unmanned NASA rocket explodes on launch

[maddogchen]

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/launch/orbital.html#.VFAZ1PldU9Y

you can see the flames and debris

 

[Ns1]

An unmanned Antares rocket is scheduled to launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) on the Eastern Shore about 6:45 p.m. today, boosting a Cygnus cargo freighter to rendezvous with the International Space Station.

The launch of the Antares — a medium-lift rocket — should be visible throughout Hampton Roads and the mid-Atlantic. It's carrying a Cygnus spacecraft packed with about 5,000 pounds of cargo — the heaviest payload to date for rocket-maker Orbital Sciences Corp.

The Cygnus is expected to remain in orbit for several days before berthing with the space station in the early hours of Nov. 2, when station crew are set to use a robotic arm to grapple the spaecraft into port. Station astronauts will unpack provisions, hardware and science experiments, then begin to reload the craft with trash — or disposable cargo — that will eventually burn up in the atmosphere upon rentry.

Cargo spacecraft typically remain at the space station for about 30 days before making their return flight.

oops

good luck with that ISS

 

[Fire&Blood]

Slightly better footage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHMmMgdcOSU

 

[Mayne]

thank god for unmanned rockets is all I have to say.

 

[Ns1]

thank science for unmanned rockets is all I have to say.

ftfy

 

[MongGrel]

Is that the one they had to delay from the sail boat the other day ?

I imagine it is, oops, yeah.

Still trying to get the private sector up to speed there it looks.

 

[Balt]

Glad no one was hurt or killed, but damn.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Cool Explosions. Yay.

 

[CZroe]

Why was the SpaceX rocket that blew up a "SpaceX rocket" and yet this one is a "NASA rocket" instead of Orbital Science's rocket? Is it purely because this was a flight FOR NASA or is the press playing favorites?

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Why was the SpaceX rocket that blew up a "SpaceX rocket" and yet this one is a "NASA rocket" instead of Orbital Science's rocket? Is it purely because this was a flight FOR NASA or is the press playing favorites?

SpaceX is a household name.

Orbital Science is not.

 

[Drako]

That blows. :|

 

[Red Squirrel]

Wow that sucks, but good thing it was unmanned!

It can't be worse than a Russian rocket explosion years back. They rocket did a U turn and slammed into the ground. Turns out the sensor to ensure it's upright was installed backwards.

 

[TridenT]

Why was the SpaceX rocket that blew up a "SpaceX rocket" and yet this one is a "NASA rocket" instead of Orbital Science's rocket? Is it purely because this was a flight FOR NASA or is the press playing favorites?

No one knows who Orbital Science is. SpaceX is a common name.

SpaceX is a household name.

Orbital Science is not.

Beat me to it by like ten seconds. That's exactly what I was going to say...

 

[Number1]

Here is the 720P version

 

[IronWing]

I'd be unmanned too if that much fuel blew up under my butt.

 

[purbeast0]

wow wonder how much money was just thrown away.

 

[IronWing]

catastrophic anomaly

^^ This is the language we end up with when people think they shouldn't just say what happened. "It blew up" would be refreshing.

 

[Drako]

^^ This is the language we end up with when people think they shouldn't just say what happened. "It blew up" would be refreshing.

Nasa: "Significant vehicle damage"

Really? No shit. :biggrin:

 

[Number1]

^^ This is the language we end up with when people think they shouldn't just say what happened. "It blew up" would be refreshing.

Catastrophic anomaly is a much more precise description.

It did not just explode, something went wrong with the propulsion system, it felt down to the ground and exploded. Just check the video.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

^^ This is the language we end up with when people think they shouldn't just say what happened. "It blew up" would be refreshing.

I assume you're not an engineer.

Catastrophic anomaly has a clear meaning versus "it blew up"

 

[Balt]

Nasa: "Significant vehicle damage"

Really? No shit. :biggrin:

Eh, I dunno. I think it'll buff out.

 

[Printer Bandit]

Did someone forget to convert imperial to metric units?

 

[PottedMeat]

seen from a private plane:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zarWT7H9t54

 

[Thebobo]

Panic at the press site! Orbital's rocket blows up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ0SgAU9LXI#t=82

 

[Ruptga]

I was going to rackum frackum about idiot journalists not knowing whose rocket this was, but I see that's already covered. Damn.