NASA Surveys Damage from Antares Rocket Explosion (Photos)

[jakeXT]

NASA and the private spaceflight company Orbital Sciences Corp. have started surveying the damage left behind after Orbital's Antares rocket exploded on Tuesday evening (Oct. 28).

While the fiery Antares rocket explosion did not destroy the launch pad or fuel tanks at the launch complex at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia, "some repairs will be necessary," according to Orbital representatives. NASA officials have found that some support buildings at Wallops have blown-out windows and doors, and a sounding rocket launcher and other buildings near the pad have severe damage. The initial assessment also showed that the transporter erector launcher and lightning suppression rods at the pad sustained the most damage, according to NASA.

It will take multiple weeks to completely assess the areas affected by the launch mishap, space agency officials added. [See images of the Antares explosion]

http://www.space.com/27602-antares-rocket-explosion-damage-assessment.html

[Trajan]

1. The Range Safety Officer waited too long to self destruct

They're was plenty of opportunity to detonate the pyrotechnics before that large mass hit the deck ...

Safety personnel have to assume EVERY launch could end like this, and enhance their vigilance ... that delay will cost ...