Rocket bound for Space Station explodes seconds after lift off.

Lapin · 29-10-2014 01:09AM #1

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.

The initial planned launch of the spacecraft on Monday was delayed due to a sailboat in nearby waters.

More, BBC

Bit concerning that this can happen given the vast budgets and expertise involved in sending these rockets up to space.

But then, given the vast number sent up over the decades, it could be said that its surprising that incidents like it don't occur more often.

But with continual improvements in rocket science it really shouldn't be happening now.

Fortunately this mission was unmanned.

The One Doctor · 29-10-2014 01:11AM

It was great fun seeing it blow up. I laughed a lot. Everyone loves seeing stuff exploding (if no-one is hurt).

Nerdy bit: It looked like a turbopump failure from what I saw.

fleet_admiral · 29-10-2014 01:16AM

Thats deadly, it reminded me of my childhood at Halloween

Duggy747 · 29-10-2014 01:16AM

In before: "What about the black babies in Africa instead of this silly space nonsense?"

These cargo rockets are pretty common so it's still a testament to their engineering that it doesn't happen more often than it does considering the amount of things that can go wrong within the first few minutes of launch.

Macavity. · 29-10-2014 01:17AM

Boom.

Captain Chaos · 29-10-2014 01:20AM

We're all set for the manned Mars mission so....... right who's first.

Lapin · 29-10-2014 01:20AM

The One Doctor wrote: »

It was great fun seeing it blow up. I laughed a lot. Everyone loves seeing stuff exploding (if no-one is hurt).

I laughed more at the commentator continuing to describe the aim of the mission even after the thing blew up.

It looked as though he only noticed something was up (or coming back down in this case) when he looked up from his script. :pac:

foxy farmer · 29-10-2014 01:21AM

Houston we have a problem.

BBDBB · 29-10-2014 01:21AM

have they tried turning off and back on again?

BorneTobyWilde · 29-10-2014 01:21AM

http://assets.diylol.com/hfs/853/098/358/resized/ancient-aliens-invisible-something-meme-generator-im-not-saying-it-was-aliens-but-it-was-aliens-a0f6bd.jpg

BorneTobyWilde · 29-10-2014 01:22AM

Looked like some sort of failure .

Skylinehead · 29-10-2014 01:23AM

Lapin wrote: »

Bit concerning that this can happen given the vast budgets and expertise involved in sending these rockets up to space.

Not really, at the end of the day it's still 200 tons of explosive in a tube.

Ruu · 29-10-2014 01:23AM

Ground control to major tom...

The Th!ng · 29-10-2014 01:24AM

I'll laugh my arse off if this is another 4Chan stunt.

shamrock55 · 29-10-2014 01:28AM

2014 and we cant even send a bit of cargo into space, infact we cant even send it a few ft into the air:D

scouttio · 29-10-2014 01:31AM

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

Looked like some sort of failure .

Astute observation there

alias no.9 · 29-10-2014 01:32AM

Alan Sheperd (first American to travel into space) wrote:

It's a very sobering feeling to be up in space and realize that one's safety factor was determined by the lowest bidder on a government contract.

Sobering indeed

Tail Docker · 29-10-2014 01:32AM

More of a roman candle than a rocket. Nasas Halloween effort?

BBDBB · 29-10-2014 01:33AM

How long before its declared a black flag operation to justify US hostility in the middle east?

rebel girl 15 · 29-10-2014 01:35AM

I watched the whole thing live, was unbelievable to see it blow up like that - everything seemed fine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WICHixFEYHI

Press conference in 10 minutes on the NASA channel. It was a rocket designed by a private company to bring 5,000KG of supplies to the ISS, including over 600KG of food.

The Diabolical Monocle · 29-10-2014 01:35AM

beeep

but the ben and jerrys is on another rocket right ?

beeep

BlaasForRafa · 29-10-2014 01:38AM

It was klingons off the starboard bow

Senna · 29-10-2014 01:38AM

"These are actually modified Russian-built power units that were originally developed for the ill-fated Soviet Moon rocket, the N-1.

Development work started on the N1 in 1959."

Jesus the Russians knew how to build something right the first time.

Edit. obviously except for the huge failure today

rebel girl 15 · 29-10-2014 01:38AM

Orbital Science Corporation have a $1.3 billion contract with NASA to deliver 8 supply rockets to the ISS. This was the third of the 8 to go up. NASA confirmed that there was no personnel injury on Wallops Island, Virginia.

I decided to watch it live after seeing it on Twitter, had never seen a live rocket launch before, still haven't seen one

nokia69 · 29-10-2014 01:42AM

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

Orbital Science Corporation have a $1.3 billion contract with NASA to deliver 8 supply rockets to the ISS. This was the third of the 8 to go up. NASA confirmed that there was no personnel injury on Wallops Island, Virginia.

I decided to watch it live after seeing it on Twitter, had never seen a live rocket launch before, still haven't seen one

watch the next spaceX launch in december

if it goes well they will make history

they are trying lo land the first stage so it can be used again

mikeyjames9 · 29-10-2014 01:44AM

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

I watched the whole thing live, was unbelievable to see it blow up like that - everything seemed fine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WICHixFEYHI

Press conference in 10 minutes on the NASA channel. It was a rocket designed by a private company to bring 5,000KG of supplies to the ISS, including over 600KG of food.

IS are in space now then?

The Diabolical Monocle · 29-10-2014 01:44AM

Maybe if there hadnt been so many fervent deniers of Christ in the area the rocket would have had the blessing of G-D

Lapin · 29-10-2014 01:45AM

Skylinehead wrote: »

Not really, at the end of the day it's still 200 tons of explosive in a tube.

At last. Someone who knows stuff.

Tell us this then while we have you here, is that the reason these rockets have signs like this one on the side of them?

kowloon · 29-10-2014 01:47AM

rebel girl 15 wrote: »

Orbital Science Corporation have a $1.3 billion contract with NASA to deliver 8 supply rockets to the ISS. This was the third of the 8 to go up. NASA confirmed that there was no personnel injury on Wallops Island, Virginia.

I decided to watch it live after seeing it on Twitter, had never seen a live rocket launch before, still haven't seen one

Yeah, best of luck to them with that.

vicwatson · 29-10-2014 01:49AM

Whats the biggie here.. fact it blew up or fact if blew up live on bbc? They seem to admire the latter. Hope astronauts don't starve tonight!! No freeze dried curry for them !!

Shiny Happy Sheeple · 29-10-2014 01:50AM

Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground.

Rocket bound for Space Station explodes seconds after lift off.

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