An unmanned Antares rocket exploded six seconds after liftoff from NASA’s Wallops Island launch facility in Virginia late this evening.
The cause of the accident wasn’t immediately known, NASA mission commentator Dan Huot told Reuters. NASA said there were no injuries.
The rocket, made by Dulles, Virginia-based Orbital Sciences, is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to ferry payloads to the International Space Station.
"Maintain your consoles," 'Orbital Sciences' mission control said to the roomful of engineers and technicians, monitoring the launch, AP reported. Data from the launch were being collected for an investigation into the cause of the accident.
The rocket was carrying a Cygnus spacecraft packed with 5,055 pounds of supplies, science experiments, and equipment, according to Reuters. The rocket also carried a satellite owned by Planetary Resources, Inc. of Redmond, Wash.
The launch was originally scheduled for yesterday but was postponed after a sailboat ventured into the launch site’s hazard zone—an area of about 1,400 square miles off Wallops Island along Virginia’s eastern shore, NASA said.
Orbital Sciences is one of two companies hired by NASA to fly cargo to the ISS. The other is SpaceX, of Hawthorne, Calif.
The Orbital Sciences Corporation (ORB) stock fell after the explosion. As of 6:45 p.m. the share price fell 5.86 points (-19.30%) in after hours trading, after closing at 0.86 (2.91%) higher on the day.
This is a developing story. Check back for details.
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The cause of the accident wasn’t immediately known, NASA mission commentator Dan Huot told Reuters. NASA said there were no injuries.
The rocket, made by Dulles, Virginia-based Orbital Sciences, is a two-stage launch vehicle designed to ferry payloads to the International Space Station.
"Maintain your consoles," 'Orbital Sciences' mission control said to the roomful of engineers and technicians, monitoring the launch, AP reported. Data from the launch were being collected for an investigation into the cause of the accident.
The rocket was carrying a Cygnus spacecraft packed with 5,055 pounds of supplies, science experiments, and equipment, according to Reuters. The rocket also carried a satellite owned by Planetary Resources, Inc. of Redmond, Wash.
The launch was originally scheduled for yesterday but was postponed after a sailboat ventured into the launch site’s hazard zone—an area of about 1,400 square miles off Wallops Island along Virginia’s eastern shore, NASA said.
Orbital Sciences is one of two companies hired by NASA to fly cargo to the ISS. The other is SpaceX, of Hawthorne, Calif.
The Orbital Sciences Corporation (ORB) stock fell after the explosion. As of 6:45 p.m. the share price fell 5.86 points (-19.30%) in after hours trading, after closing at 0.86 (2.91%) higher on the day.
This is a developing story. Check back for details.
Before launch @OrbitalSciences team wasn't tracking any issues. No injuries have been reported & all personnel around launch site accounted.
— NASA Wallops (@NASA_Wallops) October 28, 2014.@OrbitalSciences is currently evaluating the status of its mission. Visit http://t.co/he3w3DDGI3 for the latest information.
— NASA Wallops (@NASA_Wallops) October 28, 2014There has been a vehicle anomaly. We will update as soon as we are able.
— Orbital Sciences (@OrbitalSciences) October 28, 2014Accident 6 seconds after @OrbitalSciences #Cygnus liftoff @NASA_Wallops. pic.twitter.com/2EC9UpH3dy
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) October 28, 2014Photo of #Antares rocket exploding just after launch from @NASA_Wallops on Wallops Island, VA. Rocket unmanned. #nasa pic.twitter.com/3jMSYgp6mc
— Eduardo A. Encina (@EddieInTheYard) October 28, 2014