Unmanned US rocket Antares explodes during launch

[Rick]

Unmanned US rocket Antares explodes during launch

An unmanned supply rocket bound for the International Space Station has exploded during its launch from the US state of Virginia.

Antares, a 14-storey rocket built by Orbital Sciences Corp, combusted seconds after leaving the seaside launch pad at Wallops Flight Facility.

The cause of the cargo ship malfunction has yet to be determined.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29812139

Video: Antares rocket explodes

http://spaceflightnow.com/2014/10/28/video-antares-rocket-explodes/

[Rick]

Cygnus Orb-3 Cargo Manifest

The Cygnus Orb-3 mission will deliver more than two metric tons of cargo to the International Space Station. This upmass is possible because Orb-3 is the first mission to utilize the Castor 30XL upper stage on the Antares launch vehicle that can deliver more mass into orbit.

Cygnus is loaded with 2,215 Kilograms of cargo with an even split between science payloads, crew supplies and systems hardware to be used to keep ISS in working condition. Over the course of its mission, cargo delivered by Cygnus will be removed from the spacecraft and replaced with 1,700kg of trash and no-longer-needed hardware that will be disposed via destructive re-entry.

More: http://www.spaceflight101.com/cygnus-orb-3-cargo-manifest.html

[ApophisAstros]

Video: Antares rocket explodes

looks like an engine failure as it dropped back to earth...

(Quote trimmed -- Rick)

[Rick]

Yeah. Speculation among certain folk (some of whom have built rocket engines) last night was that a main engine nozzle probably split on ignition, and the damage then spread to the combustion chamber as the rocket took off...

[Mike]

Video from the press site which is amusing...

VIDEO

[Carole]

Well thank goodness it was unmanned.

Carole

[Mike]

Indeed. The cargo manifest is in the link Rick posted above. Loads of student experiments and cubesats. Plus supplies.

[Rick]

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

October 28, 2014

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."

Updates will be posted as available on NASA's Orbital page, at:

http://www.nasa.gov/orbital

[Rick]

Yeah, a few months worth of ISS supplies and experiments, and quite a few cubesats, so there'll be a lot of unhappy folk...

[Mike]

Now a video taken from an aircraft nearby:

**WARNING** Turn your speakers DOWN first.

VIDEO

[Rick]

NASA's Wallops Flight Facility Completes Initial Assessment after Orbital Launch Mishap

October 29, 2014
     
The Wallops Incident Response Team completed today an initial assessment of Wallops Island, Virginia, following the catastrophic failure of Orbital Science Corp.'s Antares rocket shortly after liftoff at 6:22 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Oct. 28, from Pad 0A of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

"I want to praise the launch team, range safety, all of our emergency responders and those who provided mutual aid and support on a highly-professional response that ensured the safety of our most important resource -- our people," said Bill Wrobel, Wallops director. "In the coming days and weeks ahead, we'll continue to assess the damage on the island and begin the process of moving forward to restore our space launch capabilities. There's no doubt in my mind that we will rebound stronger than ever."

The initial assessment is a cursory look; it will take many more weeks to further understand and analyze the full extent of the effects of the event. A number of support buildings in the immediate area have broken windows and imploded doors. A sounding rocket launcher adjacent to the pad, and buildings nearest the pad, suffered the most severe damage.

At Pad 0A the initial assessment showed damage to the transporter erector launcher and lightning suppression rods, as well as debris around the pad.

The Wallops team also met with a group of state and local officials, including the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Marine Police, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Wallops environmental team also is conducting assessments at the site. Preliminary observations are that the environmental effects of the launch failure were largely contained within the southern third of Wallops Island, in the area immediately adjacent to the pad. Immediately after the incident, the Wallops' industrial hygienist collected air samples at the Wallops mainland area, the Highway 175 causeway, and on Chincoteague Island. No hazardous substances were detected at the sampled locations.

Additional air, soil and water samples will be collected from the incident area as well as at control sites for comparative analysis.

The Coast Guard and Virginia Marine Resources Commission reported today they have not observed any obvious signs of water pollution, such as oil sheens. Furthermore, initial assessments have not revealed any obvious impacts to fish or wildlife resources. The Incident Response Team continues to monitor and assess.

Following the initial assessment, the response team will open the area of Wallops Island, north of the island flagpole opposite of the launch pad location, to allow the U.S. Navy to return back to work.

Anyone who finds debris or damage to their property in the vicinity of the launch mishap is cautioned to stay away from it and call the Incident Response Team.

Further updates on the situation and the progress of the ongoing investigation will be available at:

http://www.orbital.com

and

http://www.nasa.gov/orbital

[Mike]

Now they've released video footage taken from a camera right next to the base of the launch pad. It's pretty spectacular.

VIDEO