Dramatic Photos Show Antares Rocket Explosion Like You've Never Seen It Before
Unmanned rocket exploded seconds after launch.
— -- NASA has shared stunning photos showing the sheer power of an explosion that ripped apart the Antares rocket a little over a year ago.
The rocket, which was owned by Orbital Sciences, exploded into a fireball over Wallops Island, Va., a few seconds after launch on Oct. 28, 2014. The rocket was headed to the International Space Station. Orbital Sciences merged with ATK earlier this year and is now known as Orbital ATK.
The accident destroyed food and supplies for astronauts, along with science experiments from school children. An independent investigation completed last month by NASA found the cause was likely an explosion in a turbopump located in one of the rocket's two engines.
"The explosion caused the engines to lose thrust, and the launch vehicle fell back to Earth and impacted the ground, resulting in total destruction of the vehicle and its cargo," the NASA report said.
Orbital Sciences, which has a nearly $2 billion contract with NASA to deliver supplies to the space station, will launch its Cygnus spacecraft on the back of an Atlas V rocket on Dec. 3.