News World Spectacular images of NASA’s exploding rocket

Spectacular images of NASA’s exploding rocket

Share
Twitter Facebook Reddit Pinterest Email

NASA has released detailed images of the Antares rocket that exploded on lift-off, almost exactly one year after the disaster.

The unmanned craft exploded seconds after lift-off on October 28 last year.

It was carrying a Cygnus spacecraft filled with supplies for the International Space Station, including science experiments, experiment hardware, spare parts, and crew provisions.

• Polish up your CV … NASA is hiring new astronauts
• NASA releases new, high-def portrait of Jupiter
• NASA’s ambitious plan to reach Mars by 2030

A video released shortly after the explosion showed the rocket lifting off before exploding and smashing into the ground.

New still images released on NASA’s Flickr siteshow the crash in greater detail.

Billowing smoke clouds are illuminated by an enormous orange fireball, and in one image the rocket can be seen veering off at an angle.

The 14-storey-tall Antares rocket was built and launched by private operator Orbital Sciences Corp, and the explosion was the first accident since NASA turned to private operators to deliver cargo to the space station.

NASA mission control in Houston described the explosion as a “catastrophic anomaly”.

The force of the blast was felt up to eight kilometres away.

More spectacular images are below

Antares
The Antares rocket appears to veer off course after the moment of explosion. Photo: ABC
Antares
New images released by NASA show the “catastrophic anomaly” that occurred when the Antares rocket exploded after launch. Photo: ABC