NASA releases new images of Antares rocket explosion

Take a close look at the fiery end of unmanned rocket over Wallops Island, Va.

Image | Wallops Island Antares rocket explosion Oct 28 2014

Caption: (Joel Kowsky/NASA)

What goes up...

NASA released dramatic new photos of the moments before, during and after an unmanned Antares rocket exploded over its Wallops Island, Va., launch site last year.

Image | Orbital ATK Antares rocket Oct 28 2014 lift off pre explosion

Caption: (Joel Kowsky/NASA)

Came down in spectacular fashion

The commercial supply rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS) blew up moments after liftoff after a technical failure doomed the mission, according to a report released by NASA on Oct. 30, a full year after the Oct. 28, 2014, accident.

Image | Orbital ATK Antares rocket explodes Oct 28 2015

Caption: (Joel Kowsky/NASA)

The rocket was headed to the ISS

The rocket, operated by Orbital Sciences — now Orbital ATK following a merger — was hired by NASA along with the SpaceX company to deliver supplies to the ISS. SpaceX also suffered a rocket failure in June.

Image | Orbital ATK Antares Launch HQ rocket explosion Oct 28 2014

Caption: (Joel Kowsky/NASA) (Joel Kowsky/NASA)

It was unmanned

The Antares rocket, seen here engulfed in flames, was carrying a Cygnus spacecraft filled with supplies, including a science experiment from Kamloops, B.C., experiment hardware, spare parts and crew provisions.

Image | Orbital ATK Antares rocket crashes Oct 28 2014

Caption: (Joel Kowsky/NASA)

Six seconds into the launch...

Things took a turn for the worse, prompting an officer on the ground to initiate the rocket's self-destruction, sending the wreck back onto its launch pad in ball of flames.

Image | NASA Orbital ATK Antares rocket explosion Oct 28 2014

Caption: (Joel Kowsky/NASA)

The rocket fell harmlessly back to Earth

NASA's independent review team said the initial fire was caused by friction from rubbing parts in a liquid oxygen turbopump. The pump was in one of the old Russian-built engines of Orbital ATK's rocket.

Image | Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport Antares rocket explsion Oct 28 2

Caption: (Joel Kowsky/NASA)

The calm after the (fire) storm

NASA is paying billions of dollars to Orbital ATK (formerly Orbital Sciences) and SpaceX to make space station deliveries, and it's counting on SpaceX and Boeing to start flying U.S. astronauts to the orbiting lab as early as 2017. After the Antares accident, NASA said there was nothing on the lost flight that was urgently needed by the six people living on the space station. NASA and Orbital, among other parties, split the $15 million repair bill for the launch site.