An unmanned Antares rocket exploded seconds after liftoff from a commercial launchpad in Virginia on Tuesday, marking the first accident since NASA turned to private operators to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. Officials said no one was hurt.
The 14-story rocket, built and launched by Orbital Sciences Corp. blasted off its seaside launchpad at the Wallops Flight Facility at 6:22 p.m. EDT carrying a Cygnus cargo ship bound for the space station. It exploded in a huge fireball moments later.
Orbital Sciences stock was fell 12.7 percent after hours on news of the explosion, down $3.87 per share at $26.50.