Rocket Bound For Space Station Explodes After Launch

WALLOPS ISLAND, Va. (CBS SF) – An unmanned Orbital Sciences rocket lifting off for the International Space Station was seen exploding shortly after liftoff Tuesday afternoon from an island off the coast of Virginia.

The Antares rocket took off from the Wallops Island Flight Facility with cargo and crew supplies destined for the station.

Shortly after liftoff, flames could be seen on the beach on Wallops island and NASA sent the following tweet.

The company says no one was believed to be hurt and the damage appeared to be limited to the facilities.

Flames could be seen shooting into the sky as the sun set.

The Cygnus cargo ship was loaded with 5,000 pounds of gear for the six people living on the space station. It was the fourth Cygnus bound for the orbiting lab; the first flew just over a year ago.

NASA is paying the Virginia-based Orbital Sciences and the Tesla Founder Elon Musk’s SpaceX company to keep the space station stocked in the post-shuttle era. This is the first disaster in that effort.

NASA was providing continuing coverage here:

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