Science Mission Rocket Goes Astray Seconds After Liftoff, Is Destroyed
A rocket carrying scientific experiments was intentionally destroyed shortly after liftoff Tuesday when it veered out of control and plunged toward Earth.
The burning wreckage fell into the Atlantic Ocean about two miles offshore. A capsule containing the $1-million worth of experiments was thrown clear of the explosion, its descent slowed by a parachute, but it remained missing hours later.
The 50-foot Prospector rocket blasted off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, then swerved off course after 15 seconds.
Self-destruct computer commands were issued 25 seconds into the flight, when the rocket was a mile high.
No injuries or ground damage was reported, the Air Force said.
Spokesmen for rocket maker Orbital Sciences Corp. said they did not know what went wrong. Two previous launching attempts in the last 1 1/2 months were canceled because of equipment failure.
Orbital Sciences of Fairfax, Va., conducted the launching for the University of Alabama in Huntsville, one of 16 NASA commercial space development centers.
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