On what was to be a resupply mission to the International Space Station, an <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fus.cnn.com%2F2014%2F10%2F28%2Fus%2Fnasa-rocket-explodes%2Findex.html%3Fhpt%3Dhp_t2" target="_blank">unmanned NASA-contracted rocket</a> exploded seconds after launch Tuesday, October 28, on the coast of Virginia. The launchpad was damaged, but no one was injured.
Unmanned rocket explodes —
On what was to be a resupply mission to the International Space Station, an unmanned NASA-contracted rocket exploded seconds after launch Tuesday, October 28, on the coast of Virginia. The launchpad was damaged, but no one was injured.
Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images
An aerial view shows damage to the Wallops Island, Virginia, launch facility following the rocket's explosion.
Unmanned rocket explodes —
An aerial view shows damage to the Wallops Island, Virginia, launch facility following the rocket's explosion.
Terry Zaperach/NASA/Getty Images
People who came to Wallops Island to watch the launch walk away after the unmanned rocket, owned by Orbital Sciences Corp., exploded.
Unmanned rocket explodes —
People who came to Wallops Island to watch the launch walk away after the unmanned rocket, owned by Orbital Sciences Corp., exploded.
STEVE ALEXANDER/AFP/Getty Images
The rocket and spacecraft -- which together cost more than $200 million, according to Frank Culbertson, the general manager of Orbital's Advanced Programs Group -- are gone.
Unmanned rocket explodes —
The rocket and spacecraft -- which together cost more than $200 million, according to Frank Culbertson, the general manager of Orbital's Advanced Programs Group -- are gone.
Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images
The rocket had been set to go up Monday, only to be scrubbed "because of a boat downrange in the trajectory Antares would have flown had it lifted off," according to NASA. Coast Guard spokesman David Weydert said the boat that triggered the postponement was 40 miles offshore. Tuesday, by contrast, seemed perfect. Just before liftoff, NASA reported "100% favorable" weather and "no technical concerns with the rocket or spacecraft being worked."
Unmanned rocket explodes —
The rocket had been set to go up Monday, only to be scrubbed "because of a boat downrange in the trajectory Antares would have flown had it lifted off," according to NASA. Coast Guard spokesman David Weydert said the boat that triggered the postponement was 40 miles offshore. Tuesday, by contrast, seemed perfect. Just before liftoff, NASA reported "100% favorable" weather and "no technical concerns with the rocket or spacecraft being worked."
Steve ALEXANDERSTEVE ALEXANDER/AFP/Getty Images
The Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft on board, is seen on Launch Pad-0A after the launch attempt was scrubbed on October 27.
Unmanned rocket explodes —
The Antares rocket, with the Cygnus spacecraft on board, is seen on Launch Pad-0A after the launch attempt was scrubbed on October 27.
Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images
The Orb-3 mission's payload fairing (essentially the casing around the spacecraft) was installed on the Antares on October 23.
Unmanned rocket explodes —
The Orb-3 mission's payload fairing (essentially the casing around the spacecraft) was installed on the Antares on October 23.
NASA
The payload fairing goes onto the spacecraft. Orbital will lead the investigation of the accident, along with the FAA, with NASA assisting. Among other things, they'll try to collect and examine any debris that can be recovered, review data from the spacecraft before its destruction and look at videos around the launch time.
Unmanned rocket explodes —
The payload fairing goes onto the spacecraft. Orbital will lead the investigation of the accident, along with the FAA, with NASA assisting. Among other things, they'll try to collect and examine any debris that can be recovered, review data from the spacecraft before its destruction and look at videos around the launch time.
NASA