NASA rocket explodes on launch

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NASA rocket explodes on launch
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A NASA rocket filled with supplies for the International Space Station exploded at launch Tuesday evening. The rocket was unmanned.

NASA said there were no injuries caused by the Antares rocket's accident but cited "significant" damage to launch facilities.

Orbital Sciences (ORB)' Cygnus spacecraft was carrying 5,000 pounds of NASA cargo and launching in Virginia. Orbital Sciences' shares fell 11 percent in after-hours trading, on thin trading.

This was to be Orbital Sciences' third resupply mission to the ISS, as part of a $2 billion contract the company has with NASA.

The second U.S. supply line to the station is run by privately owned Space Exploration Technologies, or SpaceX, which is preparing for its fourth flight under a separate, $1.6 billion NASA contract.

"NASA and Orbital Sciences Corp. are gathering data on the failure of the Orbital CRS-3 six seconds after launch," according to a brief statement on NASA's website. The cause of the accident was not immediately available.

CNN first reported the news.

Intl. Space Station        ✔   @Space_Station 
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Accident 6 seconds after @OrbitalSciences #Cygnus liftoff @NASA_Wallops.

6:28 PM - 28 Oct 2014

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-Reuters contributed to this article.


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