Slashdot Mirror
Antares Rocket Explodes On Launch
sneakyimp writes: The Antares rocket operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation exploded on launch due to a "catastrophic anomaly" after a flawless countdown. No injuries are reported and all personnel are accounted for. According to the audio stream hosted by local news affiliate WTVR's website, the Cygnus spacecraft contained classified crypto technology and efforts are being made to cordon off the wreckage area. Additionally, interviews of personnel and witness reports are to be limited to appropriate government agencies so that an accident report can be generated. This accident is likely to have a detrimental effect on the stock price of Orbital Sciences Corp, traded on the NYSE. The Antares rocket's engines are based on old soviet designs from the '60s. While this is sure to be a blow to NASA due to the cost, it may well boost the fortunes of SpaceX, a chief competitor of Orbital Sciences. Both companies were recently awarded resupply contracts by NASA.
You are confused. Russian rockets are not designs from the 60s. By the average standards of the modern space technology, Russian space hardware ranks as 2040 design. I know that sounds strange, but USA and everyone else is so far behind Russia in that department that we have no chice but to consider Russian deisgns way ahead of the current time just to balance things right.
False. They are not "reconditioned". They are essentially rebuilt from scratch by the Aerojet with the major participation of Ukrainian "Yuzhnoe" design bureau. The mere fact that the entire fuel supply system ifs prvided by Ukrainians immediately requires a full rebuild. And, of course, the fact that the engine failed today is already a direct factual indication that this was not a Russian engine.
One launch failure and you call the contract awarders bozos?
It's a sad day for some of us, when we discover that the invisible hand of the free market does not lift a rocket into space.
Private business building and launching rockets is a good thing, but there will be launch failures, most not at all related to politics. This can create cognitive dissonance for some.
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.