I missed it.

originally posted by: 0bserver1
Do they have a backup rocket with at least life support equipment and food and water or something ?

No, they will run out of oxygen in 8 hours! OMG

/sarc

You have to admit.If there is a breaking news story ATS is the first place to look.

All I see is taxes money burning.

My husband just told me that the launch scheduled two days ago was postponed so this was that launch. Hope someone likes leftovers...y to: 0bserver1

now they're saying it might have been a fuel leak

Animated gif version :



Source : Huffington post

They're now reporting classified "Crypto Equipment" was on the cargo supplier ..
Now other than being a secure scene..
It's now a secure-secure scene!



Source I'm getting from is @elakdawalla twitter planetary scientist writer.

Well, we have only the edited version so far and it looks to me like the left-hand side was compromised somehow, and then fuel exploding. Maybe something wrong in the start-up?

Well, that was quite costly. Wonder how many heads are gonna roll if they find out human error was involved? I'm just glad there were no people on board.

originally posted by: smurfy
Well, we have only the edited version so far and it looks to me like the left-hand side was compromised somehow, and then fuel exploding. Maybe something wrong in the start-up?

Did it not look like it was starting to lean as it began picking up speed? Did look slower than usual at the start of lift off..
Then ball of gas around the mid section..just above boosters.

a reply to: Bigburgh

I heard that too but that *could* be communications gear I'd imagine?

originally posted by: CalibratedZeus
Was on the news in New Jersey all morning that some kids from a local school had an experiment going up there and were at the launch. Poor little ones.

I think that those kids will have a real exciting story to tell and will all get an A for science.

Kids like things that go boom.

"Mum, mum, it was wicked mum, it went up and then it went boom. Michael was so excited he asked them to do it again."

P