WASHINGTON: An unmanned rocket owned by Orbital Sciences Corporation exploded Tuesday six seconds after launch on what was to be a resupply mission to the International Space Station, NASA said.
“The Antares rocket suffered an accident shortly after lift-off,” NASA mission control in Houston said, describing the event as a “catastrophic anomaly.”
Fires were seen burning at the coastal launch pad after the Antares rocket blasted off at sunset from Wallops Island, Virginia at 6:22 pm (2222 GMT).
It was unclear what caused the explosion.