The explosion of a rocket at the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia last night destroyed an unmanned capsule carrying supplies intended for the International Space Station last night.

The explosion occurred at approximately 6:22pm ET on Tuesday, October 28, 2014.

The Antares rocket began experiencing technical problems and contractor Orbital Sciences has confirmed that a destruct command was issued just moments after launch.

Rachel Kraft, Public Affairs Specialist for Human Exploration and Operations at NASA, presided over a news conference last night:

The description included with NASA's narrative included with the press conference reads as follows:

"NASA held a news conference Tuesday October 28 following the mishap that occurred at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia during the attempted launch of Orbital Sciences Corp’s Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station. Briefing participants were, Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator of NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, Frank Culbertson, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Programs Group at Orbital Sciences Corp, Bill Wrobel, director of NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, and Mike Suffredini, NASA’s International Space Station Program Manager."

 

 

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