If you hadn’t heard, yesterday an Antares rocket built by Orbital Sciences Corp. blew up during takeoff from the Virginia spaceport.
First, things like this will happen until we find a better way of launching objects (and people) into orbit.
I think Steve Buscemi’s character Rockhound in the (much maligned) film Armageddon said it best: “You know we’re sitting on four million pounds of fuel, one nuclear weapon and a thing that has 270,000 moving parts built by the lowest bidder. Makes you feel good, doesn’t it?”
A lot of things can go wrong when you are basically lighting a giant bottle rocket to take you to space.
This was to be Orbital’s third mission to launch a Cygnus resupply craft to the ISS. After the investigation as to what went wrong, Orbital will send up another craft.
Still, we need to find a better way to get to space. Current spacecraft are expensive and mostly single use. We need to invest in something better.
– Ex astris, scientia –
I am and avid amateur astronomer and intellectual property attorney in Pasadena, California and I am a Rising Star as rated by Super Lawyers Magazine. As a former Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, I am a proud member of the Armed Service Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association working to aid all active duty and veterans in our communities. Connect with me on Google +
Norman