Failure to Launch - NASA-Contracted Rocket Blows Up

[Gusington]

Watching this on CNN right now...spectacular explosion, property damage, but no injuries or deaths  :o

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Any valuable cargo? satellite? Or just a test?

[mirth]

Supplies for ISS

http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/28/us/nasa-rocket-explodes/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

NM.

"Outfitted with a new, more powerful upper-stage engine, the Antares rocket launched on Tuesday carried a Cygnus spacecraft packed with 5,055 pounds (2,293 kg) of supplies, science experiments and equipment, a 15 percent increase over previous missions.

Cygnus was to loiter in orbit until Nov. 2, then fly itself to the station so astronauts can use a robotic crane to snare the capsule and attach it to a berthing port. The station, a $100 billion research laboratory owned and operated by 15 nations, flies about 260 miles (418 km) above Earth.

In addition to food, supplies and equipment, the Cygnus spacecraft was loaded with more than 1,600 pounds (725 kg) of science experiments, including an investigation to chemically analyze meteors as they burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

The Cygnus also carried a prototype satellite owned by Redmond, Washington-based startup Planetary Resources Inc., which is developing technology to mine asteroids. The satellite, designated A3, was to be released into space by a commercially owned small spacecraft launcher aboard the station."

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/28/us-space-orbital-idUSKBN0IH2F220141028

[Gusington]

^Cool equipment, to say the least. Rumor has it on CNN that the rocket was also carrying spying-related codes and computers.

[Bison]

The current state of NASA is just depressing.

[GDS_Starfury]

Houston needs to take Viagra before lauches so they can at least get it up.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

All of Houston?

[GDS_Starfury]

just to be sure.

[LongBlade]

The current state of NASA is just depressing.

Agreed. What a shame.  :(

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

It looks like they are stepping back, letting it go commercial. Few endeavors will have such barriers to entry as space. It will be a monopoly or duopoly which is not good for the citizens.

[GDS_Starfury]

I dont think the field will be that limited.  every major aviation company has some kind of rocket program and there are several private companies like Space X.

[GDS_Starfury]

heres a list of the players today:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_private_spaceflight_companies

[Rekim]

The current state of NASA is just depressing.

btw, this launch vehicle was built by Orbital Sciences Corp (one of the commercial players), not NASA.

[mirth]

The current state of NASA is just depressing.

btw, this launch vehicle was built by Orbital Sciences Corp (one of the commercial players), not NASA.

It's sad that NASA can't even build and blow up its own rockets anymore. Nowadays they have to pay someone else to build and blow them up.