'Sad evening': Antares unmanned supply rocket explodes on launch [photos, video]

Posted at 6:43 pm on October 28, 2014 by Brett T.

Antares, a commercial cargo ship on a supply mission to the International Space Station, exploded on liftoff from Wallops Island, Va., Tuesday afternoon. Fortunately it was an unmanned rocket.

Important: Antares was UNmanned. Was watching live feed from #NASA. Hellish image.
— Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) October 28, 2014

Pics don't look good for unmanned rocket launch at Wallops Island. Looks like it exploded.
— Patrick Madden (@Patrick_Madden) October 28, 2014

Indeed.

Phew. “Unmanned.” RT @NBCNightlyNews: BREAKING: NASA's unmanned Antares rocket blows up on liftoff pic.twitter.com/dL4SlX8908
— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) October 28, 2014

Rocket launch failed pic.twitter.com/nUCr8Gt019
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) October 28, 2014

woah…RT @Brosner85: BREAKING: Antares rocket exploded on launch. pic.twitter.com/mhG8SzMUwj
— Paul Singer (@singernews) October 28, 2014

Pic of rocket exploding at launch from Wallops Island. pic.twitter.com/nWMkMysvhc
— Patrick Madden (@Patrick_Madden) October 28, 2014

.@NASA's unmanned #Antares rocket explodes shortly after take-off in Virginia pic.twitter.com/UWJ3h2dabs
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) October 28, 2014

YouTube video of the #Antares rocket exploding shortly after launch https://t.co/vosI3DfoLO
— Mashable (@mashable) October 28, 2014

Explosion on NASA launch pad in Virginia. Just happened pic.twitter.com/kY0GaDxnEc
— Tom Foreman (@tomforemancnn) October 28, 2014

#Antares is an UNmanned rocket, though it still takes an enormous amount of effort, time, and money to launch. Sad evening…
— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) October 28, 2014

”A mishap has occurred” says NASA launch director after #antares explosion. Damage limited to facility, no indication of personnel in danger
— Boing Boing (@BoingBoing) October 28, 2014

antares explosion is a stark reminder that getting to space is still REALLY HARD and KIND OF INSANE
— Chris Ziegler (@zpower) October 28, 2014

Appears that a first stage AJ-26 engine caught fire, exploded about 14 seconds after ignition and liftoff from Pad 0A, about 100m altitude
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) October 28, 2014

#Antares was carrying 5,000 pounds of cargo that included science experiments, food, clothing and other equipment for ISS astronauts.
— Amanda Wills (@AmandaWills) October 28, 2014

A lot of science experiments were on board. They made up ONE THIRD of the cargo. Big loss. #Antares
— Amanda Wills (@AmandaWills) October 28, 2014

Sad and heartbroken with explosion of #Antares rocket…these kids worked hard to have their experiment on board http://t.co/AiDzg2z5SF
— RandySpeck (@Randy_Speck) October 28, 2014

Sun O's reporter @EddieInTheYard was in view of #Antares rocket exploding just after launch from Wallops Island, VA pic.twitter.com/lmxENemXEd
— Justin Fenton (@justin_fenton) October 28, 2014

Shoulda used SpaceX?

Elon Musk nailed it about Antares rocket 2 years ago in Wired http://t.co/2NqF4XX8XK pic.twitter.com/J7YGNY4hlc
— Eric Scott Hunsader (@nanexllc) October 29, 2014

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.