VIDEO: Antares Rocket Explodes During Launch

By  //  October 29, 2014

'catastrophic anomaly' after liftoff

ABOVE VIDEO: Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Antares rocket lifted off to start its third resupply mission to the International Space Station, but suffered a catastrophic anomaly shortly after liftoff at 6:22 p.m. EDT.

NASA Statement Regarding Oct. 28 Orbital Sciences Corp. Launch Mishap

William Gerstenmaier
William Gerstenmaier

The following statement is from William Gerstenmaier, Associate Administrator of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Directorate, regarding the mishap that occurred at Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia during the attempted launch of Orbital Sciences Corp’s Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft at 6:22 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28.

“While NASA is disappointed that Orbital Sciences’ third contracted resupply mission to the International Space Station was not successful today, we will continue to move forward toward the next attempt once we fully understand today’s mishap. The crew of the International Space Station is in no danger of running out of food or other critical supplies.

“Orbital has demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in its first two missions to the station earlier this year, and we know they can replicate that success. Launching rockets is an incredibly difficult undertaking, and we learn from each success and each setback. Today’s launch attempt will not deter us from our work to expand our already successful capability to launch cargo from American shores to the International Space Station.”

NEWS CONFERENCE SET TUESDAY AT 8:45 P.M. EDT

ABOVE LIVESTREAM: NASA will hold a news conference on NASA Television tonight at approximately 8:45 p.m. EDT to discuss the mishap that occurred at Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia during the attempted launch of Orbital Sciences Corp’s Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft at 6:22 p.m. Tuesday.

Participating in the news conference are:

  • Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate
  • Frank Culbertson, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Programs Group at Orbital Sciences Corp.
  • Bill Wrobel, director of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility
  • Mike Suffredini, NASA’s International Space Station Program Manager

A mishap occurred shortly after liftoff. Orbital has declared a contingency. NASA and Orbital are still determining when a press conference will be held. Visit for the latest information.

BREAKING NEWS: 6:23 P.M.

NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY, VIRGINIA – Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Antares rocket lifted off to start its third resupply mission to the International Space Station, but suffered a catastrophic anomaly shortly after liftoff at 6:22 p.m. EDT.

Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Antares rocket lifted off to start its third resupply mission to the International Space Station, but suffered a catastrophic anomaly shortly after liftoff at 6:22 p.m. EDT.
Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Antares rocket lifted off to start its third resupply mission to the International Space Station, but suffered a catastrophic anomaly shortly after liftoff at 6:22 p.m. EDT.

The Orbital Sciences team is executing its contingency procedures, securing the site and data, including all telemetry from the Antares launch vehicle and Cygnus spacecraft.

Before launch the Orbital team was not tracking any issues.

No injuries have been reported, and Orbital reports that all personnel around  the Wallops Flight Facility launch site have been accounted for.

STAY TUNED TO SPACECOASTDAILY.COM FOR UPDATES 

ORIGINAL STORY

NASA WALLOPS FLIGHT FACILITY, VIRGINIA – The launch of Orbital Sciences’ Antares rocket carrying its Cygnus cargo spacecraft has been scrubbed.

Orbital-Antares-180The range remained red because of a boat down range in the trajectory Antares would have flown had it lifted off.

NASA and Orbital Sciences had targeted Antares for blastoff at 6:45 p.m. EDT on Oct. 27 from the beachside Launch Pad 0A at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) at NASA Wallops Island Flight Facility on Virginia’s eastern shore.

Depending on local weather conditions, the Antares blastoff would have been visible along much of the U.S. eastern seaboard, from Maine to South Carolina.

Depending on local weather conditions, the Antares blastoff will be visible along much of the US eastern seaboard – stretching from Maine to South Carolina. (Orbital Sciences image)
Depending on local weather conditions, the Antares blastoff will be visible along much of the US eastern seaboard – stretching from Maine to South Carolina. (Orbital Sciences image)