Orbital agrees to insure and help repair damaged launch pad

[Buster's Uncle]

Orbital agrees to insure and help repair damaged launch pad
After rocket explosion, Orbital agrees insure and help repair damaged Virginia-owned facility
Associated Press
By Brock Vergakis,  22 hours ago



NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Officials say an aerospace company that uses a state-owned launch pad at Wallops Island in Virginia will help pay for repairs from an October rocket explosion and will also insure the launch pad.

An unmanned commercial supply rocket bound for the International Space Station exploded moments after liftoff Oct. 28.

After the explosion, state officials said they were stunned to realize that they were on the hook for all of the repair costs to the launch pad. Damage is estimated at about $15 million.

State officials spent months renegotiating a contract with Dulles-based Orbital ATK, one of two companies under contract by NASA to deliver supplies to the International Space Station.

On Thursday, Orbital, NASA and the Virginia Commercial Space Flight Authority said they would evenly split the repair costs.


http://news.yahoo.com/orbital-agrees-insure-help-repair-162752988.html

[Unorthodox]

Hm.


Cost of launches at that facility just went up, now that they realize their earlier misjudgement. 

[Geo]

Sounds like there are some sore expressions now on the CEO's of a certain private company now they realize their 'free ride' exploded in their faces.