(Kind of) Just Saw Unmanned Antares Rocket Explode In Sky

[drawkcabi]

Was out to watch the unmanned Antares rocket launch from Wallops Island in VA. It's 45 miles south from my house. It's mission was to bring 5000lbs. of food/supplies to the International Space Station.

I watched a previous launch from my house last year and it was magnificent.

This launch was originally scheduled for last night but there was a private boat in the red zone at time of launch and it had to be scrubbed. Launch was rescheduled for 6:22pm EDT tonight. I went out at 6:20 to start watching the south-east sky. It was a beautiful sunset sky mostly clear but with some thin clouds and a quarter moon hanging in the south west sky.

From where I stood in my yard I could see the TV in the living room of my house through the screen door and at 6:22 I saw the rocket ignite on the pad. I then gave all my attention to the sky.

What I saw was the peaceful purple-blue sky behind some tall trees turn an angry yellow-orange for a brief moment. Then when no rocket appeared from out of the trees like it did the last time I watched, I knew something was wrong.

I turned to look back at the TV and saw a big fireball on the screen. The rocket exploded 6 seconds after launch.

Again, rocket was unmanned, the entire island of Wallops had no people on it in fact. So not loss of life no one hurt. Just (another) set back for the space programs involved in general (this was a commercial rocket launch working in conjunction with NASA) and probably a bad set back for the space program specifically here on Delmarva, and the poor astronauts on the ISS may have to do a little bit of rationing while contingencies are put in place. :(

[Fragile Bird]

NASA triggered the self destruct button after about 10 seconds. The initial explosion was at the base of the launch pad.

The astronauts are good for food for 4 or 5 months, so the failure won't have a major impact.

[drawkcabi]

Interesting, thanks FB