Antares, built by Orbital Sciences Corp, combusted seconds after leaving the seaside launch pad at Wallops Flight Facility. The cause of the cargo ship malfunction has yet to be determined. The initial planned launch on Monday was delayed due to a yacht in the surrounding danger zone.
The flight was expected to be the third contracted mission with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The rocket was due to carry nearly 5,000lb (2,200kgs) of supplies to six astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS). It included equipment for astronauts to conduct tests on blood flow to the human brain and to analyse meteors. There was also equipment for experiments to examine the growth of pea shoots in orbit and how the body’s immune system reacts to space travel. More than 1,300lb (600kg) of food was on board, including pre-packaged meals and freeze-dried crab cakes.