Orbital Science Antares Rocket Exploded at Launch today

The Orbital Sciences Corp.’s Antares rocket lifted off to start its third resupply mission to the International Space Station, but suffered a catastrophic anomaly shortly after liftoff at 6:22 p.m. EDT.

AKA the rocket exploded.

It was unmanned. There was a Planetary Sciences test satellite for a small new asteroid spotting space telescope. It had no telescope but just was testing the electronics and other parts.

An unmanned Antares rocket was launched 6:22 EST from the Virginia Coast to deliver goods to the International Space Station. However, a few seconds after lift-off, the bottom of the rocket got caught up into flames, following the descent of the craft back to the ground and an enormous explosion when it hit the pad