NASA rocket explodes six seconds after launch obliterating $200m worth of equipment

Botched rocket launch is part of $1.9bn private contract to launch cargo to the International Space Station.

By Dave Lancaster |

18:10 29 October 2014

NASA have launched an investigation after the Antares rocket spectacularly exploded seconds after blast off, bringing down a fifth of a billion dollars' worth of equipment down with it.

A company called Orbital Sciences was in charged of the contract to make eight supply missions to the mammoth space station.

The Washington Post reported that Orbital Sciences were using 40-year-old Russian engines. However, the company denied that the technology was obsolete.

Frank Culbertson, the company executive vice-president was quoted by the Guardian: 'When you look at it there are not many other options around the world in terms of using power plants of this size.'

Calling the evening 'tough', Culbertson continued: 'We want to express our disappointment, especially to the researchers who had science on board. It's not as tragic as losing a life - and we are happy to report there were no injuries.

'Something went wrong, and we will find out what that it - and we will come back here and fly again in the near future.'

'What we know so far is what people saw on the video.

'We don't really have any early indications of what might have failed.

'Most of this happened in the first 20 seconds - it was quite quick.

'We observed the problem, and the destruct command was sent before the rocket hit the ground.'

No life was lost in the mission.